Government & Public Affairs Specialist

Position Title: Government & Public Affairs Specialist

Position Overview

The Government & Public Affairs Specialist will support Samawada's engagement and relationship-building with government institutions, public-sector organizations, elected representatives, public officials, diplomatic missions, and other influential institutional stakeholders in Canada and internationally.

The role will help Samawada establish meaningful relationships with federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and international government institutions, identify opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen the organization's visibility and credibility within the humanitarian and international development sectors.

Working closely with the President and relevant departmental leads, the Specialist will research government priorities, identify relevant programs and partnership opportunities, coordinate institutional meetings, prepare briefing materials, and support the development of strategic relationships that advance Samawada's mission.

The successful candidate should understand how government institutions operate, communicate professionally with senior stakeholders, and be comfortable building relationships across different levels of government and the public sector.

This is a relationship-development and institutional engagement position. It does not independently authorize political representation, lobbying, public commitments, or funding agreements on behalf of Samawada.

What You Will Do

1. Government Relations & Institutional Engagement

• Support the development and implementation of Samawada's government relations and institutional engagement strategy.
• Identify and establish relationships with relevant federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and international government institutions.
• Build professional connections with elected representatives, parliamentary offices, ministers' offices, public servants, government departments, and public agencies.
• Identify government representatives and institutions whose mandates align with Samawada's humanitarian, development, water, climate, and community initiatives.
• Support outreach to government stakeholders through professional correspondence, introductory meetings, briefings, and follow-up communication.
• Maintain a professional and consistent approach to government engagement across all levels.
• Help position Samawada as a credible humanitarian and development organization.

2. Federal Government Relations – Canada

• Research relevant federal departments, agencies, programs, and institutional priorities.
• Identify opportunities to engage with Global Affairs Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, and other relevant federal institutions.
• Monitor federal government priorities, international assistance programs, humanitarian initiatives, and development funding opportunities.
• Identify relevant parliamentary committees, government consultations, public forums, and stakeholder engagement opportunities.
• Support the preparation of introductory letters, briefing notes, organizational profiles, meeting requests, and presentations.
• Help coordinate meetings with Members of Parliament, Senators, parliamentary staff, and relevant federal officials.
• Track relevant federal initiatives and communicate opportunities to Samawada's leadership and departments.

3. Provincial, Territorial & Municipal Government Relations

• Identify opportunities to engage with provincial and territorial ministries, municipal governments, and public agencies.
• Develop relationships with relevant municipal representatives, provincial officials, public-sector institutions, and regional development organizations.
• Research government programs supporting international development, community development, climate resilience, water security, newcomer and community initiatives, and nonprofit capacity building.
• Identify opportunities for Samawada to participate in consultations, community initiatives, public-sector partnerships, and institutional programs.
• Support engagement with the Government of Ontario and municipalities where Samawada's activities and partnerships are relevant.
• Maintain an updated record of provincial, territorial, and municipal stakeholders.

4. International Government & Diplomatic Relations

• Identify opportunities to establish relationships with international government institutions, diplomatic missions, embassies, and high commissions.
• Research relevant ministries, development agencies, diplomatic missions, and international cooperation institutions.
• Support engagement with embassies and high commissions in Canada where their priorities align with Samawada's mission.
• Identify opportunities for dialogue and cooperation with governments and public institutions in countries where Samawada works or plans to work.
• Support relationships with international development agencies and government-supported humanitarian programs.
• Research bilateral cooperation initiatives, international development priorities, and opportunities for institutional collaboration.
• Coordinate with International Programs & Partnerships when exploring relationships connected to country-level projects.

5. Public-Sector Partnerships & Institutional Collaboration

• Identify public institutions and government agencies that could become strategic partners for Samawada.
• Explore opportunities for collaboration with public-sector organizations, municipalities, research institutions, universities, and development agencies.
• Support the development of institutional partnership proposals and collaboration concepts.
• Identify opportunities for joint initiatives, technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and community-based programs.
• Help connect Samawada's technical and program teams with relevant public institutions.
• Support the preparation of partnership briefs, concept notes, presentations, and institutional proposals.
• Maintain relationships with relevant partners and ensure timely follow-up on agreed actions.

6. Government Funding & Program Opportunity Identification

• Research government funding programs, grants, public-sector procurement opportunities, and institutional partnership initiatives relevant to Samawada.
• Monitor funding announcements and government program updates at federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and international levels.
• Identify eligibility requirements, application deadlines, funding priorities, and potential partnership requirements.
• Coordinate with Fundraising & Resource Development and Grants & Partnerships teams to communicate relevant opportunities.
• Support the preparation of government-facing funding materials and institutional partnership documentation.
• Maintain a structured database of relevant government funding programs and opportunities.
• Help identify opportunities for Samawada to participate in government-supported humanitarian, water, climate, environmental, and international development initiatives.

7. Stakeholder Mapping & Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain a government and public-sector stakeholder database.
• Map relevant government departments, ministries, agencies, elected representatives, public officials, diplomatic missions, and institutional contacts.
• Record stakeholder roles, areas of responsibility, institutional priorities, contact details, engagement history, and follow-up actions.
• Identify strategic relationships that require continued engagement from organizational leadership.
• Maintain accurate records of meetings, correspondence, introductions, and partnership discussions.
• Use Samawada's organizational systems, including Monday.com where appropriate, to track engagement activities and relationship development.
• Ensure that relevant relationship information is accessible to authorized team members.

8. Government Meetings, Events & Public Engagement

• Identify conferences, parliamentary events, government consultations, public forums, roundtables, and institutional networking opportunities.
• Coordinate introductory meetings and engagement opportunities with government representatives and public-sector stakeholders.
• Prepare meeting agendas, briefing notes, background research, organizational profiles, and speaking points.
• Support the President and departmental representatives in preparing for government meetings.
• Attend selected meetings and public events as an authorized Samawada representative.
• Coordinate follow-up correspondence and document outcomes, commitments, and potential areas of collaboration.
• Help identify opportunities for Samawada to participate in public discussions and institutional forums.

9. Public Affairs, Communications & Organizational Representation

• Work with the Communications team to strengthen Samawada's public profile and institutional visibility.
• Support the preparation of government-facing correspondence, organizational statements, presentations, and public engagement materials.
• Help communicate Samawada's mission, programs, achievements, and humanitarian priorities to public-sector audiences.
• Ensure that communications with government institutions are accurate, professional, consistent, and aligned with approved organizational messaging.
• Support the development of institutional presentations and organizational profiles for government and public-sector audiences.
• Identify opportunities for Samawada's leadership and technical representatives to participate in public discussions, panels, and sector events.
• Help strengthen Samawada's reputation as a responsible and collaborative humanitarian organization.

10. Government Policy & Public Affairs Monitoring

• Monitor government announcements, public-sector priorities, policy developments, consultations, and initiatives relevant to Samawada.
• Track developments in international assistance, humanitarian affairs, water security, climate resilience, environmental protection, and international development.
• Identify emerging opportunities and potential challenges that may affect Samawada's programs and institutional priorities.
• Prepare concise updates and summaries for organizational leadership.
• Coordinate with the Policy Research & Development Specialist to connect government developments with relevant policy research and organizational priorities.
• Identify opportunities for Samawada to contribute technical knowledge and community perspectives to relevant consultations and discussions.

11. Institutional Documentation & Reporting

• Prepare government engagement reports and stakeholder relationship updates.
• Maintain records of government meetings, correspondence, introductions, and institutional discussions.
• Develop and maintain a government relations contact directory.
• Prepare monthly or quarterly summaries of engagement activities, opportunities, and progress.
• Track follow-up actions, potential partnerships, and institutional commitments.
• Maintain organized documentation in accordance with Samawada's information management and confidentiality requirements.

Collaboration Across Teams

The Government & Public Affairs Specialist will work across Samawada's departments and initiatives to ensure government engagement supports the organization's overall mission and strategic priorities.

Key internal collaborators include:

• President & Organizational Leadership: Government engagement strategy, senior-level relationships, institutional representation, and strategic meetings.
• Policy Research & Development: Government policy monitoring, institutional research, public policy developments, and briefing materials.
• Fundraising & Resource Development: Government grants, public funding opportunities, institutional funding programs, and funding partnerships.
• International Programs & Partnerships: International government relationships, country-level institutional engagement, and development cooperation.
• Legal & Governance: Governance considerations, institutional agreements, regulatory requirements, and appropriate authorization for external representation.
• Finance & Operations: Government funding requirements, financial documentation, institutional reporting, and operational coordination.
• Communications & Public Relations: Public messaging, organizational visibility, government-facing communications, and event representation.
• Research & Development: Evidence-based engagement, technical presentations, research partnerships, and institutional knowledge exchange.
• WASH & Water Security: Government and public-sector relationships connected to water access, sanitation, and water governance.
• Climate Resilience & Environmental Initiatives: Institutional opportunities related to climate adaptation, environmental protection, and resilience.
• Data & Analytics: Research and evidence that can support government engagement, briefings, and technical collaboration.

Governance & Organizational Responsibilities

• Operate within Samawada's approved strategic direction, organizational policies, and delegated responsibilities.
• Maintain professional, transparent, non-partisan relationships with government institutions and representatives.
• Obtain appropriate authorization before making formal commitments, signing documents, representing organizational positions, or entering partnership discussions that create obligations for Samawada.
• Coordinate senior-level government engagement with the President or designated organizational representative.
• Ensure that government engagement activities comply with applicable Canadian charitable, lobbying, privacy, and reporting requirements.
• Work with Legal & Governance when agreements, regulatory questions, or formal institutional commitments require review.
• Maintain accurate records of institutional engagement and protect confidential organizational and stakeholder information.
• Distinguish relationship-building and general public-policy dialogue from regulated lobbying activities. Any lobbying activity must be reviewed and authorized in accordance with applicable requirements.

What We Are Looking For

Education & Background

A degree, diploma, or equivalent experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Political Science
• Public Administration
• Public Policy
• International Relations
• International Development
• Government Studies
• Public Affairs
• Communications & Public Relations
• Diplomacy & International Cooperation
• Public Management
• Development Studies
• Business Administration or Institutional Relations

Knowledge & Technical Skills

• Understanding of Canadian federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal government structures.
• Familiarity with government departments, ministries, public agencies, parliamentary institutions, and public-sector decision-making processes.
• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian affairs, and government-supported development programs.
• Ability to research government programs, institutional mandates, funding opportunities, and public-sector priorities.
• Strong professional writing skills, including correspondence, briefing notes, reports, and presentations.
• Ability to prepare stakeholder maps and maintain institutional relationship databases.
• Understanding of government engagement, stakeholder relations, partnership development, and public affairs.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally with senior officials, public servants, elected representatives, and institutional partners.

Personal & Professional Attributes

• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Professionalism, diplomacy, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Confidence in communicating with senior stakeholders and institutional representatives.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong research and analytical abilities.
• Proactive approach to identifying opportunities and developing relationships.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, public service, accountability, and international development.
• Ability to represent Samawada respectfully across different cultural and institutional environments.

Preferred Areas of Interest

Candidates with experience or interest in the following areas will be particularly valuable:

• Canadian federal and provincial government relations.
• Parliamentary affairs and public-sector engagement.
• International development and humanitarian cooperation.
• Global Affairs Canada and international assistance programming.
• Diplomatic relations and international cooperation.
• Government funding and institutional partnerships.
• Water security, WASH, and environmental sustainability.
• Climate resilience and adaptation.
• Human rights and community development.
• Public administration and institutional governance.
• Nonprofit and charitable-sector relations.
• Multilateral organizations and international development institutions.

What You Will Gain

• Practical experience in government relations and institutional engagement.
• Exposure to Canadian government structures and public-sector decision-making.
• Opportunities to engage with government representatives, public officials, and institutional stakeholders.
• Experience supporting international development and humanitarian partnerships.
• Opportunities to contribute to the growth and institutional positioning of an emerging Canadian charity.
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals across humanitarian, policy, research, engineering, technology, and development fields.
• Opportunities to participate in government events, public forums, conferences, and institutional discussions.
• Experience developing professional networks across government, nonprofit, and international development sectors.

Strategic Projects You May Support

The Specialist may contribute to the following organizational initiatives:

1. Samawada Government Relations Framework: Establishing a structured approach to government engagement and institutional relationship development.
2. Federal Government Engagement: Identifying and developing relationships with relevant federal departments, agencies, parliamentary offices, and public institutions.
3. Ontario Government Relations: Building connections with provincial ministries, agencies, and relevant public-sector organizations.
4. Municipal & Community Partnerships: Identifying collaboration opportunities with municipal governments and community-focused public institutions.
5. International Government & Diplomatic Engagement: Developing institutional connections with embassies, high commissions, and international government agencies.
6. Government Funding Opportunity Database: Establishing a structured database of public funding programs, institutional grants, and government-supported initiatives.
7. Humanitarian & Development Partnerships: Supporting government and institutional engagement connected to Samawada's WASH, climate resilience, environmental, and international development priorities.
8. Institutional Visibility & Public Engagement: Identifying opportunities for Samawada to participate in public forums, government consultations, conferences, and sector events.
9. Government Stakeholder Mapping: Developing an organized directory of relevant government institutions, public officials, and institutional contacts.

Primary Success Measures

Success in this position will be assessed through:

• Development and maintenance of a structured government and public-sector stakeholder database.
• Identification of relevant government departments, agencies, and institutional partners.
• Consistent and professional government outreach and follow-up.
• Coordination of introductory meetings and institutional engagement opportunities.
• Identification and communication of relevant government funding and partnership opportunities.
• Preparation of high-quality briefing notes, correspondence, presentations, and engagement reports.
• Development of productive working relationships across relevant government and public-sector institutions.
• Increased opportunities for Samawada to participate in government consultations, public forums, and institutional discussions.
• Improved internal coordination and documentation of government relationships.
• Contribution to Samawada's institutional credibility, visibility, and long-term partnership development.