Associate, Public Affairs

About Us

At NATIONAL, we are proud to be Canada’s leading public relations firm, with a deep bench of public affairs experts from coast-to-coast-to-coast. In Toronto, our Public Affairs team supports clients across various sectors and we’re looking for a proactive and collaborative Associate who is eager to grow their career and help deliver results for our clients.

The role

As an Associate, you will play a key role in supporting the execution of client mandates as part of the Public Affairs team, while also collaborating with cross-functional and cross-office teams across the NATIONAL network. Client mandates could include government relations and advocacy, policy communications, stakeholder engagement and community relations, crisis and issues management, media relations and thought leadership, corporate advisory and strategic counsel.

Key responsibilities

• Support client teams with research, writing, and project coordination
• Contribute to the development of public affairs and stakeholder strategies
• Draft content, including key messages, talking points, articles, briefing notes, reports, presentations, paper submissions, social and web copy and other communication tools
• Assist with issues and crisis management activities
• Monitor legislative and policy developments at the provincial and municipal level
• Support planning and coordination of events, meetings and outreach activities
• Maintain and build relationships with key external stakeholders
• Assist internal team planning, coordination and management
  
  

Qualifications

• 1–2 years’ experience in public affairs, government relations or political/consulting environments
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Degree in communications, political science, economics or a related field (preferred)
• Bilingualism in English and French (nice to have)
• Experience working on or volunteering in political campaigns, political parties or advocacy coalitions (nice to have)
  
  

Abilities

• Strong understanding of Ontario’s provincial and municipal political landscape
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Strategic thinker with a collaborative approach to client service
• Confident communicator across platforms and formats
• Keen interest in learning about the sectors that drive Ontario’s economy
  
  

What we offer

• A hybrid work model and flexible work arrangements
• A dynamic and creative work culture with a focus on collaboration and innovation
• Competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunities for career development and continuous learning
  
  

How to apply

Qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting a resume and a cover letter expressing their interest in the role. Successful candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process, which may include a written assignment.

We thank all applicants for their interest in NATIONAL. Please note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. NATIONAL is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible workplace. If you require any accommodation during the selection process, please let us know.

NATIONAL Public Relations provides creative communications solutions that move people in thought and actions. We bring together a team of 300 seasoned professionals, who are committed to helping organizations of all sizes and in all sectors understand their challenges and opportunities and solve the issues they are facing. For 47 years, NATIONAL has been at the center of issues and industries that matter, leading change for today and tomorrow.

NATIONAL is Canada’s leading public relations firm, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, Halifax and St. John’s. Its network includes Time & Space, a leader in media strategy, data analysis, planning and execution.

NATIONAL Public Relations is an AVENIR GLOBAL company, the largest Canadian-owned global communications firm, ranked among the 25 largest in the world with offices in 23 locations across Canada, the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. For more information about NATIONAL, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn and X.

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