Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations at Canada Life

Permanent Full Time

We are looking for a seasoned and strategic executive to join our leadership team as Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice-President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, you will shape and lead our public policy agenda, drive government engagement, and reinforce our position as a trusted industry voice.

This is a high-impact opportunity to influence the policy landscape, guide our organization through complex environments, and ensure our perspectives are heard on the issues that matter most to our business and stakeholders. You’ll be part of a forward-thinking leadership team committed to innovation, integrity, and long-term value creation.

Mandate:

The Vice President, Public Policy and Government Relations provides enterprise leadership across a national, regionally aligned model that integrates advocacy, policy research, and stakeholder engagement.

You will lead both the strategic direction and the operational execution of government relations and public policy, ensuring the company has a strong, informed, and influential voice within the industry and among policy makers.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Policy Leadership

• Design and execute a forward-looking public policy and industry affairs strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Lead the development of an integrated policy research and insights agenda that informs advocacy priorities, public positioning and business strategy.
• Oversee national coordination of regional policy intelligence to anticipate emerging trends and shape proactive responses.
• Translate complex policy research into actionable strategies, white papers, and external-facing thought leadership.
• Advise senior executives on legislative, political, and regulatory developments with strategic implications.
  
  

Government and Regulatory Affairs

• Build and maintain strong relationships with federal, provincial, and municipal policymakers.
• Monitor and assess legislative developments across insurance, benefits, and related sectors; provide timely insights and strategic recommendations.
• Advocate for policy positions that support our strategic and operational goals, enhancing organizational credibility with policymakers and regulators.
  
  

Industry and Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent the organization in industry associations and policy forums.
• Influence sector-wide policy discussions and enhance our reputation as an industry leader.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with external stakeholders to advance shared policy objectives.
  
  

Policy Insights and Analytics

• Lead policy research and analytics that support scenario modeling, impact assessments, and analysis of emerging policy shifts.
• Translate policy intelligence into business implications and actionable recommendations for executive decision-making.
• Develop a forward-looking insight pipeline connecting government relations work with corporate strategy, brand and communications functions.
  
  

Advocacy and Reputation Management

• Lead advocacy initiatives to promote our policy agenda and protect business interests.
• Ensure alignment between policy positions and corporate communications and brand strategy.
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure proactive storytelling and reputation management around key policy topics.
  
  

Internal Leadership and Collaboration

• Collaborate with legal, compliance, risk, strategy, and business unit leaders to ensure cohesive policy engagement.
• Provide regular briefings and policy education to senior leadership.
• Support executive participation in key external events and forums.
  
  

What You Bring

• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in public policy, government relations, or regulatory affairs, including senior leadership roles.
• Deep expertise in legislative and regulatory processes across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to influence policy outcomes and build high-level relationships across government and industry.
• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills with a strong executive presence.
• Experience in financial services is an asset.
• Bilingualism (English/French) is considered a strong advantage.
  
  

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Be your best at Great-West Lifeco and Canada Life - Apply today!

Great-West Lifeco Inc is a Canadian headquarter, international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management, and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States, and Europe under the brands: Canada Life, Empower and Irish Life.

At the end of 2023, our companies had over 33,500 employees, 232,000 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners – serving approximately 42 million customer relationships.

Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO and is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies.

Being a part of our organization means you have a voice. This is a place where your unique background, perspectives and talents are valued, and shape our future success.

You can be your best here. You are part of a diverse and inclusive workplace where your career and well-being are championed. You’ll have the opportunity to excel in your way, finding new and better ways to deliver exceptional customer and advisor experiences.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live, and to creating an environment where every employee has the opportunity to reach their potential. 

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Canada Life policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [email protected].

We would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.