About Us:

As one of the fastest growing cities in Alberta, the City of Airdrie is a recognized leader in building a vibrant and sustainable community through innovation.

At the City of Airdrie, incredible opportunities happen every day in a flexible work environment that is tailored to each department. Our inclusive culture and values create a workplace where we welcome aspiring, driven and creative individuals to help us accomplish our business and community goals. We are supportive of one another, and we have fun while we serve our community.

We are passionate about improving the lives of our residents through care and respect; that is the foundation of our organization. At the City of Airdrie, we learn, grow and accomplish great things together. We’re proud to foster a workplace culture built on dedication, teamwork, and genuine care.

Our commitment to creating a positive environment is reflected in our employee feedback from the 2025 Employee Engagement Survey, with 92.8% of employees saying they enjoy their work, and 92.6% feeling equipped with the resources they need to stay safe on the job.

If you have a passion for building a better community and are ready to join the excitement, we’d love to hear from you!

The Opportunity:

The Senior Government Relations Advisor is a strategic position responsible for advancing the City of Airdrie's interests in social policy and community safety through proactive government relations, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. This position serves as the City's administrative advocacy liaison with provincial and federal government officials, municipal associations, and regional partners on matters related to social policy trends, community safety initiatives, and other strategic priorities affecting the municipality.

Working closely with City Council, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and business units across the organization, the Senior Government Relations Advisor helps to implement advocacy strategies, monitors policy developments, and builds the collaborative relationships necessary to position Airdrie as a proactive leader on issues facing growing municipalities.

Responsibilities include

Government Relations & Strategic Advocacy:

- Develop and manage a strategic advocacy approach in conjunction with City Council and ELT focused specifically on social policy and community safety trends that:

o Identifies key social policy and community safety issues facing Airdrie o Develops and builds positive working relationships with regional, provincial, and federal government representatives and their senior staff o Identifies opportunities to work collaboratively with other like-minded jurisdictions to advance key priorities o Offers clear, concise, and consistent messaging on priority social and community safety issues, while considering current Council and Corporate Priorities o Positions Airdrie as a proactive leader in advancing issues facing growing municipalities
- Assist in communicating the City of Airdrie's position to other levels of government and relevant stakeholders on social policy and community safety matters
- Work directly with provincial and federal ministers and senior ministerial staff on complex and sensitive matters facing the City to achieve resolutions that support the City's position and goals
- Represent the City of Airdrie's interests at intergovernmental meetings, conferences, and forums related to social policy and community safety
- Work with Corporate Communications to develop communications materials that support the advocacy positions of the City of Airdrie

Policy Analysis & Issue Identification:
- Monitor and provide analysis of new initiatives, reports, legislation, and other communications from municipal, provincial, and federal governments, associations, or influential private sector organizations that may impact the City's priorities in social policy and community safety
- Provide research, analysis, and advocacy support on social policy issues and trends affecting municipalities, including housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions, public safety, social services, and community well-being




- Work with subject matter experts to analyze community safety trends and emerging issues, identifying implications for the City and recommending possible actions
- Evaluate federal and provincial government budget and policy releases with a focus on analyzing implications for the City and community, particularly in areas of social policy and community safety
- Monitor and report on legislative bills affecting municipalities, identifying opportunities to participate and guide the City's input through proper channels
- Identify opportunities for the City to participate in and influence the development of public policy in areas that impact key priorities

Relationship Building & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Maintain and advance key relationships with various officials within the governments of Alberta and Canada, other municipalities, and government-related associations to obtain information and support to advance key priority issues
- Build strong relationships and liaise with key stakeholders within provincial and federal ministries, particularly those responsible for social policy, housing, community safety and justice
- Develop and help maintain strategic relationships with elected officials and senior administration in other levels of government to increase their understanding of the needs of the City of Airdrie

Internal Coordination & Collaboration:
- Ensure internal awareness, coordination, and alignment on intergovernmental priorities across City business units
- Build and maintain strong internal relationships with department leaders and subject matter experts to ensure coordinated and holistic approaches to key social policy and community safety issues
- Work collaboratively with City business units, specifically those under the Community Safety & Social Services and Community Services directorates, and others to identify advocacy needs and coordinate strategic approaches
- Coordinate with Communications on issues management related to community safety and social services

Inter-Municipal Relations:
- Help coordinate inter-municipal government relations, primarily with the City of Calgary, Rocky View County, and other municipal partners as it pertains to advancement of community safety and socials services priorities
- Help coordinate the City's relations and joint efforts with municipal associations including ABMunis and Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
- Support Council and ELT in the development and review of ABMunis and FCM resolutions, particularly those related to social policy and community safety
- Attend meetings of an intergovernmental nature to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to key issues

Strategic Planning & Reporting:
- Prepare various reports and briefing materials to support decision-making for senior leadership and Council on community safety and social services priority advocacy items
- Provide briefings to support Council and Corporate priorities

You Bring:

- Post-secondary degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field
- Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive professional experience in government relations, public affairs, advocacy, or policy analysis
- Demonstrated experience working with multiple levels of government and navigating complex intergovernmental relationships
- Experience in municipal government or public sector environment
- Strong knowledge of local government issues, municipal policies and practices, and the legislative process at all levels of government
- Demonstrated understanding of social policy, community safety and wellbeing trends affecting Canadian municipalities
- Experience preparing briefing reports, policy analysis, and supporting documentation for senior leadership and elected officials
- Strategic Thinking & Analysis
- Ability to interpret complex or ambiguous concepts and present findings, alternatives,



and recommendations to multiple audiences in an understandable format
- Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
- Ability to identify policy trends and anticipate implications for the municipality
- Capacity to develop long and short-term strategies to serve City interests
- Communication & Interpersonal Skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including strong report writing and presentation abilities
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate with honesty, sensitivity, and diplomacy
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and deal tactfully in an open and political environment
- Demonstrated ability to earn credibility with Senior Administration and Council while earning trust and confidence of associates at all organizational levels
- Relationship Building
- Demonstrated ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders both within the organization and external to it
- Ability to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders and develop relationships within provincial and federal ministries
- Skilled at building consensus and bringing groups with varied understanding and opinions to agreement
- Ability to negotiate with partners, various working groups, and other orders of government with sufficient flexibility and finesse to reach agreements on major high-profile projects and joint initiatives
- Project & Time Management
- Ability to independently prioritize and manage several competing, complex, evolving projects
- Exceptional time management and organizational skills
- Ability to work in a flexible environment to meet deadlines
- Requires high levels of concentrated effort to complete projects from conceptualization through to completion and final reporting
- Professional Attributes
- High level of confidentiality, tact, and diplomacy
- Ability to work with ambiguity and adapt to changing priorities
- Demonstrates appropriate confidence and political acuity
- Exceptional customer service orientation
- Sound judgment and informed discretion in decision-making
- Thoroughness and preciseness in carrying out deliverables to ensure accurate information and sound analysis

We Offer: Along with a competitive compensation program and City paid health and dental premiums, this position also includes:

- Excellent health, dental, paramedical, and benefits plan
- First-in-class pension plan
- Career development and tuition reimbursement
- Employee discounts, gym membership, social events, and health & wellness initiatives

Continuous learning through training and development is encouraged as are flexible work arrangements, when possible. We recognize that our people work best when they feel engaged in their workplace and appreciated for their efforts and our overall benefits package reflects that.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time position that is required to work 37.5 hours per week.

Please include a cover letter along with your resume.

Next Steps:

Candidates are invited to apply online. We only accept resumes and additional application documents through our online recruitment system. In-person applications, email or other online forms will not be considered.

If you require an accommodation during any part of the application or hiring process, please contact us at [email protected] and we will work with you to meet your needs.

The City of Airdrie is committed to fostering a workplace culture where belonging, equity, accessibility, and diversity are deeply ingrained into all parts of the City, where employees feel they belong, are treated with respect, and where everyone can thrive and contribute to the City’s success.

Postings close at 10:00 PM MT (Mountain Time) on the closing date listed in the posting. We recommend applying as soon as possible as we are not able to accept late applications.

Please review the job competition carefully and be sure to attach any specifically requested documentation in the My Documents section of your application.

Interviewing and hiring may commence prior to the posted closing date.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Airdrie.

📌 Senior Government Relations Advisor (Airdrie)
🏢 City of Airdrie
📍 Airdrie