Associate

Location: Remote within Ontario, with a strong preference for candidates based in Ottawa. Candidates based in the GTA will also be considered.

Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Salary: $58,000–$72,000 per year, based on experience

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package

Please apply only by emailing [email protected] with your resume and cover letter.

About Us

Homeward Public Affairs is a growing Canadian advocacy, advisory and communications firm. We launched in 2024 with a mission: to help organizations doing meaningful work move government, influence policy, build support and make this country a better place to live and do business.

We work across sectors including housing, health, Indigenous reconciliation, workforce and economic development, supporting clients that are tackling complex challenges and creating real impact. Our work spans government relations, public affairs, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement and advisory services.

Our approach is smart, strategic and values-driven. We combine a strong understanding of government and public policy with practical execution, clear communication and a commitment to helping our clients achieve meaningful results.

This is a chance to join Homeward at an exciting stage of our growth. We are building our team intentionally and looking for someone who is eager to contribute, learn and build a career in advocacy, public affairs and strategic advisory work.

The Opportunity

We’re hiring an Associate to join our team full-time.

This is an early-career role for someone with approximately 2–3 years of professional experience who is interested in building a career in government relations, public policy and public affairs.

The Associate will play an important role in supporting Homeward’s client work and keeping projects moving. You’ll work closely with consultants and senior team members to coordinate projects and meetings, conduct research, monitor government and political developments, prepare high-quality written materials and help ensure client commitments and deliverables are completed on time.

The role has a significant execution and coordination component. Organization, attention to detail, responsiveness, solid writing and follow-through are essential. You will be expected to understand the broader purpose of the work you are supporting, anticipate next steps and increasingly take ownership of defined pieces of client work.

While the majority of the role will support Homeward’s advocacy and public affairs work, you may also support advisory assignments in areas such as fund development. You will not be expected to arrive with specialized fund development expertise. Strong research, writing, organization and the ability to quickly understand new subject matter are what matter most.

This is also a development role. As you build experience and demonstrate strong execution, judgment and client service, there will be opportunities to take on greater responsibility,



contribute more directly to strategy and client relationships and grow toward a Consultant role at Homeward.

What You’ll Do

- Support the delivery of government relations, advocacy, public affairs and advisory projects across multiple client files
- Schedule and coordinate client, government and stakeholder meetings
- Prepare meeting agendas, briefing materials, notes, minutes and follow-up items
- Track action items, deadlines, government outreach and client deliverables
- Conduct research on government policies, programs, legislation, political developments and other issues relevant to client priorities
- Monitor government announcements, legislative activity, political developments and emerging issues
- Support the preparation of briefing notes, backgrounders, presentations, correspondence, outreach materials and other client deliverables
- Draft and edit clear, professional materials for a range of audiences and purposes
- Maintain contact lists, trackers, project files and other internal records
- Assist with advocacy days, stakeholder meetings, events and other government engagement activities
- Support consultants with government relations and public affairs projects
- Provide research, writing and coordination support on advisory assignments, including occasional fund development-related work
- Assist with proposals, research and other business development activities as required
- Participate in client meetings and government engagement, with increasing responsibility as your experience develops
- Anticipate next steps and help ensure commitments, deadlines and follow-ups are completed
- Take increasing ownership of defined pieces of client work as your skills, judgment and experience grow

Who You Are

- An early-career professional with approximately 2–3 years of relevant professional experience
- A graduate of a university or college program in political science, public policy, public administration, communications, business or another relevant field
- Interested in Canadian politics, government, public policy and current affairs
- Able to understand complex policy, political and organizational issues and communicate them clearly
- Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple tasks, deadlines and competing priorities
- A strong writer and communicator with excellent attention to detail
- Comfortable conducting research, assessing information and turning it into clear, concise materials
- Proactive, reliable and responsive, with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through
- Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, remote environment
- Collaborative, curious and eager to learn
- Able to adapt quickly to new files, sectors and subject matter




- Someone who understands that excellent client service depends as much on strong execution and follow-through as it does on strategic thinking
- Able to attend meetings, events and government engagements in person as required
- Eligible to engage in lobbying activities with the Governments of Canada and Ontario and not subject to any applicable post-employment lobbying restriction

Previous experience at a government relations or public affairs firm is not required. We’re looking for someone with strong foundational skills, good judgment, an understanding of the political and policy environment and the ability to contribute from day one while continuing to develop.

Bonus if you have:

- A master’s degree in public policy, public administration, political science, communications, business or another relevant discipline
- Previous experience in a political office, government office, nonprofit, association, communications agency, public affairs firm or similar environment
- Familiarity with Parliament Hill, Queen’s Park or municipal government
- Business proficiency in both English and French
- Experience with research, policy analysis, communications or stakeholder engagement
- Experience preparing proposals, reports, funding applications or other persuasive written materials
- Familiarity with Monday.com or similar project management tools

Why Join Homeward

We’re building something ambitious, and this is an opportunity to be part of it early.

As an Associate, you’ll work alongside experienced public affairs professionals, gain exposure to a wide range of clients and sectors and develop practical advocacy and advisory skills early in your career. You’ll have opportunities to see how strategy is developed, understand how organizations engage government and stakeholders and increasingly contribute to the work yourself.

You’ll be joining a team where there is a clear opportunity to grow. The Associate role is intended to build the skills required to progress into a Consultant position, including increasingly independent client delivery, strong client service, strategic judgment and greater ownership of work.

We don’t expect you to arrive knowing everything. We do expect you to be organized, curious, willing to learn, ready to contribute and committed to producing excellent work.

Compensation & Benefits

- Salary of $58,000–$72,000, based on experience
- Eligible for a performance-based bonus
- 3 weeks vacation
- 12 paid sick days
- 1 week of flexible lieu days
- 5% employer RRSP or FHSA contribution
- Health spending account
- Funds to choose your own private health insurance
- Monthly allowance for home internet and phone
- Parental leave top-up

This is a remote position within Ontario, with a strong preference for candidates based in Ottawa. Candidates based in the GTA will also be considered. Some travel and in-person attendance will be required for client meetings, government meetings, advocacy days, events and other activities.

📌 Associate (Ontario)
🏢 Homeward Public Affairs
📍 Ontario