Are you a senior communications strategist who can help organizations navigate complex issues, influence important conversations and communicate with confidence when the stakes are high?

You understand how strategic communications, public affairs and government relations work together. You can counsel senior leaders, anticipate risks and turn complex issues into clear strategies and communications that move people to action.

Durrell Communications is looking for an Account Director, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Strategic Communications to provide senior strategic leadership across a portfolio of client accounts.

This is a senior role for someone who is comfortable sitting across the table from executives, elected officials and community leaders, asking the right questions and making clear recommendations. You will lead strategy for complex client files, provide senior counsel, guide account teams and help clients navigate opportunities, issues and changing stakeholder environments.

You will also be expected to stay close to the work. That may mean shaping a communications strategy, reviewing a briefing note before an important meeting, preparing an executive for media, developing key messages or stepping into a difficult client conversation when senior judgment is required.

This is a full-time, permanent, in-office position based in Waterloo, Ontario.

How you will make a difference

Reporting to the CEO, the Account Director will be a senior strategic advisor to clients and a leader within Durrell Communications.

You will develop a deep understanding of each client's organization, goals, operating setting and stakeholders, then translate that understanding into clear communications, public affairs and government relations strategies.

You will help clients determine what they need to say, who they need to reach, how they should engage and what actions will move an issue or opportunity forward.

On complex files, you will bring structure to ambiguity. You will identify communications risks, stakeholder dynamics and opportunities early and help clients make informed decisions about how to respond.

You will also provide leadership to account teams, setting strategic direction, reviewing major deliverables, coaching team members and ensuring that strong strategy carries through into execution.

What you will be doing

Strategic Communications and Client Counsel

- Serve as a senior strategic advisor for assigned client accounts.
- Develop strategic communications plans that connect client objectives with audiences, stakeholders, messages, channels and measurable outcomes.
- Counsel executives and senior leaders on communications strategy, reputation, positioning and complex or sensitive issues.
- Lead discovery and strategic planning for new and existing clients.
- Turn complicated business, policy or organizational issues into clear communications strategies and practical action plans.
- Identify emerging risks, opportunities and changing stakeholder dynamics and recommend an appropriate response.
- Lead high-stakes client meetings and strategic discussions.
- Ensure communications strategies remain aligned with client priorities as circumstances evolve.
- Build trusted senior relationships that support client retention, confidence and long-term account growth.

Public Affairs and Government Relations

- Develop and lead public affairs and government relations strategies for clients working with municipal, provincial and federal governments.
- Help clients understand political, policy and stakeholder environments that affect their objectives.
- Develop stakeholder strategies, engagement plans and approaches to government decision-makers.
- Prepare clients for meetings with elected officials, government staff, community leaders and other key stakeholders.
- Develop briefing materials,



key messages, submissions, presentations and other materials that support advocacy and engagement.
- Monitor relevant government, policy and public affairs developments and identify implications for clients.
- Advise clients on how and when to engage government and other stakeholders.
- Support coalition building, advocacy initiatives and stakeholder outreach where appropriate.
- Ensure public affairs and government relations activities align with the client's broader communications and reputation strategy.

Issues and Reputation Management

- Provide senior counsel during emerging or high-risk communications issues.
- Help clients anticipate how an issue may be understood by media, government, stakeholders, employees and the public.
- Develop issues-management and crisis-communications strategies.
- Establish key messages, response protocols and communications priorities.
- Prepare executives and spokespeople for difficult conversations, media interviews and public scrutiny.
- Work with account teams to monitor developments and adapt strategy as issues evolve.
- Act as a senior escalation point when client situations require additional judgment or intervention.

Media and Executive Communications

- Develop media strategies that support broader client objectives.
- Identify compelling stories, angles and opportunities that strengthen client visibility and credibility.
- Provide senior oversight of media relations activity on priority accounts.
- Prepare executives and subject-matter experts for media interviews, speeches, presentations and other public-facing opportunities.
- Write or shape executive communications including speeches, briefing notes, opinion pieces, presentations, key messages and thought leadership.
- Review high-profile or sensitive communications for strategic alignment, clarity and accuracy.
- Help clients communicate complex issues in language that is clear, credible and relevant to their audiences.

Account and Project Leadership

- Take senior ownership of assigned client relationships and account health.
- Translate strategy into clear priorities, scopes, timelines, responsibilities and measures of success.
- Ensure teams understand the client's objectives and the strategic reasoning behind the work.
- Monitor account priorities, risks, budgets and scope and address concerns before they affect delivery.
- Lead major projects and complex client programs from discovery through implementation.
- Make timely decisions, remove barriers and provide direction when teams require senior input.
- Work closely with operations and account leads to ensure resources are aligned with client needs.
- Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships and expand the agency's work where there is a genuine business need.

Team Leadership and Development

- Provide strategic leadership and mentorship to Account Managers and other members of the client-service team.
- Coach team members in strategic thinking, writing, client counsel, stakeholder engagement and issues management.
- Review priority work and provide clear, constructive feedback.
- Help team members strengthen their ability to move from execution to strategic counsel.
- Delegate appropriately while maintaining accountability for the quality and strategic direction of client work.
- Establish strong standards for public affairs, government relations and strategic communications work across the agency.
- Contribute to hiring,



onboarding and development of communications professionals.

What we require

- Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in strategic communications, public relations, public affairs, government relations, journalism or a closely related field.
- Significant experience providing strategic communications counsel to senior clients or executives.
- Experience managing complex client accounts, programs or portfolios, ideally within an agency, consulting or professional-services environment.
- Demonstrated ability to develop communications strategies and translate them into practical execution plans.
- Strong understanding of public affairs, stakeholder engagement and government decision-making.
- Experience with issues management, reputation management and executive communications.
- Robust media relations experience and an understanding of how newsrooms, journalists and public narratives operate.
- Experience writing and reviewing high-level strategic materials including communications plans, briefing notes, key messages, presentations and executive communications.
- Experience leading, coaching or supervising communications professionals.
- Strong project and account-management capabilities.
- A bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, marketing or a related field is preferred. Equivalent senior-level professional experience will also be considered.

Skills for success You will be successful in this role if you bring:

- Strong strategic judgment and the ability to see the bigger picture while understanding what needs to happen next.
- The ability to simplify complex issues without losing the substance.
- Confidence providing advice to senior executives and challenging assumptions when required.
- A strong understanding of how communications, government, media and stakeholders influence one another.
- Excellent writing and editing skills.
- Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
- The ability to read a room, understand different perspectives and build trusted relationships.
- Political acuity and sound judgment in sensitive environments.
- The ability to manage multiple complex client files and shifting priorities.
- Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to take ownership when an issue requires attention.
- The ability to give clear direction while helping others develop their own strategic capabilities.
- High standards for accuracy, quality and accountability.
- Integrity, discretion and professionalism when working with confidential or sensitive information.

Why Durrell Communications? Durrell Communications is a full-service strategic communications and public relations agency based in Waterloo Region.

We work with organizations navigating growth, change, public issues and important decisions. Our work can involve building public understanding, strengthening an organization's reputation, engaging government, preparing leaders for difficult conversations or helping a client tell a story that needs to be heard.

This role offers the opportunity to work directly with senior leaders on files that matter to businesses, organizations and communities.

You will have significant influence over strategy, work alongside an experienced communications team and help strengthen Durrell's growing public affairs and strategic communications practice.

We are looking for someone who enjoys solving difficult communications problems, values strong relationships and wants to be a trusted advisor clients call when the answer is not obvious.

Pay: $82,000.00-$110,000.00 per year

Benefits

- Dental care
- Paid time off
- RRSP match

Education:
- Bachelor's Degree (required)

Experience:
- strategic communications, public relations: 7 years (preferred)

Work Location: In person

📌 Account Director, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Strategic Communications (Waterloo)
🏢 Durrell Communications
📍 Waterloo