Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Advisor ~ Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Advisor Posting date: Duration: One year (with the possibility of an extension or becoming permanent) The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) is a agile and progressive union representing over 27,000 professional employees in the federal public sector. At CAPE, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all our members.

Flexible Work

Model & Remote work opportunities Seamless transition for public servants The Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Advisor leads CAPE’s advocacy and government relations portfolio, developing strategy, identifying policy objectives as well as key advocacy and lobbying opportunities. They also keep CAPE members abreast of relevant and useful developments in the labour policy landscape. University undergraduate degree in communications, public affairs, government relations, political or social sciences or any related discipline.

A graduate degree is preferred.

Experience providing advice to senior management, leading in research, strategy, planning, opportunities development and campaign development and implementation.

Experience conducting stakeholder landscape analyses, devising stakeholder engagement plans, and managing policy advocacy and government relations communications activities and products.

Experience campaigning the Canadian government and political parties to advance social and/or labour issues. Work experience in the human rights and/or labour space an asset. Track record of success advancing an organization’s policy positions and designing and managing campaigns.

Develops and promotes, in partnership with key staff, CAPE’s official positions in various areas and helps develop CAPE’s capacity to engage with and influence the Canadian federal government departments employing CAPE’s members as well as Treasury Board and other governmental, political and labour stakeholders. Leads initiatives to develop and deliver public policy advocacy and related government relations initiatives in collaboration with all CAPE stakeholders. Advises senior management (Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Chief of staff and President) on communications and public affairs strategy.

Advises and supports media and public outreach efforts. Maintains and nurtures effective contacts and coordinates policy advocacy efforts and initiatives with other unions. Identifies, manages, and builds relationship with parliamentarians, special interests’ groups,



and other relevant key stakeholders to help advocate for the adoption of measures and policies that can benefit members.

Advises the President, in collaboration with the Director of Communications and Public Affairs and Senior Advisor to the President, on strategic opportunities with elected officials. Responsible for updating the Registry of Lobbyists of keeping the President and Director of Communications and Public Affairs abreast with changes to the Lobbying Act that could impact CAPE’s advocacy efforts. Develops and implements advocacy and government relations strategies and plans as well as the production of consultations, opinion surveys and advocacy or information campaigns.

Coordinates the development and delivery of public opinion research and environmental scanning to inform the development of policy advocacy, government relations and communications options, strategies, plans and campaigns and their results measurement frameworks. Briefs, communicates and explains to CAPE members, labour and workplace related developments, news and policies likely to impact them, working closely with the communications team. Researches, writes and reviews draft documents in English and/or in French, provided by staff and elected officials before they are finalized and communicated to members.

Ability to think strategically, as well as supervise or carry out research, analyze political context and events, and advance effective advocacy strategies. Strong organizational, project management, and critical thinking skills. Proactive, entrepreneurial and creative.

Agile and adaptable, able to work in a fast-paced environment, to pivot at the last minute and to deliver results under tight deadlines. Demonstrated knowledge of the theories, principles, practices and methodologies of strategic policy advocacy, government relations, public affairs, and strategic communications. Solid grasp of government relations in the Canadian context, campaign design and planning, public opinion research and environmental scanning.

Solid grasp of Canada’s political landscape.



Ability to leverage social media and digital communications to advance advocacy and government relations objectives. Ability to coach and prepare CAPE spokespersons and representatives ahead of meetings with government and political stakeholders to advance policy.

Knowledge of the policy advocacy and communications community of the unions representing employees in the federal government and in the broader union network across Canada. Knowledge of the policy advocacy communications community promoting change to the policies of the Federal Government affecting the working conditions, pay, and benefits of union members. Knowledge of the mandates of different organizations of the federal public service, the departments and agencies employing CAPE members, and knowledge of union protocol.

Must meet the language requirement of the position. Candidatesmust be fluently bilingual in both English and Frenchat the time of application. This position requires advanced proficiency in both spoken and written English and French, and candidates should be prepared to demonstrate this fluency during the recruitment process.

If you are a member of an equity-deserving group, we encourage you to self-declare in this recruitment process. This self‑declaration information may be factored into selection decisions and to address CAPE’s commitment to increase representation of these groups. The recruitment committee reserves all rights to use any methods that they deem appropriate to evaluate applicants, including artificial intelligence.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that accurate contact information is provided and updated as required and to update their personal information when it changes. Applicants who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

Failure to respond to communications may result in elimination from this process. CAPE may decide to use top-down or random selection or any other additional qualification to determine the number of applicants who will be considered for the next stage of the evaluation. Proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residency documentation, or a valid work permit or open work visa may be requested to ensure that candidates are eligible to work in Canada without restrictions.

Candidates are required to disclose any family, personal, financial, or professional relationship with a CAPE staff member.

📌 Senior Advocacy and Public Affairs Advisor (Quebec)
🏢 ACEP CAPE
📍 Quebec