Community and Government Relations Lead-Responsable des relations communautaires et gouvernementales Job Ottawa area,Ontario Canada

Position:
Community and Government Relations Lead

Location:

Ottawa (in-person/hybrid)

Employment Type:

Full-Time, Permanent

Department:
Operations – Connection Hub

Reports To:

Connection Hub Manager

About the Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages

The Office of the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages is dedicated to promoting and championing Indigenous languages by supporting the efforts of Indigenous Peoples across Canada to reclaim, revitalize, maintain, and strengthen their languages.

Our national team is passionate about our work, and the difference we make with the research, resources and innovation we develop collaboratively with partners and share with Indigenous communities. We have policies in place to ensure a welcoming, safe and respectful workplace, as well as rigorous standards for transparency and accountability.

Our Vision:
All Indigenous languages in Canada are safe, vibrant, and thriving.

Our Guiding Principles

There is an urgent need for concerted efforts and investments toward the revitalization of Indigenous languages to arrest and reverse the erosion that has already occurred. Research shows that no Indigenous language in Canada is safe and that all are in varying stages of endangerment.

Indigenous languages are fundamental to the identities, cultures, spirituality, relationships to the land, worldviews, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous languages have and continue to contribute to the strength of Canada as a whole, including biodiversity and the richness of linguistic and cultural heritage. The Commission is committed to protecting the vitality of all Indigenous languages, including sign languages and sleeping languages.

We welcome interest by qualified candidates as we expand our national team to launch new, exciting projects and to meet growing organizational needs.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager of the Connection Hub, the Community and Government Relations Lead provides strategic leadership in community engagement and relationship-building with Indigenous Peoples, organizations, governments, and diverse stakeholders/rights holders across Canada. The role leads the development and implementation of collaborative engagement strategies that foster meaningful, respectful, and transformative partnerships in support of Indigenous language revitalization.

Through building reciprocal relationships and partnerships, this position plays a key role in strengthening knowledge sharing, advancing the mandate of the Commission, identifying emerging priorities, and developing community-informed approaches to language revitalization needs. The Community and Government Relations Lead ensures that the Commission’s approach to building relationships and partnerships are grounded in community priorities, as well as Indigenous knowledge systems and worldviews.

Key Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Manager, lead strategic community engagement and trust-based relationship-building with Indigenous Peoples, communities, governments, external partners, and rights holders in support of language revitalization.
Strengthen collaboration opportunities between the Commission and partners, communities, governments, and rights holders.
Foster collaborative relationships and partnerships with National Indigenous Organizations as well as federal, provincial, and territorial governments and partners.
Monitor emerging issues and priorities related to Indigenous languages and the Commission’s mandate to identify risks, opportunities, and emerging trends.
Provide strategic recommendations to senior leadership on external engagements and partnership initiatives which reflect community priorities and are grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems.
Prepare high-quality briefing materials, speaking notes, and issue analyses as it relates to community engagement and government relations.
Lead the design, management, and implementation of MOUs and other partnership frameworks that advance departmental and organizational priorities.
Collaborate across internal teams to ensure aligned engagement approaches and consistent communication outputs.
Represent the Commission at key engagements and…