PAA Advisory | Conseils’ Arts and Culture team is hiring a Senior Advisor to support its government relations work. The Arts and Culture team works with clients across the arts, culture, cultural industries, not-for-profits, and charities ecosystem including with clients in theatre, orchestral music, opera, ballet, music recording, book publishing, film and television, and sports, as well as in media literacy, social development, and education.

Issues of focus include public funding for the arts and culture; equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the arts in Canada; regulatory reform, including broadcasting, copyright, employment insurance, and charitable status; and other, organisation-specific issues related to the not-for-profit sector.

Qualifications

Below is a list of ‘great-to-haves’ for this position: we would welcome you to apply if you bring to the table any of the following skills and experiences:

• five (5) years of relevant experience in a government, industry association, Arts Service Organisation (ASO), consulting, within an arts presentation organisation, or a setting relevant to public policy and the cultural ecosystem; or an equivalent combination of experience and relevant studies;

• a high degree of familiarity with the public policy and government decision-making processes, institutions, and governance frameworks, as well as the stakeholder ecosystem, notably related to cultural policy and the arts granting ecosystem;
• demonstrated knowledge and experience providing written and/or verbal briefings to organizational leaders;
• demonstrated experience as a leader in project and event management;
• completed an undergraduate degree in a relevant field such as political science, public policy, or arts administration; graduate studies are not required but would be an asset;
• experience/capacity in arts administration, cultural policy, grant writing, regulatory proceedings and submissions, or other contributions to the cultural ecosystem are preferred.
• ability to operate in both English and French would be an asset, but is not a requirement.

As a member of our team, you will be based in Ottawa and responsible for providing day-to-day support and advice to other Advisors, Client Directors and Managing Directors supporting the firm’s clients in several ways, including:

• drafting presentation materials, advocacy documents and communications materials for internal and external audiences;
• drafting reports, public and cultural policy studies and political analysis (in conjunction with your colleagues) that can serve as a foundation for advising clients;
• providing ongoing, real-time advice and insight to leaders of client organizations and having day-to-day responsibility for managing the government affairs needs of clients;
• engaging in advocacy activities – including but not limited to lobbying – focused on Designated Public Office Holders, other public officials, and relevant stakeholders;
• organising and managing advocacy events, including receptions, Hill Days, and training sessions;
• building and maintaining relationships with relevant stakeholders, Arts Service Organisations, and industry associations in relevant sectors;
• monitoring, gathering information and analyzing public policy relevant to a client’s issues;
• monitoring and reporting on the activities and proceedings of the House of Commons and Senate, including Question Period and Committees;
• monitoring and reporting on the activities and proceedings of certain Provincial Legislatures as required;
• undertaking research and providing analysis on stakeholder groups, media coverage, government decision-makers, regulatory and legislative processes.

This is a full-time position based in Ottawa.  You must have the ability to register to lobby at the federal level with the Commissioner of Lobbying.

To express your interest in this position, please submit your CV and cover letter to careers@PAAinc.ca by Monday, April 29 at 12 p.m. EST. In it, please include a brief comment on your interest in the arts and culture ecosystem in Canada, such as a favourite performance, show, movie, song, or other artistic expression that interests you.

At PAA Advisory Conseils, we value and seek to actively involve the full range of what makes people unique in order to create a strong and innovative organisation guided by the values of integrity, industriousness, empathy, humility, and initiative. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, people of colour, people with disabilities, people from all gender and sexually diverse communities and people with intersectional identities.

PAA Advisory Conseils is also committed to providing accommodations throughout the interview and employment process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.

Thank you for your interest in PAA Advisory | Conseils. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.