Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs

Position Title:             Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs

Term:                           Permanent Full-Time

Division/Branch:        Corporate Affairs, Policy and Planning Division / Corporate Affairs, Governance and Agency Oversight Branch

Application Deadline: November 20, 2024

Pay Level:                     Level 10

Pay Range:                   Min: $98,530   Max: $123,159

Position Location:       Head Office, Toronto, ON; Hybrid

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is a regulatory agency that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General. The AGCO is responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming (igaming, casino, lottery, and charitable gaming), horse racing, and cannabis sectors in Ontario, in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest. 

The Corporate Affairs team at the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario leads critical government relations and issues management activities, and advances priority corporate initiatives. The Senior Advisor, Corporate Affairs will play a critical role in the advancement and achievement of corporate initiatives and projects in support of the corporate affairs functions of the agency including providing research, analysis and advice to advance the AGCO’s and government’s policy and change initiatives and to support overall government relations and issues management on behalf of the agency. 

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs, and playing a key role on a small and collaborative team on a dynamic mix of short-term discrete tasks as well as longer-term project work, you will

• Provide research, analysis, and recommendations to identify and address potentially contentious issues, inquiries and information requests as well as to support effective decision-making.
• Produce concise briefing notes, presentations, reports, response correspondence, and support the development of sensitive communications material, often on a pressing deadline.
• Provide strategic advice to support and maintain effective agency-government relations on issues and projects spanning across the AGCO’s regulated industries.
• Develop and coordinate issues management strategies, including identifying subject matter experts, developing and maintaining positive relationships with them and mobilizing teams to develop appropriate advice for AGCO decision makers.
• Lead work packages for critical corporate projects, including oversight of mandatory training programs for the cannabis and liquor sectors.
• Support the implementation of government initiatives and priorities through coordination and collaboration with subject matter experts from across the AGCO. This will include tasks such as conducting analysis of AGCO programs and regulatory frameworks, supporting the development of submissions to seek government approvals, and developing responses to one-off government information requests.
• Plan and implement corporate policies and activities to ensure compliance with applicable laws and government directives. 

The ideal candidate will have: 

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science or related field.  A professional degree in public administration, law or business is an asset.
• Minimum three years of professional experience in public policy development, program development and/or project management, ideally in a public sector and/or regulatory setting.
• A strong commitment to solving complex problems through collaboration, engagement and consensus-building, with proven relationship management and persuasion skills.
• High level of independent decision-making ability, analytical acumen and political acuity, as well as superior writing capabilities.
• Experience managing complex and sensitive issues, including working across teams and liaising with senior leadership to resolve them effectively.
• Experience leading the development of government submissions to seek government approvals for programs, projects and initiatives.
• Experience interfacing with and providing recommendations to senior management, boards of directors, external stakeholders and partners.
• Knowledge of the alcohol, gaming, horse racing, and recreational cannabis sectors in Ontario from a commercial and regulatory perspective is an asset.
• Knowledge of applicable legislation, regulatory standards and policies is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage priorities on short timelines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Visio.
• The successful candidate must be eligible to work in Canada and will be subject to a criminal background check.