Manager, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations

Position Details

• Service Area: Office of the CAO
• Department: Strategic Initiatives and Intergovernmental Services
• Work Location: City Hall, 1 Carden Street
• Work Mode: Hybrid
• Job Type and Duration: Temporary, Full time Vacancy (up to 12 Months)
• Position Availability: 1 existing vacant position
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Posting Period: September 3, 2026 to September 20, 2026 11:59 p.m.

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What We Offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview

Resumes are being accepted for the temporary position of Manager, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations. Reporting to the General Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Intergovernmental Services, the successful candidate will act in a support role to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Executive Team, Leadership Team and other City staff as well as support for the Mayor and Council to further the City’s strategic and intergovernmental priorities, expand and grow strategic partnerships, and develop supporting policies. Guided by the strategic priorities and directions in the City of Guelph Strategic Plan, and committed to the corporate values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness, and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the vision of an inclusive, connected, prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Relationship Building and Networking

• Develop and continually enhance a broad network of contacts and resources both within and outside the corporation, inter-municipally and at multiple levels of government (governmental officials, Indigenous nations, municipal associations, community agencies and other organizations)
• Identify networking and participation opportunities for the CAO, and/or Executive Team members and Council
• Manage, develop, and coach the Intergovernmental Advisor and Grant Support Specialist as part of your team
• Lead the City’s relationship-building with key First Nation and Métis government partners and provide advice to City departments on Indigenous relations with the aim of advancing reconciliation.
• Ensure the City is meeting its legal and procedural obligations as it relates to Treaty rights and Aboriginal rights (commonly referred to as Indigenous rights)
• Cultivate City relationships with other regional partners that will lead to greater collaboration on a variety of issues and equitable funding arrangements
• Coordinate and partner with Finance to execute the grants process (provincial, federal and others) with City departments from start to finish, including, but not limited to, identifying, tracking, assisting with applications, application advocacy, agreement negotiation and execution and information gathering from funders.
• Create and organize meetings, forums and senior level presentations to support the CAO, Executive Team and Council in building relationships and advancing requests with Provincial and Federal Ministers and their senior political staff, local representatives (MPP & MP) and community organizations
• Participate regularly in provincial network forums, committees and workgroups to establish Guelph as a municipal leader

Tracking and Monitoring

• Explore, monitor, identify and report on policy and program developments in other jurisdictions that may impact City service delivery on an ongoing basis
• Consult and liaise with other municipalities, governments and stakeholders on policy initiatives
• Research and assess developments in legislation, intergovernmental policies and trends and provide analysis and advice
• Monitor, scan and propose recommendations related to policy and platform developments from federal and provincial governments, with other partners, associations and professional networks.
• Deliver political insights and strategies including analysis of legislation, economic updates, budgets, etc.

Strategic and Policy Project Management

• Lead policy driven corporate projects and initiatives including the development of a formal advocacy planning framework and Indigenous relations policy work
• Lead coordinated, organization wide intergovernmental policy positions, communications and briefing materials to ensure that City interests are well developed, articulated and represented in dealings with other levels of government, a wide range of representative bodies (e.g. FCM, AMO) and public boards
• Coordinate strategic communications tactics and approaches that support policy and advocacy work and associated educational and influence campaigns
• Develop background briefing notes for Council, the CAO and Executive Team.
• Support the completion of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and other forms of agreements as required to ensure clear roles and responsibilities.

Qualifications and Requirements

Considerable experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through post-secon...