Director, Government Relations and Policy Advocacy

The Director of Government Relations and Policy Advocacy plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping Toronto Hydro’s engagement with governments and advancing public policy priorities that support long‑term corporate success. Leading municipal, provincial and federal government relations strategies, the Director will work closely with senior leadership to influence policy, manage risk and advance opportunities aligned with corporate objectives. Orchestrating the identification, development, refinement, and articulation of Toronto Hydro’s regulatory policy perspectives, positions and advocacy, the Director is a thought-leader internally and in within the provincial and national energy sector. As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, the Director cultivates strong, credible partnerships within the organization, across government, with regulatory bodies, and among industry stakeholders, positioning the organization as a collaborative and influential voice.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops trusted relationships with the City of Toronto (e.g. Mayor’s Office, City Councillors and their offices, senior City Administration), City-related agencies and corporations, and municipal stakeholders to collaboratively advance organizational strategies and plans
• Develops trusted relationships with the Federal and Provincial Governments, elected leaders and their staff, the senior Public Service, and related stakeholders to cultivate opportunities for Toronto Hydro through legislation, regulation, programs, and other government initiatives that align with the utility’s objectives
• Preserves and builds upon Toronto Hydro’s positioning as a key stakeholder and participant in policy and other processes of the Ontario Energy Board, Independent Electricity System Operator, and uses that positioning to effectively influence frameworks and policies
• Leads and mentors a team of high-performing government relations and regulatory professionals, enabling curiosity, creativity, sound judgment, motivated high-performance, teamwork, and delivery of top-quality products for internal and external use
• Serves as Toronto Hydro’s representative in numerous governmental, regulatory, and industry association (e.g. Electricity Canada, Ontario Energy Association, Electricity Distributors Association, Toronto Region Board of Trade) forums, demonstrating the best expression of the company’s corporate values and culture
• Designs and executes a high‑performance policy advocacy strategy, developing policy positions that support the organization’s corporate strategy, business objectives, and investment priorities across both near and long‑term horizons
• Designs and executes plans to monitor government activities at all three levels, identifies issues and manages them to resolution, and oversees the preparation of sophisticated internal reporting products that effectively translate the complexities of the evolving governmental, regulatory, and policy landscape into digestible and actionable internal reports, and delivers those through exceptional presentation skills to senior leadership

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Law, or a related field
• A minimum of ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of experience in government relations or public policy roles within a corporation operating in a heavily regulated industry, and/or in senior policy or leadership positions within the public sector or major government relations firms
• Five (5) or more years of progressive leadership experience
• Extensive knowledge of municipality structures and operations, including the City of Toronto
• Demonstrated experience building relationships and effective partnerships across organizations and with senior leaders, regulators and industry stakeholders
• Extensive knowledge of and engagement with the Ontario Energy Board and Independent Electricity System Operator, especially with respect to policies, codes, and the processes in which those are created and amended
• Strong understanding of federal and provincial energy policy and regulations
• Knowledge of regulatory laws within the commercial context
• Excellent presentation and written communication skills, with a proven ability to negotiate and influence
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and issues management skills

TOTAL REWARDS

To support the overall well-being and success of our employees, Toronto Hydro provides a comprehensive total rewards package which includes:

• 100% employer paid Health & Dental benefits
• 24/7 access to Employee & Family Assistance Program and Virtual Healthcare
• Company-paid life insurance and long term disability
• Spending account to support fitness goals (e.g. gym memberships)
• Competitive paid time off (including vacation and parental leave)
• Defined Benefits Pension Plan through OMERS
• Career development and tuition reimbursement
• Exciting employee engagement and appreciation events throughout the year

This position is based in a hybrid environment allowing for remote work two days per week, based on business needs. Employees will be required to come onsite Tuesday to Thursday. You are expected to live in Ontario and within reasonable commuting distance of the office.

Toronto Hydro is committed to leveraging new technologies to support an efficient and inclusive recruitment process. As part of this, artificial intelligence (AI) systems may be used to assist in screening, assessing, or selecting applicants for this position. These tools are used in combination with human decision-making to ensure fairness and consistency. 

ACCESSIBILITY AND APPLICATION SUPPORT

Toronto Hydro is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Thank you for considering a career with Toronto Hydro. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. If you’re having difficulty using our online application system and require accommodation, please email hr_talent@torontohydro.com or call (416) 542-8000. Toronto Hydro is pleased to provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals throughout the job application process. Please note this email is for accommodation requests only. Resumes sent to this email address will not be considered. Learn more about our commitment to accessibility.