External Posting Notice

Title: External Affairs Specialist

Department: Policy, Campaigns & Communications

Status: Full-time, unionized

Supervisor: Director, Policy, Campaigns & Communications

Salary: $75,948.37 - $98,618.24

Level: Band 3

Vacancy Type: Current Opening

Application Deadline: October 4 , 2026 or until suitable candidate is found

SCOPE OF POSITION:

Reporting to the Director, Policy, Campaigns and Communications, and working closely with the Policy and Advocacy team and the Communications team, the External Affairs Specialist is responsible for leading the development and execution of Oxfam Canada's government relations and media outreach. The External Affairs Specialist will work with teams across the organization, including members of the Senior Leadership Team, to develop government and media relations initiatives to advance Oxfam Canada's organizational priorities. Well versed in government processes and having a strong existing network of contacts, the Specialist will ensure that Oxfam Canada's influencing priorities are brought in front of decision-makers and to the public through media.

The External Affairs Specialist is a people person who enjoys making connections and building working relationships to increase Oxfam's visibility and profile, and help advance Oxfam's vision for a just and sustainable world. They thrive in developing outreach strategies and identifying opportunities to engage government and media in our work, and act as a spokesperson for Oxfam.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES: (This is not an exhaustive list of duties to be performed)

• Develop and execute outreach plans to ensure Oxfam Canada's influencing priorities are brought in front of government officials.
• Monitor and identify relevant parliamentary processes and mechanisms to grow support for Oxfam Canada's influencing priorities.
• Build strong relationships with relevant Members of Parliament, government officials and political staff.
• Support policy and advocacy and senior leadership teams in analyzing political trends and identifying risks and opportunities.
• Support policy and advocacy team in developing influencing strategies and executing key activities.
• Support the Executive Director and senior leadership team members to build up their media profile and relationships with key decision makers.
• Collaborate and coordinate with the communications team to identify media moments
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with journalists and producers to ensure Oxfam Canada issues are covered in media.
• Organize news conferences and policy events.
• Produce high quality advocacy and communications products (briefing notes, press releases, media pitches, op-eds, etc.) to engage policy-makers and secure media coverage.
• Act as Oxfam Canada spokesperson in the media and with government, and support other OCA spokespeople in preparation for interviews.
• Monitor media and provide regular media roundups, summaries and analytics using Meltwater.

Other duties as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES:

• Master's degree in relevant field of study (such as Political Science, International Relations, Journalism) or equivalent education and experience;
• Minimum of seven years in a comparable external relations/public affairs position;
• Experience working on government relations and advocacy in the not-for-profit sector;
• Experience working on social justice, women's rights and/or international issues;
• Commitment to Oxfam's mission and strategic focus on global justice, women's rights and gender justice and to Oxfam Canada's feminist principles.
• Proven track record in developing and implementing government and media engagement strategies and plans;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Canadian policy landscape and experience with parliamentary processes and mechanisms;
• Proven experience in influencing, lobbying and/or advocacy of Members of Parliament, government officials and political staff.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills;
• Proven track record of working with media and journalists;
• Knowledge of new media trends;
• Ability to convey complex ideas in plain language to varied audiences;
• Ability to troubleshoot and anticipate challenges, and effectively and efficiently handle multiple, simultaneous, and complex tasks and projects;
• Capacity to develop expertise in new issue areas;

• Strong English language skills required; French language skills a strong asset;
• Demonstrated commitment to feminism, anti-racism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion;
• Willingness to sign and abide by the Oxfam Code of Conduct.

** MUST be eligible to work in Canada **

We recognize that structural barriers shape experiences and job qualifications. If you don't see yourself reflected in every job requirement listed in the posting above, we still encourage you to apply!