Policy, Regulatory & Strategic Initiatives, Lead

Policy, Regulatory & Advocacy Leadership 

• Lead major policy and regulatory files from strategy through drafting, internal alignment, review and submission, including priority regulatory consultations and flagship policy publications affecting payments, financial services and the digital economy. 

• Monitor, analyze and interpret policy, legislative and regulatory developments; produce briefings that translate developments into business implications and recommended responses for senior leadership. 

• Lead proactive and reactive advocacy planning ahead of major legislative, regulatory and budget milestones with material implications for Interac's mandate, products and market position. 

• Develop senior-level materials, including briefing notes, consultation submissions, policy papers, decision memos and external-facing thought leadership. 

External Representation & Engagement 

• Represent Interac on industry and standards committees and in standing engagements with associations and ecosystem counterparts. 

• Engage with government officials and public-sector stakeholders on priority files and maintain broader relationships with industry counterparts and external advisors. 

• Shape government and stakeholder understanding of Interac's role, capabilities and policy positions on priority issues. 

• Surface emerging stakeholder, policy and reputational risks and recommend response strategies. 

Enterprise Strategic Execution 

• Lead integrated, cross-functional projects with clear accountabilities, senior leadership alignment, issue escalation and high-quality delivery. 

• Direct external advisory support on priority files, including scope, deliverables and budget oversight. 

• Support public-sector applications of Interac products and services where they intersect with government priorities. 

• Provide strategic advice and decision support to senior leaders on politically sensitive, reputationally significant, or time-critical issues. 

Governance & Operating Discipline 

• Support advocacy governance and lobbying compliance across applicable jurisdictions, in coordination with legal and compliance partners. 

• Contribute to annual and quarterly team planning, file prioritization and the function's operating discipline, including knowledge management and issue tracking.

Mentorship & Coaching 

• Provide guidance to team members on policy analysis, advocacy practice and file execution. 

• Review work products and provide feedback to ensure quality and alignment with objectives.

What You Bring:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in public policy, political science, law, or a related field. Graduate education is an asset. 

• Experience: 10+ years in government relations, public policy, regulatory affairs, government or related sectors, including experience advising senior decision-makers or leading complex files. 

• Technical knowledge: Working knowledge of Canadian government operations, including legislative processes and regulatory frameworks. Experience working on policy or government affairs issues at the intersection of financial services, payments and technology is an asset. 

• Core skills: Policy and regulatory analysis, including translating developments into business-relevant implications. Writing for political and government audiences, including briefing notes, submissions, and public affairs strategy. Stakeholder relationship management, including political and senior public service contacts. Issues management and reputational risk assessment in a public sector context. Experience managing external advisors, consultants and vendors, and bilingualism in French and English, are assets. 

• Interpersonal and judgment requirements: Sound discretion when handling politically sensitive or confidential matters. Ability to influence and align without direct authority in a matrixed organization. Capacity to manage multiple files simultaneously under externally driven timelines. Composure in high-stakes interactions with senior officials and executives.