Nature United is a national organization committed to reimagining conservation across Canada. Our mission is to create solutions for people and nature by building diverse partnerships to protect lands and waters and to ensure nature is the foundation of healthy communities, economies and future opportunities. Our areas of focus are to advance sustainable management of lands and waters by supporting Indigenous leadership and authority and responsible resource use, and to harness the power of nature to address the climate crisis by advancing natural climate solutions.
Our organization is honored to work with many Indigenous partners. We recognize and respect the Indigenous Peoples of Canada—First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nations—as the original rights-holders of the lands and waters in Canada. We have an ongoing commitment to continue to strengthen our awareness of the history and enduring impacts of colonialism, and to build partnerships based on reconciliation, as well as respect, equity, open dialogue, integrity and mutual accountability.
As an affiliate of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), what we do is informed by the best global science and supported by the leadership of the world’s largest conservation organization. Nature United is headquartered in Toronto and builds on the Conservancy’s long history of conservation achievements in Canada.
Visit www.natureunited.ca and www.nature.org to learn more.
YOUR POSITION WITH TNC
The Provincial Policy Advisor will work with the Director of Strategic Partnerships and conservation program leads to develop and implement strategies to advance provincial and territorial government relations and achieve Nature United’s conservation goals through public policy, funding, and programming. Working within a matrixed structure, the Advisor will work with geographic teams in British Columbia, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories as well as cross-cutting strategy teams focused on advancing Natural Climate Solutions, Indigenous Leadership and Authority, and Conservation Financing across Canada.
Nature United is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities to support increased authority of Indigenous peoples to steward their lands and waters. The Provincial Policy Advisor will work to ensure Nature United’s engagement with provincial and territorial governments is in alignment with our rights-based approach and is carried out in collaboration with Indigenous communities, industry sectors, governments and other civic organizations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The Provincial Policy Advisor provides strategic and technical leadership on the development and implementation of Nature United’s engagement with key provincial and territorial governments, working with Nature United’s Director of Strategic Partnerships and conservation program leads. They identify and support implementation of strategies for provincial and territorial policies and funding to advance Nature United’s goals; support and facilitate program leads with engagement of bureaucratic and political leaders and offices; work with other partners (e.g. Indigenous governments and NGOs) to influence policy and funding decisions; manage lobbying reporting for all levels of government; and develop materials for communicating with all governments, including Indigenous governments, and corporate and NGO partners to support government relations goals. The Advisor may also support federal government relations strategies.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Report to the Director of Strategic Partnerships and collaborate with the whole Nature United team including geographic program and cross-cutting strategy leads;
- Potentially supervise staff and manage large contracts;
- Maintain regular contact and build respectful partnerships with Indigenous governments, non-governmental organizations, Crown governments, and key members of the private sector to influence government policy and funding decisions;
- Engage with provincial and territorial, and potentially federal, governments to advocate for specific legislation, regulation, policy, programs, and funding recommendations;
- Analyze existing legislation, regulation, policy, programs, and funding conditions and advise on improvements that will advance Nature United conservation priorities, including Indigenous-led conservation, conservation finance and Natural Climate Solutions;
- Collaboratively, develop Nature United’s position on various provincial/territorial policy proposals and draft communications for sharing with government and partners in support of government relations strategies;
- Support program leads with their engagement with government officials by preparing meeting briefs, talking points, and arranging meetings;
- Manage and maintain Nature United and The Nature Conservancy’s lobbying registrations and communications reports, ensuring program compliance with internal policies and external requirements;
- Make independent decisions based on analysis, experience and context, foreseeing risk and proactively seeking advice as needed; and
- Participate in skill building and professional development opportunities.