[Hiring] National Specialist, Government Relations & Advocacy @Breakthrough T1D

Role Description

Breakthrough T1D is adding to our Government Relations & Advocacy team and we’re searching for an experienced specialist for the role of National Specialist, Government Relations & Advocacy. If you’re a proactive, analytical and dynamic professional who would like to serve as a subject-matter resource and project manager for advocacy activities, stakeholder engagement initiatives, government relations events, please read on to see if this is the right fit for you.

• Support and coordinate federal and provincial government relations activities and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
• Manage relationships with government officials, political staff, coalition partners, healthcare stakeholders, researchers, and volunteers for assigned projects and activities.
• Coordinate implementation of advocacy campaigns, policy initiatives, and stakeholder engagement programs.
• Monitor political, legislative, regulatory, and policy developments relevant to type 1 diabetes and healthcare policy.
• Lead operational planning and logistics for advocacy days, parliamentary events, conferences, webinars, consultations, and stakeholder meetings.
• Prepare dashboards, reports, presentations, and activity summaries.
• Track key performance indicators and support departmental reporting requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, public administration, communications, health policy, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• 3-5 years of experience in government relations, advocacy, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, public policy, project management, or a related field.
• Experience independently managing projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience developing briefing materials, reports, and stakeholder communications.
• Experience coordinating events, consultations, or public affairs initiatives.
• Experience in healthcare, research, patient advocacy, charitable, or non-profit sectors is considered an asset.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Requirements

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing demands simultaneously.
• Strong ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative information.
• Ability to translate data into meaningful insights and recommendations.
• Ability to think outside the box and identify new opportunities, approaches, and solutions.
• Bilingualism (English and French) preferred; ability to communicate professionally in both official languages is considered a strong asset.
• Experience using CRM systems, advocacy platforms, stakeholder databases, and reporting tools.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint.

Benefits

• Remote-first: Our employees love the convenience and flexibility of working remotely, so all positions are work from home (within Canada).
• Health and Wellness Benefits: Benefits to support your physical and mental health – this includes Manulife group benefits, Maple virtual health care, Not Myself Today to support mentally healthy workplaces and generous paid sick time.
• Professional Development: We want employees to grow within their roles and have a career at Breakthrough T1D, so we practice Career Development Planning and have a budget for paid development opportunities for each employee.
• Other benefits include: Group RRSP Matching Program, winter holiday office closures, flex weeks in the summer and more!

Application Deadline

Please submit your resume through our careers website by October 8, 2026.

Company Description

Breakthrough T1D is the leading type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy non-profit organization in Canada. As we drive toward curing type 1 diabetes, we help to make every day better for the people who live with it.

• Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) began in Canada as a grassroots organization in 1974, when a group of dedicated parents came together with a singular goal of finding a cure for T1D.
• Since the discovery of insulin, Breakthrough T1D has remained at the forefront of T1D research.
• Breakthrough T1D is committed to investing in the most promising research, advocating for progress by working with governments to address issues that impact the T1D community, and supporting individuals living with this disease.
• Breakthrough T1D has a company culture rooted in our Core Values; Adapt and Thrive, Collaborate, Accountable, Innovate, Act with Purpose.