<p><strong>IMMEDIATE INTERIM OPPORTUNITY</strong></p><p><strong>Interim Vice President, Government Relations & Strategic Funding</strong></p><p><strong>Reports to: President </strong></p><p><strong>Location: 100% virtual</strong></p><p><strong>Duration: 3 Month</strong></p><p><strong>Remote </strong></p><p><br></p><p>Our client is a large, complex and highly regarded publicly funded institution seeking an experienced government relations and funding strategist to lead its provincial and federal engagement efforts.</p><p><br></p><p>Reporting to a senior executive leader, the Vice President, Government Relations & Strategic Funding will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive government relations strategy designed to strengthen the organization's profile with key government stakeholders and optimize access to public funding opportunities.</p><p><br></p><p>This role will play a critical part in securing the resources required to support institutional growth, innovation, infrastructure, research initiatives, workforce development programs and other strategic priorities. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, helping the organization anticipate government priorities, align initiatives with emerging policy objectives and position itself as a preferred partner for public investment.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Key Objectives</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Strategic Government Relations</strong></p><ul><li>Develop and lead a coordinated government relations strategy across federal, provincial and municipal jurisdictions.</li><li>Build and maintain productive relationships with elected officials, ministers' offices, senior public servants and sector stakeholders.</li><li>Identify opportunities to increase the organization's visibility and influence within government and policy networks.</li><li>Ensure institutional priorities are effectively communicated and aligned with evolving government agendas.</li></ul><p><strong>Public Funding Strategy & Grant Optimization</strong></p><ul><li>Lead the identification, assessment and prioritization of major government funding opportunities.</li><li>Develop and implement strategies that enhance the organization's competitiveness for grants, infrastructure investments, innovation funding and other public funding programs.</li><li>Support senior leadership in advancing funding discussions with government decision-makers.</li><li>Work collaboratively across the institution to align funding opportunities with strategic priorities and institutional readiness.</li><li>Establish a proactive approach to funding pipeline management, ensuring early awareness and positioning for emerging opportunities.</li><li>Increase the volume, value and strategic impact of public funding secured by the organization.</li></ul><p><strong>Executive Advisory & Stakeholder Engagement</strong></p><ul><li>Provide strategic advice to the executive leadership team regarding government priorities, funding trends and public policy developments.</li><li>Prepare executive briefing materials, stakeholder analyses and engagement strategies for senior-level government interactions.</li><li>Coordinate and support high-profile meetings with government officials and key external stakeholders.</li><li>Ensure consistent, coordinated and effective government engagement across the organization.</li></ul><p><strong>Policy & Intelligence</strong></p><ul><li>Monitor political, legislative and funding developments at both the provincial and federal levels.</li><li>Assess the implications of policy changes and emerging government priorities.</li><li>Provide timely intelligence and recommendations that support institutional decision-making and long-term planning.</li><li>Identify opportunities to proactively influence policy discussions that align with organizational objectives.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>The Ideal Candidate</strong></p><p>The ideal candidate will bring significant leadership experience in government relations, public affairs, public policy, strategic funding, stakeholder engagement or a related field.</p><p>Experience may have been gained within government, post-secondary education, healthcare, the broader public sector, a regulated industry, association environment or a public affairs organization.</p><p><br></p><p>The successful candidate will demonstrate:</p><ul><li>A proven ability to support or secure significant public funding opportunities.</li><li>Deep knowledge of provincial and federal government decision-making processes.</li><li>Strong political acumen and stakeholder management capabilities.</li><li>Experience advising senior executives and preparing executive-level briefings.</li><li>Exceptional communication, relationship-building and influencing skills.</li><li>Strategic thinking combined with strong execution and results orientation.</li><li>The ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and competing priorities.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Measures of Success</strong></p><p>Success in this role will be demonstrated through:</p><ul><li>Increased visibility and credibility with provincial and federal government stakeholders.</li><li>Stronger alignment between organizational priorities and government funding objectives.</li><li>Enhanced access to strategic funding opportunities.</li><li>Growth in the value and impact of grants and public-sector investments secured.</li><li>Improved positioning of the organization as a trusted partner capable of delivering on government priorities.</li><li>Strong executive confidence in government engagement activities and funding strategies.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Why This Opportunity Matters</strong></p><p>This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished government relations professional to make a meaningful impact at a highly respected institution. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the organization's external strategy, strengthening government partnerships, and securing the investments necessary to support long-term growth, innovation and community impact.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>PLEASE SEND YOUR CV (AS A WORD DOC) TO: Interim.Applications@LHHknightsbridge.com (Subject: Job Title)</p><p><br></p><p>LHH Knightsbridge Interim Management is a service to help our clients address a wide range of scenarios including leadership support due to sudden departures, driving key change initiatives or leading transformation projects. Our interim executives step in with minimal downtime to meet specific objectives and deliver results. All have held senior positions in the past and have now chosen to offer their unique depth and breadth of experience to organizations on a limited engagement basis.</p><p><br></p><p>Follow the LHH Knightsbridge LinkedIn page and set up a job alert to learn about new Executive Interim opportunities.</p><p><br></p><p><em>Lee Hecht Harrison Knightsbridge Corp. is committed to providing equitable treatment and accommodation to ensure a barrier-free recruitment process. In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and our AODA policy, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the hiring process. If you require accommodation to apply or if selected to participate in an assessment process, please provide your accommodation needs in advance to the Recruitment Lead for this opportunity.</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>We thank all interested candidates in advance; however, only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.</em></p><p><br></p><p>July 2026</p><p></p>