Director, Public Affairs

About adMare BioInnovations:

With a strong track record of globally competitive scientific discovery, Canadian life sciences is primed to lead the world. To make this a reality, adMare BioInnovations uses its scientific and commercial expertise, specialized R&D infrastructure, and seed capital to build strong life sciences companies, robust ecosystems, and industry-ready talent. We re-invest our returns into the Canadian industry to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Our 29 portfolio companies have attracted more than $2.3 billion of risk capital, have a combined value of over $4 billion, and employ more than 1000 Canadians. Our Innovation Centres are home to 35+ biotech companies, contract research organizations, and specialized commercialization support organizations. The adMare Academy has trained more than 500 alumni – 94% of whom are now working to build our life sciences industry.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the VP, Corporate Development, the Director Public Affairs leads the development and execution of corporate public affairs strategies and government relations programs. The candidate must be familiar with the Canadian life sciences sector, and key public policy issues affecting its development. The candidate must understand the breadth of public affairs across government, stakeholder, and public engagement, and be able to effectively establish and maintain corresponding relationships at each level in the main jurisdictions in which adMare operates. This role demands strong collaboration skills, both internally with adMare senior management and communications personnel, and externally with stakeholders throughout the national life sciences ecosystem, while increasing adMare’s visibility and advancing adMare’s Corporate Strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive public affairs program for adMare to foster awareness, understanding and support for adMare activities and programs.
• Develop a public affairs outreach strategy, supported by annual operational plans and financial forecasts to meet adMare public affairs / outreach goals.
• Identify key programs and develop funding proposals to provincial and federal governmental agencies, meet and maintain various requirements of current funding agreements and reporting.
• Lead the adMare Institute, including report analysis and outreach initiatives.
• In close collaboration with communications team, develop, execute, and advise on communications and outreach campaigns.
• Plan and implement strategies to maximize outreach of the programs.
• Monitor legislative, policy and regulatory activity that may affect the health / life sciences sector.
• Participate in government meetings, consultations, roundtables, and conferences of relevance to adMare and the broader life sciences industry.
• Lead government affairs activities by establishing positive relationships with elected officials and civil servants for the purpose of the advancement of adMare’s corporate strategy, and the broader building of the Canadian life sciences industry, in each of the jurisdictions in which adMare operates.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 5 years directly related industry experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience. An advanced degree is preferable.
• Minimum 3 years in public and government affairs, ideally including work in a political office.
• Experience in government advocacy including developing policy positions, drafting submission and letters.
• Understanding of the federal and provincial government legislative, regulatory and public policy processes.
• Superb communications skills.
• Bilingual (French and English).

Position Base Salary Range: $ 111,500- 167,200 CAD

The salary offered will be determined based on numerous relevant business and candidate factors including, for example, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, and business or organizational needs.

The base salary is just one part of the total rewards package at adMare. In addition, the package includes an annual performance bonus, a broad spectrum of wellness programs including paid resources, training and professional support, generous vacation and paid time off, maternity leave top-up, and several other offerings to meet the unique needs of our diverse talent.

We are committed to growing our talented team and their potential to drive innovative novel therapeutics. We provide a community where team members can thrive working in a multidisciplinary environment, explore new ways of thinking, and expand their capabilities through the array of development programs we offer our entire team.

adMare is fully committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion; and to making them an integral part of our organizational strategy – a commitment that is not just about words but is about specific actions to create a barrier-free, respectful, and welcoming working environment wherein everyone feels welcomed, supported, included, valued, and empowered to succeed. We are also proud to be an early adopter of the Government of Canada’s 50–30 Challenge to achieve meaningful and substantive improvements in workplace diversity and inclusion at all levels of the organization, including positions of influence and senior leadership.

At adMare we are driven by our vision and united by our shared values of Courage, Collaboration, Objectivity, Judgment, Excellence, and Reach.

Be a part of life at adMare. Join our team!

The state of the language situation and the assessment of the language needs of our company justify the requirement of knowledge of a language other than French for this position. In this case, the successful candidate for this position is required to have an excellent command of English, both spoken and written, due to the fact that the tasks to be performed include the responsibility to maintain, on a continuous and daily basis, relations with our Canadian team, whose main language of oral and written exchange is English, and to be able to discuss scientific and business concepts competently and in detail in this language.