Director of Government Relations

Ottawa, ON │ On-Site │ Full-Time

North Vector Dynamics is a Canadian-owned and controlled defence technology company specializing in precision interception, autonomy, and advanced propulsion. NVD is building a full-spectrum missile capability, from counter-UAS solutions to hypersonics, designed to serve and defend NATO member states and their allies and partners.

Reporting to the Head of Growth, the Director is responsible for building and managing NVD’s federal and provincial government relationships, executing its advocacy priorities, and ensuring senior leadership has the political and policy intelligence required to navigate Canada’s defence and industrial policy environment.

The position requires detailed knowledge of federal decision-making, defence policy, and the ability to operate credibly across political, public service and defence industry audiences. The individual must demonstrate judgment, discretion, and integrity.

The position is based in Ottawa, with occasional travel to the company’s headquarters in Calgary, as well as domestic and international meetings and other events as required.

• Government Relations Planning and Execution

  • Develop, maintain, and adapt NVD’s government relations plan and ensure continuity, follow-through and accountability across government engagements.

  • Recommend engagement objectives, priority stakeholders, sequencing, messaging, tactics and measures of progress.

  • Provide day-to-day direction to retained external government relations advisers and ensure their activity is aligned with NVD’s priorities.

• Federal & Provincial Stakeholder Engagement and Lobbying

  • Map formal decision-makers, influencers, and implementation leads, and understand the formal and informal pathways through which decisions are made.

  • Develop and maintain relationships with parliamentarians and committees; the Prime Minister’s Office and Privy Council Office; the Department of National Defence (DND); the Defence Investment Agency; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; the Canadian Armed Forces; regional economic development agencies; and any other relevant federal organizations.

  • Develop and maintain relationships with legislators, ministers, departmental officials, and other stakeholders in Alberta and other relevant jurisdictions..

  • Monitor relevant legislative, policy, and regulatory developments; provide concise assessments of their implications for NVD’s growth, positioning, and commercial priorities; and recommend action in response.

  • Ensure executive meetings are supported by appropriate working-level engagement and follow-up, and prepare executives for significant engagements by developing objectives, stakeholder intelligence, and key messages.

• Advocacy and Compliance

  • Develop and execute advocacy initiatives, independently or through coalitions and/or relevant associations, related to defence procurement reform, sovereign defence industrial capability, defence innovation, intellectual property, and other corporate priorities.

  • Prepare and maintain NVD’s federal lobbying registration and monthly communication returns and ensure current knowledge of the Lobbying Act, Lobbyists’ Code of Conduct and relevant guidance affecting NVD.

• Significant progressively responsible experience in government relations, politics, and/or public policy.

• Significant professional experience operating in Ottawa and a strong understanding of federal political and public-service decision-making.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute government relations and advocacy strategies and build substantive relationships with political staff, parliamentarians, public servants and other stakeholders.

• Strong judgment, executive briefing, policy writing and advocacy skills, including the ability to identify decision-makers and practical pathways to advancing an issue.

• Familiarity with federal lobbying legislation, reporting requirements and compliance practices.

• Ability to operate effectively with founders and senior executives in a rapidly scaling organization with limited corporate infrastructure.

• Must hold or be eligible to obtain and maintain a Government of Canada Secret security clearance.

• Strong knowledge of Canadian defence, national-security, procurement or industrial policy issues.

• Direct experience in defence, aerospace, or national security.

• Working proficiency in French.

• Take meaningful ownership from day one, helping build NVD’s government relations capability and shape the relationships that support growth in Canada and allied markets.

• Work on defence technology and policy issues in a mission-driven organization supporting Canada’s military capability, industrial base and national security.

• Work closely with NVD’s founders and senior leadership, with direct exposure to the corporate and commercial decisions that shape the company’s growth.

• Competitive compensation and meaningful upside from joining an early-stage company at the forefront of the defence technology sector.