ABOUT THE STUDENTS’ UNION
The Students’ Union (SU) is one of Canada’s largest undergraduate student associations. As a not-for-profit organization, we represent and advocate for more than 25,000 undergraduate students at the University of Calgary. We also provide a wide range of services, programs, and businesses that help make campus life better, including a restaurant and bar, two concert venues, a convenience store, a used bookstore and copy centre, and the MacEwan Conference & Event Centre.
Working at the SU is different from a typical office job. We partner closely with our elected student leaders, providing guidance, coaching, and operational support as they lead the organization. Because student leadership changes every year, our team is adaptable, collaborative, and always looking for practical ways to support new ideas and respond to the needs of students.
We offer competitive salaries along with a benefits package that includes:
- Five weeks of vacation starting in your first year
- Unlimited paid sick time
- Six percent RRSP matching
- Extended health and dental coverage, plus a health spending account
- A supportive, collaborative workplace that values work-life balance, respect, and professional growth
Many of our employees stay with the SU for years because they enjoy meaningful work, supportive colleagues, and the opportunity to make a real impact on the student experience. If you’re looking for a role where your work matters and you’re encouraged to grow, we’d love to hear from you.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Manager, Advocacy and Research, the Communications and Government Relations Specialist leads the Students’ Union’s government relations, advocacy, media relations, and external communications efforts. Working closely with the President and Vice President External, this role advances the SU’s advocacy priorities by building relationships with government, university leaders, sector partners, and the media. The successful candidate develops advocacy campaigns, prepares strategic communications, supports student leaders, and monitors emerging public policy issues affecting students.
SALARY
For this position, the hiring range is $60,000 to $68,000, and the offered salary will be negotiated based on a candidate’s relative experience. As a not-for-profit organization, it is extremely unlikely that we will be able to offer a successful candidate a salary outside of this range.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Support the development and execution of the Students’ Union’s government relations and advocacy strategies.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with municipal, provincial, and federal government representatives, university leaders, advocacy organizations, and community partners.
- Coordinate meetings between elected student leaders and government officials, including preparing agendas, briefing notes, speaking materials, and meeting summaries.
- Support lobbying efforts and maintain compliance with Alberta’s Lobbyist Registry requirements.
- Plan and coordinate advocacy campaigns, stakeholder engagement initiatives, and government relations events, including the annual Calgary Leaders Dinner.
- Prepare media releases, briefing notes, fact sheets, advocacy materials, government submissions, and other strategic communications.
- Monitor political, legislative, regulatory, and post-secondary developments to identify emerging issues that may affect students or the Students’ Union.
- Advise student executives on advocacy strategy, external communications, stakeholder engagement, and media relations.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with media while coordinating interview requests, messaging, and spokesperson preparation.
- Create and maintain advocacy-related website and social media content in collaboration with the Marketing and Communications team.
- Support student leaders serving on university committees, the Board of Governors, and external advocacy organizations through meeting preparation, coordination, and follow-up.
- Track advocacy activities, stakeholder engagement, media coverage, and campaign outcomes while preparing reports and recommendations.
- Contribute to policy research, strategic initiatives, and other projects as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate is politically aware, collaborative, highly organized, and comfortable balancing multiple priorities while building relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.
You will bring:
- A university degree in political science, public policy, communications, public relations, journalism, or a related discipline.
- Three or more years of experience in government relations, public affairs, advocacy, strategic communications, media relations, public policy, or a related field.
- Experience working in post-secondary education, government, the public sector, an association, or a non-profit organization is considered an asset.
- Strong written communication skills with experience preparing briefing notes, reports, media releases, advocacy materials, or executive communications.
- Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong research and analytical abilities, including the ability to synthesize complex information into practical recommendations.
- Knowledge of Alberta’s political and public policy environment and an understanding of government decision-making processes.
- Experience coordinating multiple priorities while managing competing deadlines.
- Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to handle confidential information.
- The ability to work effectively in a collaborative, non-partisan environment.
- Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office and online research tools. Experience with website content management systems is considered an asset.
- A valid Alberta Class 5 driver’s licence and the ability to travel locally, provincially, and nationally as required.
- The flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
Equivalent combinations of education and experience will also be considered.
For more information, check out the position description.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a resume and cover letter to resumes@su.ucalgary.ca. We are accepting applications until July 31, 2026 or until we find the right person.
STATEMENT ON EMPLOYMENT EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
The Students’ Union is committed to ensuring that members of equity-deserving groups, from a broad range of communities, feel empowered to apply for positions within the organization. We strongly encourage qualified candidates from Black, Indigenous, and/or other racialized communities to apply. Qualified candidates who identify as 2Spirit and/or LGBTQIA+ or are otherwise marginalized on the grounds of gender expression, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation are also strongly encouraged to apply.
The Students’ Union welcomes applications from people with disabilities and believes strongly in accessibility in the work we do. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process—please advise us at any point and we will work with you to meet your needs while respecting your privacy as much as possible.
The Students’ Union is grateful to work on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikuni, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. The University of Calgary is situated on land adjacent to where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, and the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is Moh’kins’tsis, which we now call the City of Calgary. The Students’ Union also recognizes that land acknowledgments are not enough. We need to pursue truth, reconciliation, decolonization, and allyship in an ongoing effort to make right with all our relations.
