Head, Government Relations, Strategic Partnerships & Industrial Participation

Position Overview

We are looking for a strategic and influential leader to advance Calian’s growth agenda through proactive government engagement, industrial participation, strategic partnerships, Indigenous participation, and innovation funding.

The Head, Government Relations, Strategic Partnerships & Industrial Participation will connect government priorities with business strategy by influencing policy, building trusted relationships across government and industry, developing strategic partnerships, and maximizing Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB), Value Proposition (VP), Indigenous Participation (IP), and government funding opportunities.

Working across Defence, Space, Health, and Critical Infrastructure, this role will help shape opportunities before procurements are released while strengthening Calian’s position as a leading Canadian mission-critical technology company.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Calian’s enterprise government relations strategy.
• Build trusted relationships with Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior public servants, Crown corporations, and key agencies including DND, PSPC, ISED, CSA, Global Affairs Canada, EDC, BDC, and provincial governments.
• Monitor government policy, defence priorities, budgets, legislation, and procurement initiatives.
• Advise executive leadership on political, regulatory, and policy developments.
• Position Calian as a trusted Canadian partner supporting sovereignty, national security, resilience, and innovation.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with defence primes, Indigenous organizations, SMEs, academic institutions, research organizations, venture partners, and allied governments.
• Identify partnership opportunities that strengthen capture strategies and future growth.
• Support collaborative innovation initiatives and ecosystem development.
• Develop long-term partnership strategies aligned with business growth priorities.
• Lead enterprise strategy for ITB, Value Proposition, and Indigenous Participation.
• Develop industrial participation strategies supporting major pursuits.
• Coordinate delivery, reporting, and governance of contractual ITB commitments.
• Identify Canadian suppliers, technology investments, research collaborations, and Indigenous business opportunities.
• Support negotiations involving industrial participation commitments and partnership agreements.
• Identify and pursue federal and provincial funding opportunities supporting innovation, commercialization, and defence capability development.
• Coordinate applications for innovation and funding programs.
• Align funding opportunities with strategic partnerships and business development priorities.
• Manage stakeholder relationships and reporting requirements.
• Support capture teams by integrating government priorities into capture strategies.
• Provide policy intelligence that strengthens win strategies.
• Develop executive briefing materials, thought leadership content, unsolicited proposals, and advocacy strategies.
• Support executive engagement with government stakeholders before procurement activity begins.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Corporate Communications, Business Development, Pursuits & Proposals, Legal, Finance, and Business Units to align external engagement with growth objectives.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Government Relations, Defence, Public Policy, Industrial Participation, Business Development, Strategic Partnerships, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of Canadian defence procurement, Defence Industrial Strategy, ITB Policy, Value Proposition Framework, Indigenous Participation requirements, and federal procurement processes.
• Experience working with DND, PSPC, ISED, CSA, EDC, BDC, and innovation funding programs.
• Demonstrated success building executive-level relationships across government and industry.
• Experience supporting major capture efforts, strategic partnerships, or industrial participation initiatives.
• Eligibility to register as an in-house lobbyist.
• Excellent communication, executive advisory, relationship management, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Government of Canada security clearance or the ability to obtain one.

Additional Requirements

• Secret security clearance eligibility required.
• Strong government and political acumen.
• Strategic partnership development experience.
• Business development and capture support mindset.
• Policy analysis expertise.
• Ability to support innovation and ecosystem development initiatives.
• Other duties as required within the context of the role.

Compensation

The compensation range for this position is $150,000 – $180,000 CAD annually, plus eligibility for applicable incentive programs.

Position Type: Full-time

We have 1 available position(s).

Job Title: Head, Government Relations, Strategic Partnerships & Industrial Participation

Requisition Number: 2567

Date: August 18, 2026

Location 1: Ottawa

Remote: Hybrid

Business Unit: Defence & Space

Department: Ventures

Job Type: Full-time

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