Director, Public Affairs and Regional Lead in St. John's

At National, we are driven by purpose, creativity, and connection. For 50 years, our teams across Canada have been delivering strategic communications expertise that helps organizations shape conversations that matter. National is seeking a senior communications leader for Newfoundland and Labrador. This is a rare opportunity for someone who knows the province, understands how decisions are made, and can move confidently between public affairs, government relations, corporate communications, and marketing conversations.

Our Newfoundland and Labrador presence is an important part of our Atlantic and national network. We work with clients across sectors, regions, and issues, helping them navigate complex environments, build trust, and communicate with clarity. With a strong local and regional foundation and access to the full strength of National’s offices across Canada, this role offers the opportunity to help shape what comes next in one of the country’s most distinctive and strategically important markets.

The role is a hands-on, senior market-building opportunity for someone who wants to be both strategic and practical, visible and grounded, independent and deeply connected to a national team. We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader who can help grow National’s presence in Newfoundland and Labrador while contributing to client work across Atlantic Canada and the broader NATIONAL network. The ideal candidate is deeply connected to the province, understands the local business, political, and community landscape, and brings the judgment, presence, and credibility to advise executives, engage stakeholders, and represent NATIONAL in the market.

Our office is located within the Board of Trade in St. John’s, offering a strong connection to the local business community and an energizing space for client work, collaboration, and growth.

What you will do:

• Provide senior counsel to clients navigating complex communications, public affairs, and reputational challenges.
• Bring a strong understanding of government, business, community, and media environments in Newfoundland and Labrador, with particular interest in sectors such as energy, defense, economic development, healthcare, and other areas shaping the future of the province.
• Lead and grow client relationships, identify new opportunities, and connect clients with the right expertise from across National.
• Represent National in the Newfoundland and Labrador market, helping to strengthen our visibility, relationships, and reputation.
• Be comfortable in a boardroom, at a community event, in a government relations discussion, or in a marketing strategy conversation.

What you bring:

• Senior experience in public affairs, government relations, strategic communications, crisis communications, public relations, or a related professional services environment.
• Strong knowledge of Newfoundland and Labrador’s political, business, community, and media landscape.
• Experience or strong familiarity with sectors such as energy, defense, infrastructure, natural resources, economic development, or other regulated or high-profile industries.
• The ability to lead client relationships, provide wise counsel, and manage complex mandates with limited day-to-day oversight.
• A practical understanding of marketing and integrated communications.
• Strong writing, presentation, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and interest in helping grow National’s presence in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• A degree or equivalent experience in communications, public relations, political science, business, public policy, journalism, marketing, or a related field.

How you work:

• You are strategic, calm under pressure, clear in your counsel, and comfortable working in situations where the path forward is not always obvious.
• You build trust easily and are good in a room, thoughtful in your approach, and able to move between senior executives, community leaders, public officials, colleagues, and clients with confidence and respect.
• You are collaborative but highly self-sufficient, able to build something without needing a large local team around you.
• You are values-driven, discreet, adaptable, and committed to excellent client service.

What we offer:

• The opportunity to help shape National’s value as a consultancy in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• A senior, market-facing role with room to grow based on experience, capability, and ambition.
• A connected national platform with strong Atlantic Canadian collaboration.
• Exposure to meaningful client work across public affairs, government relations, corporate communications, marketing, and reputation.
• A dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with the support of one of Canada’s most respected communications consultancies.
• Competitive compensation, commensurate with level and experience.
• Hybrid flexibility with an expectation of meaningful presence in the St. John’s market.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do.