Director, Government & External Relations

Trans Mountain Corporation operates Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil products to the West Coast. We deliver approximately 890,000 barrels of petroleum products each day through a dual pipeline system of more than 1,150 kilometres of pipeline in Alberta, British Columbia and Washington state.

Trans Mountain also operates a state-of-the-art loading facility, Westridge Marine Terminal, with three berths providing tidewater access to global markets.  

As a federal Crown corporation, Trans Mountain continues to build on more than 70 years of experience delivering operational and safety excellence through our crude oil pipeline system. 

With our expanded pipeline system now in place, Trans Mountain provides enhanced direct access for Canadian crude oil to world markets. The expansion realizes a world-class system for oil transport, developed to Canada’s high standards within one of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world, creating long-term economic benefits, enhanced marine protection, enhanced safety and emergency management capabilities, and enhanced skilled-worker capacity building in communities and Indigenous groups.

Our Core Values

Trans Mountain’s core values – Safety, Integrity, Respect and Excellence – guide our every step. Each obstacle we’ve overcome or success we’ve experienced has been the result of a shared commitment to living these values every day. Together, we’re focused on doing the right thing for each other and our communities. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your strengths in an environment that encourages Safety, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence, we invite you to explore this opportunity with us!

Location: Calgary or Vancouver                                         

Department: Public Affairs

Reports to: Vice President, External Relations and Indigenous Relations         

Worker Type: Employee   

Schedule Type: Full-Time  

Work Setting: In-office

Trans Mountain is seeking a collaborative, motivated, and values driven individual to join our dynamic team as a Director, External and Government Relations. In this position, you will play a key role in leading the stakeholder engagement, government relations, community investment and public awareness strategies required to build and maintain stakeholder and public trust and confidence as well as support successful regulatory outcomes, project development and execution. 

The role will be responsible for community and stakeholder interests along the pipeline corridor from Alberta to coastal communities in B.C. The successful candidate will provides strategic advice to executive and governance bodies on external environment, stakeholder expectations, emerging issues and reputational risk; aligns owners, partners and Trans Mountain counterparts on external engagement priorities, commitments and decisions; and directs coordinated engagement with governments, communities, industry, interest groups and other parties impacted by or interested in the Project. This position offers the opportunity to translates approved direction into disciplined plans, clear accountabilities and measurable outcomes while leading issue preparedness, crisis response and external relations assurance across the Pacific Link lifecycle.

The successful candidate will be assigned to support strategic project-related work, and other business priorities as organizational needs evolve.

Key Responsibilities

External Relations Strategy and Business Alignment

• Lead the Pacific Link External Relations strategy and roadmap, adapting priorities to project milestones, stakeholder needs, and external developments.
• Advise senior leadership and governance bodies on stakeholder, community, and reputational considerations that inform project planning and execution.
• Partner with leaders across Pacific Link functions to integrate external considerations into business and project decisions.
• Ensure engagement plans support regulatory requirements, project priorities, commercial objectives, and operational readiness.
• Monitor external developments and lead response strategies to address risks and opportunities affecting project outcomes.

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Lead stakeholder, community, and landowner engagement strategies that build trust and support long-term relationships.
• Establish engagement frameworks, protocols, and accountabilities that ensure coordinated and effective stakeholder interactions.
• Represent Pacific Link in significant stakeholder and community discussions.
• Oversee stakeholder concerns, commitments, and feedback to ensure appropriate integration into project planning and risk management.

Government Relations and External Advocacy

• Lead strategic engagement with municipal, provincial, and federal governments to advance Pacific Link objectives.
• Develop government relations and advocacy strategies in collaboration with project and corporate stakeholders.
• Monitor policy, legislative, and political developments and provide strategic advice on associated impacts and opportunities.
• Coordinate external representation and relationship management across Pacific Link, Trans Mountain, and project partners.

Issues, Reputation and Crisis Preparedness

• Lead proactive strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate stakeholder, political, community, and reputational risks.
• Provide executives with timely advice and response options for emerging issues.
• Oversee External Relations contributions to crisis preparedness and incident response activities.
• Ensure effective post-incident follow-up, commitment tracking, and lessons learned.

Community Investment and Public Awareness

• Provide strategic oversight of the Pacific Link Community Investment Program, including governance, funding priorities, and reporting.
• Ensure investments align with project objectives, community needs, and accountability requirements.
• Direct public awareness initiatives that support engagement, emergency preparedness, and regulatory obligations.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and adjust strategies based on project needs and outcomes.

Partner Governance and Decision Support

• Represent External Relations in executive and partner governance forums.
• Align partners and stakeholders on engagement approaches, commitments, and decision-making processes.
• Provide reporting and recommendations on stakeholder issues, risks, and emerging trends.
• Exercise delegated authority on External Relations matters and escalate material issues as required.

Portfolio Performance and Assurance

• Monitor External Relations performance through established metrics and reporting.
• Oversee policies, procedures, stakeholder records, and governance practices.
• Provide assurance at key project milestones and direct corrective actions where required.
• Manage the function's budget, resource plan, and external advisor strategy.

Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness

• Build and lead a high-performing External Relations team with clear roles, accountabilities, and performance expectations.
• Develop team capability, succession planning, and leadership effectiveness.
• Establish governance and ways of working that promote collaboration, accountability, and execution across Pacific Link teams.

Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Post-secondary education in Communications, Public Relations, Public Affairs, Political Science, Business, Community Development or a related discipline.
• A master’s degree in a related field is considered an asset.
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in external relations, stakeholder engagement, government relations, public affairs, community relations or issues management, including substantial senior leadership accountability for a material portfolio, function or region.
• Demonstrated success developing an External Relations or stakeholder engagement strategy for endorsement and leading its implementation and performance in a major infrastructure, energy, natural resources or other highly regulated environment.
• Extensive experience building trusted relationships with governments, communities, landowners, industry, interest groups and other stakeholders affected by complex projects or operations.
• Proven success providing strategic counsel and policy advice to executives and governance bodies, leading significant stakeholder and government engagement, and operating within established decision mandates in partnership or multi-owner environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading issues and reputational risk management and contributing to crisis or incident preparedness and response, including coordination within structured command environments.
• Strong business, financial, political and governance acumen, including budgets, resource deployment, partner obligations, decision rights, commitments and performance reporting.
• Advanced engagement, negotiation, facilitation, conflict-resolution, executive communication and public representation capabilities; IABC, CPRS or a related professional designation is considered an asset.

Working Conditions 

• Willingness and ability to travel as required.  
• May need to provide support outside of regular business hours and/or on the weekend.  

At Trans Mountain, we believe in an inclusive, accessible, and barrier free recruitment and selection process for all applicants. If you require an accommodation at any point in the process, please contact us at: Talent@transmountain.com or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy.

We Build Careers and Pipelines That Last

Our story is about determination, resourcefulness and resilience. It’s about charting our own course, finding innovative solutions to challenging problems and doing the right thing. It was true when Trans Mountain became a company in 1951 and it’s just as true today. We welcome new members to our team that embrace the qualities in our story, that thrive on the new path and directions we take.  Our culture is one of care and taking our responsibilities seriously. If you would like to contribute to our culture, then join our journey.

A Rewarding Opportunity

We offer:

• Valuable experience providing opportunity for professional development and career advancement;
• An opportunity to engage with and learn from some of the most talented and experienced people in the business;
• Competitive compensation;
• Comprehensive benefits programs including flexible benefits, pension and savings plans;
• A place to share a sense of purpose and build relationships;
• Meaningful work that makes a difference;
• An opportunity within the Canadian energy industry.

We value:

• The health, safety and wellness of everyone working in our company;
• Meaningful participation from Indigenous and local communities;
• The commitment and resilience of our people;
• Collaboration and achieving success together. 

In keeping with Trans Mountain’s commitment to maximize benefits for communities, priority will be given to qualified candidates from Indigenous, local and regional communities along the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor.

In Alberta, the pipeline system spans the traditional territories of Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4).

In British Columbia, the system crosses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations that are affiliated with the Secwepemc, Dakelh (Carrier), Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, Interior and Coast Salish, Stó:lo, as well as the Métis.

Trans Mountain also operates through 15 First Nation Reserves located within the region spanning the BC interior through Fraser Valley.

Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)

Trans Mountain is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.  The diverse viewpoints and cultural knowledge that our employees bring to work enrich our organization’s collective cultural understanding, which is reflected in the work we do every day.  We strive to create an environment that is free of barriers to promote full participation in the workplace. Trans Mountain welcomes new team members from traditionally underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.