Members of the VMware Global Government Relations and Public Policy work with a high-energy, high-caliber team to connect all levels of government to VMware’s business goals. We are a global software leader, innovating, growing and changing quickly. You would join 35,000 colleagues, including 777 in Canada. Our evolving government relations & policy space is a fascinating one and we need a leader to build our positions and advocate at the highest levels.
The Global Government Relations Team has four main deliverables:
Business and Sales Impact – building relationships and goals to help grow the business, particularly in the public sector
Policy Impact – shaping policy that can shape the competitive landscape for VMware
Creation of Thought Leadership Opportunities – emphasizing VMware’s critical position in the tech ecosystem and highlighting VMware’s best minds in the space
Delivering High-Level/High-Impact Strategic Relationship Building – working before and after meetings to go beyond the photo op for real business impact
Our team practices a collaborative, creative, results-oriented approach.
Job Description
We are looking for a GR (government relations) & policy professional who can also advocate at the highest level. The Canada GR & policy lead will be responsible for creating a coherent and executable strategy to assist VMware global GR & policy goals with an emphasis on Canadian Federal and Provincial governments. In collaboration with VMware internal stakeholders, you will focus on developing policy that differentiates VMware and uniquely positions VMware in Canada as the modern multi-cloud SaaS company.
The goals of the program are to enable VMware’s Canada’s business (of which the Federal government is the main part. The other focus is the Provincial government) and expand VMware’s thought leadership and influence in policy matters. This role will manage VMware’s overall engagement and reputation with the Canadian Federal government, federal agencies and Provincial government.
The Canada GR & Policy Lead will be an expert communicator. A focus of this position is to identify and assess current and emerging opportunities that shape policy surrounding issues such as: IT procurement, multi-cloud SaaS infrastructure, cyber security, privacy and data management, 5G and edge computing policy, modern app development, and end-user computing issues. The Canada GR & policy lead will also monitor and perhaps work on tech sustainability policy, digital skills and education, ESG, digital and corporate tax and digital sovereignty. The Canada GR & Policy lead will assist the government relations team by closely coordinating with the public sector sales org and effectively educating policymakers on issues related to VMware’s business goals in Canada.
The Canada GR & Policy lead will work closely with the US based State Local and Education Government Relations and Public Policy team and the US Policy Lead in DC. The Canada GR & Policy lead will work with the GR team and VMware Canada leadership to identify policy opportunities and facilitate high-level meetings between VMware executives and key stakeholders including policymakers, elected leaders, IT leaders, regulatory agencies and NGOs to promote and advocate the company’s positions and objectives. The Canada GR & Policy lead will also manage appropriate opportunities with trade associations and will manage outside consultants.
The Canada GR & Policy lead will report to the Director, US/Canada State & Local Government Relations and Public Policy with title and salary being commensurate with experience.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic government relations and strategy building: work with the VMware Head of Government Relations US/Canada and the Government Relations team and consultants to develop a strategy to best position VMware in the marketplace
Canada Policy Development: worth with a diverse set of VMware stakeholders to develop and lead VMware policy efforts in cloud, cybersecurity and IT policy, privacy, digital sovereignty, sustainability etc in Canada. This effort will require a “translation” of technical jargon for policy makers and of policy jargon for technologists. The policy development process will include working within our global tracking system to manage the legislative review process by conducting legislative analysis and engaging internal subject matter experts who can help assess the impact to VMware.
Policy Advocacy: advocate on all levels Canada institutions and Provinces as needed
Collaboration: this position must collaborate cross-functionally with global government relations, legal, sales, engineering, and research and development, and work with consultants and trade associations, VMware partners, and other memberships and influencers. This role will engage and partner across the legal and product business units to break down silos.
Sales enablement: at times, collaborate with the business to advise on their approaches to Canada institutions and to their engagement with the Canadian Federal Government
Innovation in Everything: At VMware, employees demonstrate a willingness to try new, creative, and even unconventional strategies to best impact policy while enabling VMware’s core business priorities.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
Lead VMware’s government relations activities in Canada. There may also be engagement with
Develop and implementation of a successful government relations engagement strategy, and coordinate with business stakeholders
Set and accomplish, with the input of US/Canada lead, ambitious government relations goals and establish positive relationships with business stakeholders in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto.
Develop and deliver policy language beneficial to VMware’s strategy, goals, and values
Write crisply and coherently with an ability to distil complex concepts into easily understood descriptions
Lead and represent VMware in trade association meetings and relevant policy discussions, further enhancing VMware’s presence and influence among trade associations and other groups
Monitor emerging public policy, legislative, regulatory, and political issues that could impact the organization, and work with appropriate internal and external stakeholders to proactively develop or recommend actions
Manage outside consultants and advisors
Develop key relationships with elected officials and policy experts, internal public sector sales team, trade association staff, and customer stakeholders
Identify key decision-makers and influencers with government and promote corporate positions with those audiences both in person and in writing
Produce targeted supporting materials such as correspondence, whitepapers, briefing notes, submissions and presentations in support of issues, proposed legislation, projects or to enhance VMware’s reputation
Coordinate meetings with government, civil service and elected officials
Draft and coordinate the approval of correspondence, presentations and formal policy submissions to government officials (elected and non-elected)
Contribute to the development and maintenance of a corporate government relations database containing all current and relevant issues and contacts
The role is primarily located in Ottawa you will undertake travel around Canadian Provinces too
Job Requirements
Minimum 10 years of relevant experience
Extensive, first-hand knowledge of Canadian government and policy process surrounding technology issues
Experience in successful government engagement on policy and on strategic positioning
Fluency in English, French language a plus
Ability to think and act both strategically and creatively
Experience presenting complex issues and opportunities to high-level officials and third-party partners
Sound judgment, diplomacy, and the ability to liaise confidently, effectively, and positively with internal and government stakeholders
Sense of urgency, agility, transparency, respect, and collaboration in a team setting
Passionate about business and technology, the role of government in society, and how these link
Self-starter and team player who can set aggressive and achievable goals
Ability to take complicated technical concepts and relate them to effective policy work
Evidence of high-level achievement, in agency, corporate, government, trade body and/or NGO
Relevant university degree required; Advanced degree preferred
Adaptable with a positive, open-minded approach, a keenness to learn
Demonstrated ability to prioritize and work under tight deadlines on multiple initiatives
“This job requisition is not eligible for employment-based immigration sponsored by VMware.”
Category : Legal
Subcategory: Legal
Experience: Business Leadership
Full Time/ Part Time: Full Time
Posted Date: 2021-03-29
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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: VMware is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: VMware is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at VMware are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. VMware will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. VMware encourages applicants of all ages. Vmware will provide reasonable accommodation to employees who have protected disabilities consistent with local law.
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