Manager, Public Affairs

Main Responsibilities

Public Affairs Management

• Develop positive relationships, seek endorsements and support from stakeholders, including mayors, councillors, provincial and federal elected officials, political staff, community leaders, organizations, and chambers of commerce
• Manage internal development of CN's public affairs position and approach to address issues, including working across departments and functions as ONE TEAM and seeking the appropriate approval
• Manage issues with local communities (e.g. proximity, equipment and infrastructure) and communicate CN's positions to elected officials and residents
• Act as a trusted advisor to CN colleagues on Public Affairs matters by providing expertise on strategic projects
• Prepare all aspects of communications, including planning events, drafting materials (e.g. speaking remarks, scenarios, memos, presentations) for public appearances of Senior Executives and colleagues from other business units
• Provide advice on community sponsorships and donations and act as the public face of CN at sponsored virtual and in-person events
• Actively use a digital platform to reach, record and monitor engagements with stakeholders
• Act as secretary of CN's B.C. Community Board, which oversees donations to local initiatives across the province
Responsibilities Weights (%) for Job Evaluation
• Public Affairs Management

Working Conditions

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CN's hybrid work model.

Requirements

Experience

Public Affairs
• Between 7 to 10 years of communications, public relations, politics or stakeholder engagement experience
o Experience in project management and change management
Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor's degree in communications, Journalism, Political Science, Law, or equivalent
• Valid Driver's License

CN Values (Expected Proficiency Levels)
• We Care About Each Other - Promotes safe collaboration
• We Strive for Excellence - Anticipates needs with hands-on insight application
• We Succeed Together - Builds strong partnerships to drive results
• We Lead Responsibly - Acts transparently and includes diverse voices
Job Specific (Expected Proficiency Levels)
• Stakeholder Management - Aligns priorities to resolve cross-functional disputes
• Public Speaking - Presents confidently to large, diverse audiences
• Influence - Secures commitment with strong arguments and adaptability
• Synthesize - Turns multi-source findings into actionable output
• Conflict Management - Prevents disputes and fosters constructive collaboration

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Very strong writing and presentation skills
• General Microsoft computer skills

About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 20,000-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.
As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
Please monitor your email on a regular basis as communication to applicants is done via email.

Client-provided location(s): Montreal, Canada

Job ID: CN-16941

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-04-29T18:44:44