Job Description

Posted Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 4:00 AM | Expires Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 3:59 AM

Payments Canada’s purpose is to make payments easier, smarter and safer for all Canadians. We care deeply about our employees’ well-being and are committed to providing a flexible, hybrid work environment that supports in-person connection and remote work.

Get to Know Us

We are a unique organization situated at the centre of Canada’s payments ecosystem. We own and operate payment systems that process hundreds of billions of dollars worth of payment transactions every business day. We convene ecosystem participants to discuss their multiple and diverse interests and ideas, and to navigate industry-level challenges. We adhere to a set of values that in themselves are tensions: Inspire Trust, Build Community and Enable Change.

Payments Canada where our country connects:

Our Culture

We are a collaborative, diverse and passionate group of individuals. We support one another, make impactful contributions to the organization, and develop and nurture meaningful connections across our ecosystem!

Come and join us - Where Payments Meets Purpose!

About the role

Payments Canada’s mandate is to establish and operate national systems for the clearing and settlement of payments in Canada, and other arrangements for making or exchange of payments, and to facilitate payment system interoperability and innovation. In fulfilling this mandate, Payments Canada works to promote the efficiency, safety and soundness of its clearing and settlement systems, while considering the interests of payment system users. Our systems are at the heart of the Canadian financial system, enabling the clearing and settlement of hundreds of billions of dollars of payments each day.

Reporting to the Chief Payments Officer, the Director is a payments expert with an extensive senior network in the Canadian payment’s ecosystem. The Director serves as a Payments Canada ambassador internally and externally, ensuring that strong relationships are in place between Payments Canada and the broader ecosystem and its members, to support Payments Canada in the successful delivery of our annual Corporate Plan, our strategy and our mandate. The Director has outstanding relationship building skills, and defines, creates and executes Payments Canada's industry engagement strategy. The Director works collaboratively with team members and Payments Canada employees at all levels and across all divisions of the organization.

The Director will actively coach and mentor the Industry Relations team to be proactive stewards of the business with our members and stakeholders and to ensure their views and perspectives are proactively sought, considered and discussed in all relevant matters and projects.

What you’ll do

Your responsibilities as the Director, Industry Relations will include:

Strategy and Relationship Management

• Evolve and execute Payments Canada’s external engagement strategy, working closely with the Policy and Government Relations team.
• Establish and maintain meaningful relationships with a broad set of member and payment ecosystem stakeholder representatives.
• Manage and lead the Industry Relations team to proactively foster deep member and stakeholder relationships and to be trusted advisors to Payments Canada employees and be seen as thought leaders in the market.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Payments Canada’s Executive Leadership Team and support their member and stakeholder engagements as appropriate.

Ecosystem Engagement and Internal Collaboration

• Solicit ecosystem input regarding opportunities for Payments Canada to add value for members and stakeholders (for example research themes, product and service requirements, rules and standards, introduction of common services).
• Solicit and interpret industry views on how strategic developments in the global, North American, and Canadian payments environments may impact Payments Canada, its members and stakeholders.
• Support the senior Payments Canada liaison to the Member Advisory Council (MAC) and Stakeholder Advisory Council (SAC), including advising on the development of work plans and agendas, and approaches to advocacy and engagement with the councils.
• Work closely with Payments Canada colleagues to design, implement, and evolve procedures, policies, rules, and new services to continue to provide value to our members and stakeholders.
• Share expertise as a participant in select working groups and forums.

Team Development and Leadership

• Provide thought leadership to the members and stakeholders on global trends, and proactively engage in discussions on impacts to Canada and its ecosystem.
• Be seen as Payments Experts that provide insight and value to our members and stakeholders.
• Champion the member and stakeholder ‘voice’ internally with all internal partners to ensure our external perspectives are considered in all we do.
• Create and manage a development plan for each team member and actively coach and mentor to establish a reputation in the market as leaders in coalescing the various stakeholders in the market.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate or equivalent degree in business, economics, commerce, or related discipline;
• Minimum ten (10) years’ progressive experience in leading industry relations, client engagement, relationship management type functions;
• Minimum of five (5) years in a people leadership role;
• Deep understanding of the Canadian payment ecosystem and emerging domestic and international payment-related trends. Knowledge of the specific drivers and pressures facing Payments Canada, member financial institutions, payment services providers and end users;
• Superb facilitation skills and an ability to collaborate and build relationships quickly, manage difficult conversations, surface issues and interests, and build consensus;
• Proven stakeholder management skills. Ability to deliver win-win solutions in complex situations;
• Highly effective communicator who can ‘read the room’ and tailor communications to deliver compelling presentations to small and large groups and maximize engagement;
• Experience in developing and executing short, medium and long-term strategic plans;
• Ability to see the big picture and assess complex, multi-dimensional issues with incomplete information, to identify what matters, and develop sound recommendations;
• Government of Canada Reliability clearance or eligibility to obtain.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingualism (English and French) is considered an asset.

Salary Range

• Based on qualifications and experience: $134,837 and $168,546.

Please submit your application by July 31, 2024.

Payments Meets Purpose - What you can expect from us

• Flexible, hybrid (remote/office) environment;
• Competitive compensation package, including annual variable bonus and defined contribution pension plan with employer matching percentage (If eligible);
• Comprehensive health and dental benefit coverage, including mental health coverage, life insurance and a health spending account for you and your dependents (Permanent and temporary employees with contracts 12 months & over);
• Paid time off: minimum four weeks paid vacation, sick and personal days, December Holiday Shutdown and Cultural Holiday Observance Days;
• 26 Weeks of paid maternity and parental leave top-up;
• Rewards and recognition program;
• Access to Office Gym Facilities;
• Internal and external professional development opportunities;
• Fun team and organizational events;
• Monthly All Staff Forums led by our Executive Leadership Team.

Our Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Commitment

At Payments Canada, we are committed to making everyone feel they can be themselves and thrive at work. We will continue to build on a foundation of respect and appreciation for diversity in all forms and collectively create an inclusive and equitable culture where our differences are valued.

We are committed to employment equity and actively encourage applications from women, Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities and visible minorities. If selected for an interview, please advise us if you require special accommodation by emailing

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Interviews may be conducted virtually or in person.