Director, Public Affairs

About Us

Maritime Launch Services is a Canadian-owned commercial space company building Spaceport Nova Scotia near the communities of Canso, Hazel Hill and Little Dover in the Municipality of Guysborough, Nova Scotia, and head office based out of Halifax. Our mission is to deliver satellite launch services that strengthen Canada’s position in the global space economy and enable sovereign access to space.

We are now entering an exciting phase of growth, moving from planning to sustained delivery: scaling the organization, strengthening partnerships, and preparing for ongoing launch operations. If you are motivated by ambitious, nation-building work and want to help create something that has never existed in Canada before, this is the moment to join.

Maritime Launch is a public company trading on the TSX under the ticker MAXQ.

Job Description

The Director, Public Affairs,  provides senior leadership across public affairs, external communications, stakeholder and community engagement, media relations, issues management and corporate reputation. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and helps shape corporate positioning, anticipate emerging issues and advance Maritime Launch's strategic priorities.

You will play an important role in building understanding, trust and support for Maritime Launch among the communities surrounding Spaceport Nova Scotia as the company advances toward commercial orbital launch operations. This is a strategic and hands-on role for an independent thinker who can move confidently between executive counsel and practical delivery in a complex, highly visible environment.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Provide Strategic Leadership and Counsel

• Serve as a senior advisor to executive leadership on public affairs, strategic communications, stakeholder relations, reputation and emerging issues.
• Develop and lead integrated public affairs and communications strategies aligned with corporate growth, spaceport development and operational objectives.
• Identify political, regulatory, community and reputational considerations that may influence business priorities and decisions.
• Work across business development, operations, regulatory, investor relations and leadership teams to align strategic priorities and external engagement.

Lead Public Affairs and Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and strengthen relationships with federal, provincial and municipal governments, Mi'kmaw communities, local communities, industry partners, business organizations and other strategic stakeholders.
• Support government relations and public affairs initiatives that advance Maritime Launch's priorities and Canada's sovereign launch capability.
• Monitor public policy, political and stakeholder developments, assessing opportunities, risks and implications for the company.
• Represent Maritime Launch in government meetings, industry forums, community discussions and other external engagements.

Advance Community Relations and Public Trust

• Lead community engagement in Nova Scotia and communications supporting the continued development and future operations of Spaceport Nova Scotia.
• Build meaningful, long-term relationships through open dialogue, transparency and constructive participation, including with stakeholders whose perspectives may differ from the company's.
• Anticipate and navigate community concerns, competing interests and sensitive issues with professionalism, empathy and sound judgment.
• Coordinate public information, community notifications and stakeholder engagement related to construction, development and launch activities. 
  
  Lead Corporate Communications and Media Relations
• Direct corporate messaging, public announcements, media relations, executive communications and external positioning.
• Build relationships with local, regional, national and industry media, lead proactive engagement and manage complex or sensitive inquiries.
• Prepare senior leaders for interviews, presentations, public appearances and other high-profile engagements, and act as a company spokesperson when required.
• Lead communications for corporate developments, partnerships, commercial milestones and investor-related announcements in coordination with appropriate teams and public-company disclosure requirements.

Anticipate and Manage Issues, Risk and Reputation

• Proactively identify and assess political, community, media and reputational issues that could affect the company's objectives, relationships or operations.
• Provide senior counsel on complex or sensitive matters, balancing corporate objectives, stakeholder expectations and reputational considerations.
• Lead issues management and crisis communications planning and response, including protocols, scenario planning, messaging and stakeholder strategies.
• Exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling confidential, commercially sensitive or high-profile matters.

Lead Strategic Events and Launch Communications

• Lead communications and stakeholder plans for launch campaigns, major operational milestones, government announcements, site visits and high-profile corporate events.
• Coordinate with spaceport operations on public information, community notifications, media engagement and stakeholder communications before, during and after launch activities.
• Oversee event delivery and represent the company externally as required.
  
  Essential Qualifications
• 10 - 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public affairs, strategic communications, government relations, stakeholder engagement, corporate affairs or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior executives and navigating complex political, regulatory, community or reputational issues with day-to-day oversight.
• Strong knowledge of Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada's political, business, community and media landscape, with an understanding of the broader federal environment.
• Proven ability to develop and lead integrated public affairs, stakeholder engagement and communications strategies.
• Experience building credibility and productive relationships with governments, Indigenous communities, community organizations, industry and other stakeholders.
• Experience managing sensitive issues, crisis communications and reputational challenges with discretion and sound judgment.
• Exceptional writing, presentation, facilitation and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• A degree in communications, public relations, political science, public policy, business, journalism or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience in a complex, highly regulated or publicly visible sector such as infrastructure, aerospace, defence, energy, transportation, natural resources or economic development.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, publicly traded companies or major infrastructure development projects.
• Established relationships with government, industry, community organizations and other key stakeholders in Nova Scotia or Atlantic Canada.
• Experience planning high-profile corporate events, public announcements and stakeholder engagement activities.

Working Conditions and Location

• On-site: Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Reporting to:  Chief Operating Officer
• Direct reports: 1
• Travel: Domestic and international travel as required