Senior Policy Advisor

Are you an enthusiastic, experienced policy professional that enjoys taking the initiative to analyse and create transportation plans and policies that intersect with and support land use planning policy?

Consider bringing your motivation, skills, and experience to our dedicated team in the Transportation Planning Branch. This is your opportunity to participate in the analysis and development of transportation plans, policy and related projects, including for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and Northern Ontario, and cross-cutting issues such as corridor protection, transit planning, cycling, and more!

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role, you will:
• develop, plan and coordinate transportation policy, projects and studies leading to the development and implementation of ministry transportation planning policies and programs
•Identify and recommend innovative areas of policy development to advance the transportation priorities of the ministry
•lead or participate on multiple teams to support transportation plans and policy initiatives
• support ministry and government transportation strategic directions and policy agenda and advance ministry transportation planning policy positions as other ministries' policies are reviewed and developed
• coordinate and support the implementation of transportation planning and land use planning policy
• provide advice to decision makers on evidence based policy options
• provide technical expertise, advice, research, and information on transportation planning policy issues to senior government officials

How do I qualify?

Policy Development and Analysis Knowledge and Skills

• you know policy development principles and techniques to lead the development and implementation of transportation planning policies, options, strategies and initiatives
• you know provincial strategic directions, policy priorities and legislation governing transportation planning
• you can use your knowledge to ensure that the government agenda is reflected in policy proposals and recommendations
• you can independently plan, design and manage policy and planning projects, assess project requirements and implement projects
• you have a strong appreciation and working knowledge of provincial transportation planning and policy contexts including land use planning
• you can use your knowledge to assess external reports and issues in the transportation field relative to market, socio-economic and environmental trends and ministry policy
• you can design, conceptualize and organize research projects, studies, trends analyses and environmental scans
• you can analyse and evaluate findings related to identified issues, assessing implications and arriving at creative solutions
• you can provide policy advice to senior management and prepare cabinet submissions to support ministry initiatives

Transportation and Land Use Planning Knowledge

• you know the application of natural and social sciences, and the interdependency between land development, urban planning, social economic and environmental factors to transportation planning
• you know planning and design processes and procedures related to the provision of transportation plans
• you know theories and practices of urban planning and transportation planning policies, processes
• you know practices to develop policy guidelines to meet program needs
• you know legislation relating to transportation planning and environment

Interpersonal and Project Management Skills

• you are comfortable overseeing and implementing project management methodology to manage and participate in several concurrent projects and direct assigned project staff and consultants
• you can manage competing priorities and develop critical paths and work plans to ensure achievement of time sensitive files
• you can work on multi-disciplinary teams, chair technical and/or policy meetings and gain consensus of opposing positions among internal and external parties
• you can determine project resources including the need for external consultants based on scope of study, determine work requirements and ensure timely completion

Communication and Consultation Skills

• you have facilitation and leadership skills to gain support for ministry transportation planning policy and program initiatives
• you have the understanding on the process of developing a ministry position on planning and policy matters and the ability to share and represent the ministry's perspective in working group settings
• you can develop linkages and consultation frameworks with inter-ministry partners by building partnerships, influencing and building consensus
• you can lead and represent the ministry and provincial position on inter-jurisdictional policy consultations
• you can coordinate, prepare and present reports, policy analyses and briefing notes and issues analyses to senior management
• you can consult with external stakeholders, agencies, the public to determine issues, interests and understand basis for differing positions
• you have knowledge and experience of processes to engage with First Nations and Metis on planning and policy matters
• you are a strong writer and can represent facts in a narrative manner to support the policy development and approval process

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 23, 2014 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.