Do you want to be part of the exciting team advancing legislative and regulatory frameworks to improve accessibility for people with disabilities in Ontario? If the answer is yes, please consider this exciting role as a Senior Policy Advisor with the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility.
This position offers a challenging opportunity to provide leadership and expertise in the planning, development of legislative and regulatory frameworks that support people with disabilities in Ontario, and to promote accessibility across the province.
About the job
In this role, you will:
• Lead and coordinate policy, standards, regulations, and research projects to develop options and recommendations that meet strategic objectives for the branch.
• Identify, research, and policy issues, trends, and directions to assess current and emerging policy matters/ program responses and maintain a leading edge awareness of the field
• Lead and /or represent the branch on ministry, cross-ministry or inter-jurisdictional task forces and working groups to identify and resolve strategic policy issues
• Consult with stakeholders to solicit input on proposed policies, develop consensus and identify concerns/issues
• Provide policy recommendations to senior management and prepare a range of analyses and communications including cabinet submissions
What you bring to the team
Business and Policy Knowledge:
You have:
• demonstrated experience with policy, regulations, standards and program development principles and techniques to lead and/or participate in the development of strategies, policies and evaluation, and legislative frameworks related to accessibility issues
• demonstrated experience with applying regulatory modernization principles and open government consultations leading to improved regulations and broader policy outcomes.
• the ability to interpret and apply relevant accessibility policies and legislation (i.e. the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005) to ensure the government mandate is considered and to contextualize third-party legislative recommendations
• experience conducting research using different methodologies and techniques to plan and conduct qualitative/quantitative research studies, undertake analysis of trends, and evaluate best practices, options, costs and impacts
• the ability to resolve complex issues in an interdisciplinary policy
Leadership and Project Management Skills:
You have:
• experience designing and managing projects, including developing project scope, terms of reference, methodologies and risk management
• the ability to apply your leadership skills and project management expertise to lead policy, standards and research teams
• expert consultation, negotiation and mediation skills to develop and maintain consulting contracts that result in quality and timeliness of services
Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
You have:
• oral and written communication skills to consult with colleagues, senior management and internal/external stakeholders as well as respond to issues, provide recommendations, and prepare reports
• consultation and negotiations skills to resolve issues and gain support for ministry policy and program initiatives
• presentation skills to provide policy advice and explain social policy and program recommendations
• judgement and political acuity to work with the public, media, provincial associations, and other stakeholders
Computer Skills:
You have:
• the ability to use standard software programs and tools to research and prepare materials such as briefing notes, correspondence, policy papers and presentations
Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer
accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please
contact us.Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace: