Apply By: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Economic and Business Advisor

Job ID:
241865
Organization:
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
Division:
Economic Development Division / Labour, Trade and Economic Development Branch
City:
Guelph, Toronto
Position(s) language:
English
Job term:
1 Permanent
Job code:
12124 - Industrial Development Officer 3
Salary:
$1,627.28 - $2,077.03 Per week*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Are you interested in supporting international trade and economic development for Ontario?

In this role, you will provide trade, marketing, and business development advice to agri-food companies and partners. Your work will help Ontario agri-food businesses grow, access new markets, and strengthen Ontario's position as a trusted international trading partner.

You will support Ontario agri-food companies by offering export advice, sharing market information, and helping plan trade missions and events in key international markets. You will also work with businesses, rural and Indigenous communities, and other partners to support economic growth across Ontario.

As an Economic and Business Advisor, you will contribute to economic and trade strategies by conducting basic economic analysis, consulting with stakeholders, and connecting clients to programs and resources that support business growth, exports, and community economic development.

This role is well suited for individuals with experience or interest in international trade, export development, agri-food, and broader economic development who enjoy working in a collaborative, client-focused environment.

NOTE - The position may require occasional international travel in support of ministry priorities.

About the job

You will:

• Conduct research, environmental scans, and trends analysis to identify and conceptualize key issues affecting the agri-food sectors and to support Ontario's economy through community economic development and business;
• Develop and implement reporting tools that allow for measurement and monitoring of branch initiatives and community economic development outcomes using an evidence-based approach that drives program effectiveness;
• Analyzes and interprets results for the development of recommendations for program and service enhancement;.
• Collaborate with the team to develop recommendations that minimize or alleviate impacts and maximize positive outcomes;
• Prepare or draft a range of materials;
• Maintain strong internal and external networks to promote information sharing and develop proactive, coordinated approaches to the development of business and community economic development services and programs.

Information Session
Want to learn more about this opportunity? Join us for an information session on April 13th, 2026 at 1:15pm where you will have a chance to find out more about the position, the team and the branch.

To register for the information session please click on this link:  REGISTER HERE

**This session is optional and will not influence the screening and selection process**

What you bring to the team


Economic and Business Knowledge:

• You demonstrate knowledge of economic development theories, principles, and methodologies;
• You have knowledge of economic, cost-benefit and financial analysis methods and techniques;
• You have an understanding of the agri-food trade and investment landscape in Ontario and beyond;
• You can assess the effectiveness of new/changed policies and programs, and provide recommendations on policy/program proposals.

Technical Knowledge:

• You are familiar with government policy, legislation, and programs;
• You have an understanding of economic development and its impact on international and domestic agri-food sectors, regions, technology and rural communities;
• You understand Indigenous groups development and governance principles.

Research, Analytical and Project Management Skills:

• You have knowledge of performance measurement methods and techniques;
• You demonstrate experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and data/information analysis;
• You can interpret data/information to identify and evaluate issues and trends impacting the sector;
• You have strong evaluative skills;
• You have planning, organization and project management skills.

Communication and Relationship Management Skills:

• You can communicate information clearly and effectively to different audiences verbally and in writing.
• You can foster and manage relationships with internal staff and external stakeholders;
• You demonstrate political acuity;
• You demonstrate teamwork skills;
• You have effective written skills to prepare various correspondence.

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:

Additional information:

Apply by:
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 11:59 pm EDT
Position details:
  • 1 English Permanent - Full Time, 1 Stone Rd W, Guelph, West Region or 77 Grenville St, Toronto, Toronto Region
Compensation group:
Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Work hours:
Category:
Policy and Analysis
Posted on:
Monday, March 30, 2026

Note:

  • Less qualified applicants may be considered on an underfill basis.
  • The information that you provide for the purpose of this competition and the results from this competition may be used to fill other positions. These positions may be of various tenures including short-term assignments. Your information and the results from this competition will be retained for the purpose of filling vacancies in accordance with the applicable collective agreement or policy provisions.
  • C-AF-241865/26


How to apply:

  1. You must apply online.
  2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
  3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
  4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
  5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
  6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.


Strengthening Ontario, together