Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To conduct research, analysis and evaluation of legislative, strategic and operational issues that impact OPP operations and business processes, and to facilitate province-wide implementation of OPP strategic and operational initiatives. To support the OPP in achieving its goals and objectives through the provision of effective project management and program evaluation.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Conducts, evaluates and facilitates research and analysis projects on matters related to operational processes and business improvements by defining terms of reference, consulting with stakeholders and assessing input and concerns, planning activities, collecting and interpreting data, analyzing results, reporting findings and presenting recommendations to Senior Command.



2. Leads and facilitates evaluation of OPP programs, projects and pilot initiatives, works with clients and stakeholders to define goals, objectives and scope, develop performance measures in the continuous improvement process through ongoing program and project participation, evaluation and review.



3. Facilitates and prepares Multi-Year Business Planning (MyP), including identifying goals and objectives and developing measurements, key performance indicators, logic models, risk notes and report-backs. Coordinates and liaises with the Financial Planning and Analysis Unit, OPP Program areas and Ministry representatives to ensure product alignment with strategic corporate priorities.



4. Facilitates development of research agreements and partnerships with academic institutions. Liaises with Ministry staff, legal counsel and internal and external stakeholders including academia and collaborates on recommendations regarding operational issues, implementation supports and program and enforcement strategies.



5. Conducts and coordinates organizational impact assessments in consultation with internal and external stakeholders. Reviews Ministry requests and federal/provincial/territorial (FPT) documents, provincial and federal legislation, policy, audit results, environmental assessment activities and other internal and external strategic documents and direction to assess impacts on resources and operational and business processes.



6. Provides current and relevant advice and information to senior staff at all levels by conducting trends analysis, jurisdictional/environmental scanning and working group participation, facilitating the discussion and resolution of issues/needs related to corporate level operational, strategic, and priority directions, policies and procedures.



7. Develops relationships to facilitate and provide clear, concise and timely communication to regions, detachments and bureaus in anticipation of potential operational impacts. Prepares briefing materials for senior command identifying any impacts and recommends OPP positions, policy and procedure revisions, and communication strategies through a variety of mechanisms, including: briefing/information notes, position papers, reports and presentations. Implements or participates in implementing approved recommendations as required. Conducts ongoing jurisdictional and environmental scanning to keep apprised of current and emerging issues and to identify opportunities to enhance planning and process reengineering practices.



8. Responds to public enquiries on corporate policing and justice issues.



9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Staffing and Licensing :

· Ability to pass an OPP background security investigation.

Knowledge :

Ministry, government, and OPP vision, directions and priorities. Knowledge of federal and provincial government legislative processes, as well as policing-related legislation including, but not limited to, the Police Services Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Highway Traffic Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Knowledge of OPP operations and skill in the application of operational and business processes and policy development. Knowledge of OPS/OPP procurement policies and practices.
Consultation, advisory, leadership, analytical, facilitation and problem solving skills to identify issues, and to analyze and develop effective recommendations on solutions. Leadership and knowledge of tools/techniques used in project management and ability to manage projects to achieve results. Organizational, analytical and program management skills to support bureau managers, regional, bureau and detachment locations and OPP executive to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of all operations.
Planning, organizing and coordinating skills to support and/or lead the development and completion of organizational projects. Ability to build, manage and sustain respectful relationships and partnerships to promote alignment and efficiency of effort and approach.
Research and analytical methods, theories and techniques and ministry/ government planning processes to conduct/facilitate research and analysis. Conceptual skills to adapt and apply current theories to situations.
Development of performance measures and identifying performance indicators and knowledge of appropriate evaluation instruments and techniques to properly conduct evaluations. Knowledge of current/emerging trends in environmental scanning to conduct ongoing environmental scanning and develop benchmarks and good practices.
Facilitation and training skills to promote organizational understanding and ability to produce comprehensive reports.
Academia and industry-leading research and planning approaches and philosophies, software and systems. Knowledge of simple and complex research methodology to assess internal and external academic research proposals for OPP participation while evaluating risk, benefits and privacy concerns.
Knowledge and understanding of the main requirements and problems of planning and implementing a survey and designing questionnaires; basic principles for preparing survey data for statistical analysis; knowledge to carry out and interpret statistical analysis such as exploratory analysis and testing for differences and associations.
Knowledge and understanding of the legislative process to review federal/provincial legislation, policy and strategic directions, to assess impacts on resources and operational and business processes, and provide guidance or recommendations to program areas or senior command.
Presentation software and ability to develop and deliver presentations. Ability to utilize Microsoft Suite software and specialized software (e.g. SPSS, etc.).

Judgement :

Work is performed independently under the general direction of the Team Lead, Research and Program Evaluation, within the broad framework of OPP and ministry standards (e.g. Adequacy and Effectiveness Standards in the Police Services Act).
Judgment is exercised in: determining the scope of research, analysis and consultation required to conduct projects; consulting with, advising and co-ordinating input from region and bureau locations on strategic, operational plan requirements; analyzing and evaluating program performance and results to identify business needs and improvement opportunities.
Judgment and discretion in decision-making is required to determine the nature, scope and degree of research required to study assigned organizational issues and assess the related risk.
Judgment is required to assess internal and external academic research proposals for appropriate content and to determine if proposals are feasible.
Judgment and discretion is required for resolving or escalating issues of a frequently controversial and sensitive nature with clients and stakeholders.

INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS: :

Written communication skills to prepare correspondence, reports, briefing notes and position papers. Ability to negotiate, mediate and resolve disputes and encourage mutually satisfactory results in a cooperative environment. Ability to understand, articulate and communicate complex concepts and issues using clear, concise and easily understood terms of reference.
Interpersonal and oral and written communication skills to work collaboratively and cooperatively with program/operations managers resolving problems, coaching and providing advice.
Oral communication/facilitation skills to clearly articulate knowledge and advice/recommendations on planning and project management approaches to senior staff and/or management; to participate in and facilitate meetings; oral and written communication skills to deliver presentations and to respond to enquiries.
Oral communication/facilitation and interpersonal skills to elicit input from stakeholders, and obtain feedback; to discuss and resolve tactical and logistical operational and project problems with staff and stakeholders; to provide policy and legislative advice to ministry staff and stakeholders; and to establish partnerships.

PROBLEM SOLVING/COMPLEXITY: :

Provides advice to Bureau/Region program area staff on the interpretation and application of operational planning, procedures, directives and processes. Develops and recommends processes for analyzing and supporting the operational planning functions.
Analytical and evaluative skills are required to research and analyze issues and trends, diagnose need for system wide improvements, determine best business, strategic and operational planning techniques. Ability to review and assess client concerns and feedback, conduct needs assessments, identify gaps and risks, and utilize the appropriate analytical methodology to incorporate findings into project/program work.
Ability to reconcile competing and complex perspectives. Analytical and problem solving skills to identify appropriate strategies and resources for generating reliable and valid data by selecting and applying suitable research techniques and methodologies to collect information; analyzing quantitative and qualitative data through statistical analysis, analyzing qualitative data through processing and interpretative techniques, validating results; utilizing appropriate evaluation instruments and techniques to properly evaluate programs.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WORK OF OTHER EMPLOYEES: :

There is no formal responsibility for the work of other employees.
Provides leadership to project teams in coordinating submissions within the program area or that cross program areas, and provides technical support/guidance.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY DEMANDS :

Physical Demands:

Moderate amount of sitting at a computer to perform research, analysis and assessment of data/information, submissions and other materials; and to develop various documents.

Sensory Demands:

Occasional requirement to work longer hours to meet deadlines or travel to out-of-town meetings.

Occasional unexpected changes to deadlines, tight time pressures, conflicting work demands and priorities, and demands from multiple contacts/clients/ managers. Work assignments are timeline driven and involve multiple parties.

Working environment requires long-periods of extensive concentration. Detailed and precision work required.

WORKING CONDITIONS: :

This position operates in a standard office environment. There is some travel to attend meetings in other locales.