Job Specification

Purpose :

To conduct assigned policy research and analysis in support of projects/studies, and to provide consultation and liaison services in support of provincial/ministry strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities :

Policy Research and Development:

Reviews policy/research initiatives and undertakes projects to review and develop new/revised legislation, regulations and policy options related to emerging multi-jurisdictional Indigenous issues.

Plans and conducts environmental scans and trends analyses to identify and conceptualize key issues, and plans, undertakes and/or coordinates quantitative and qualitative research in support of cross-sectoral policy and program development processes that involves integration of multiple sources of data/information.

Conducts research and provides recommendations to senior management on, policy and program options, risk analyses, impact on existing policies/legislation.

Conducts analyses on existing policy and programs, and in the design and development of operational guidelines/benchmarks/criteria to assess and evaluate policy/program effectiveness.

Develop policy/research papers, memoranda, and briefing documents on a range of policy topics/issues for review by senior management and ministry executives, and prepares Cabinet submissions and other legislative documents on new or revised policy and programs.

Stakeholder Consultation and Liaison:


Establishes effective working relationships and partnerships with internal/external stakeholders, including ministry partners; provides advice and discusses matters/issues related to performance measurement.

Provides technical guidance, advice and interpretation related to management and staff related to research, data interpretation/analysis, performance analysis and related issues; discusses and addresses related issues and concerns.

Participates on and provides support to multi-jurisdictional working groups involved in policy review and development and contributes policy subject expertise. Participates in ministry, cross-ministry and stakeholder consultation processes.

Builds stakeholder relationships and provides consultation services (re policy information, interpretation, analyses, recommendations) to management of own and other ministries, representatives of stakeholder organizations, and federal/provincial territorial governments.

Program Evaluation and Implementation:


Evaluates policy effectiveness by monitoring and analyzing performance indicators, socio-economic trends and other factors, and identifying emerging issues and required data support. Develops and recommends strategies, measures and/or tools to resolve identified gaps.

Develops benchmarks and criteria for the monitoring and evaluation of policy initiatives across sectors; assesses the effectiveness of new/changed policies and programs to support further policy development; reports on policy performance, and develops recommendations/changes based on findings.

Coordinates and/or participates in implementation planning, communications, development, user education, and training, for approved policies.

Information and Advice:


Provides input into the development communication strategies for the dissemination of information to other ministry/jurisdictional stakeholders, and drafts correspondence in response to public inquiries regarding legislation, regulations, policies and proposed policies and initiatives.

Prepares presentations and briefing materials (e.g., briefing notes, House notes, advice notes) for senior staff and senior levels of government.

Knowledge / Skill :

Program and policy development principles, and government decision-making processes, for the analysis and preparation of new or revised policy/program options/recommendations.

Indigenous issues, federal and provincial legislation, policies and programs, history, culture and socio-economic conditions, interests and needs, in order to ensure Indigenous Ontarians are supported.

Program analysis/evaluation techniques to assess the effectiveness of new/changed policies and programs and to provide recommendations on policy and program change.

Provincial and ministry strategic directions and key objectives pertaining to the sector/program area, and relevant legislation, models of service/program delivery, funding, governance, and critical issues impacting the sector to identify key issues and findings in research, and to recommend options.

The broad social, economic, legal and political issues underlying Indigenous policy development, including multi- jurisdictional issues, relationships, land/treaty negotiations, and matters of economic development, health and welfare.

Research and analytical techniques, including survey techniques, performance measures and financial modeling, to conduct environmental scans, trends analyses, quantitative and qualitative research from multi-jurisdictional sources and costing of programs/policy changes, in support of policy and program decision-making.

Oral and written communications and public consultation and communication principles and methods, to participate in consultation and survey processes, and to draft policy papers, reports, analyses, draft correspondence, briefing notes, and materials for cabinet submissions.

Computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, project scheduling and internet to research and prepare own materials.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

Presentation skills to provide research findings to senior staff on branch policy and program development projects.

Consultation skills to contribute to policy working groups, and to exchange information, discuss issues, gain support and liaise with other branches/ministries/stakeholders on policy issues/development.

Conflict resolution and facilitation skills to work with inter-jurisdictional policy teams in identifying potential issues and problems and contributing to formulation of solutions.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Plan/conduct policy research involving monitoring of trends, direction and issues, analysis of multiple sources of information/data, consideration of qualitative [e.g. socio-economic] and quantitative factors to assess and make recommendations on, policy options, cross/sectoral/jurisdictional impacts.

Assess both qualitative and quantitative information in developing proposals, evaluate the implications and impact of proposed policy changes, and modify/make changes to mitigate identified potential risks.
Undertake cross-sectoral research of policies and programs in other jurisdictions to identify and evaluate best practices for application to provincial policy and programs.

Review, assess, and summarize stakeholder comments/survey findings to incorporate into proposed solutions/recommendations.

Apply conceptual thinking to issues and impact analysis to contribute to development of draft policy options/program frameworks.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Leading and participating in research and analysis projects and participating in the development of program specific policy or program frameworks that advance provincial/ministry strategic objectives.

Contributing to performance benchmarking and evaluation of existing policy and programs, and to policy/program implementation.

Identifying issues, trends and developments and their impact on ministry policy/programs.


Providing research summaries and options and impact analyses to support policy or program frameworks, or new policy initiatives.

Has latitude to recommend a range of policy and consultation research approaches/techniques and to interpret research findings.

Decision-making is guided by government policy/program development processes/practices.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Counterparts in own and other ministries to obtain information on proposed programs that may affect the province's strategy for supporting Indigenous people, to discuss proposed research initiatives and participate as a member of project teams.

Policy and research counterparts in own or other ministries and other jurisdictions, to share information/ obtain input/ collaborate on research, and to participate as a branch representative on intra-or inter- ministerial and inter- jurisdictional policy forums/teams.

External stakeholders (e.g., representatives of First Nations/Métis/Indigenous organizations) for policy consultation, research, and liaison purposes.

Guidance / Supervision :

Provides technical guidance to other research/policy analysts when leading/coordinating assigned research and policy development projects.
Provides advice and information on current and proposed policy and programs to other government policy counterparts.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Frequently required to respond to immediate requests for information from the Offices of the Minister or ADM in order to meet tight deadlines.

Mental / Sensory :

Frequently required to read and concentrate on materials for research purposes.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.