Student – Policy and Analysis Jobs

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Are you a student or recent graduate looking for an opportunity to build your career over the summer? Are you passionate about making a difference? The Summer Employment Opportunities program provides opportunities to obtain valuable work experience, gain transferable skills, and build professional networks.

Submit an application today for these summer employment opportunities:

• Policy and Programs Assistant
• Research Assistant

Note: When submitting an application for this posting, please indicate on the application form which job type(s) you are applying to. You can apply to multiple opportunities.

Information to assist you with the application process is available on the Summer Employment Opportunities website.

This job posting represents multiple positions within different ministries and at various locations across Ontario. Certain cities may be located in distant or remote areas in Ontario and may not be accessible by public transit. Carefully review locations through Google Maps and select ONLY those locations that you are able to travel to and work in. You can select up to 10 locations.

Notes:

• Relocation expenses and/or accommodations are not covered by ministries.
• The number of positions to be filled is approximate and subject to change.
• Please use your legal name when applying to the job ad.
• Summer placements are typically full-time (working 36.25hrs/week or 40 hrs/week). However some part-time placements MAY be available based on mutual agreement between the hiring manager and student, if operationally feasible. Please inquire at the interview stage.

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About the job

Policy and Programs Assistant Work Description:
As a Policy and Programs Assistant, you will be supporting a team in policy and/or program planning and delivery. You may have the opportunity to work on some or all of the following activities:

• Conduct research, perform analysis, and synthesize information and data (e.g. develop summaries, options, recommendations, etc.)
• Prepare and organize correspondence, perform data entry and word processing functions, and create a variety of documents.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and manage daily assigned work.

Research Assistant Work Description:
As a Policy Research Assistant, you may have the opportunity to work on some or all of the following activities:

• Collect and record data and samples.
• Prepare and organize correspondence, perform data entry and word processing functions, and create a variety of documents.
• Perform qualitative and/or quantitative research, analysis, and evaluation of information and data to produce reports and/or identify trends.
• Provide customer service assistance by responding to public and/or internal inquiries.
• Some positions may include field work that may be physically demanding and may require multi-day trips involving overnight travel.
• Field work may include assisting district staff with research field studies, as well as with technical inspections and investigations.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and manage daily assigned work.

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What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

You must meet all eligibility criteria by the first day of employment (contracts begin between May and July):

1. Student Status: You must be enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution (currently or for the fall semester) OR you must have graduated within the past six months (for example, if you graduated in December, you can apply for and start a summer student position up until June of the following year).
   
2. Age: You must be a minimum of 15 years of age. There is no maximum age limit.
   
3. Residency: You must be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment.
   
4. Work Status: You must be legally entitled to work in Canada and have a valid Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) for the full duration of your summer employment.
   
5. Application: Applications are only accepted online by clicking the "Apply Online" button. Your application should describe how you meet the knowledge and skill requirements outlined on this ad.

Job Requirements for Policy and Programs Assistant:

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• You apply your written communication skills to document findings, record data, and prepare a variety of documents (e.g. reports, presentations, meeting minutes, etc.).
• You apply your customer service skills and your verbal, written, and active listening communication skills to respond to phone, email, and in-person inquiries, and provide information to internal clients and/or the public.
• You apply your initiative and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• You apply your experience using Microsoft Office applications, such as Word (word processing) and Excel (spreadsheets), as well as databases, email, and the internet to conduct research and prepare a variety of documents.
• You apply your knowledge and/or experience with policy development principles to support policy and/or program related work.

Analytical and Organizational Skills

• You apply your planning and organizational skills to collect, organize, review, and verify information/data through review of files, reports, and other means.
• You use the internet and other sources to gather and aggregate data, analyze and input data findings, and summarize information.
• You work independently or as part of a team; you plan, organize, and prioritize your work to meet competing deadlines.

Job Requirements for Research Assistant:

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• You apply your written communication skills to document findings and prepare a variety of documents (e.g. reports, data records, etc.).
• You apply your verbal communication skills to communicate and share your knowledge with staff, and to support the delivery of education and outreach initiatives.
• You apply your customer service and verbal, written, and active listening communication skills to respond to phone, email, and in-person inquiries, and provide information to internal clients and/or the public.
• You apply your initiative and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• You have knowledge of and experience with research methods, data collection, and data management, including tracking, data entry, maintaining databases, and statistical analysis.
• You apply your experience using Microsoft Office applications, such as Word (word processing) and Excel (spreadsheets), as well as databases, email, and the internet to conduct research and prepare a variety of documents.

Analytical and Organizational Skills

• You apply your planning and organizational skills to collect, organize, review, and verify information/data through review of files, reports, and other means.
• You apply your evaluative and analytical skills to evaluate information, conduct data and trend analysis, and develop recommendations for environmental reports/projects.
• You work independently or as part of a team; you plan, organize, and prioritize your work to meet competing deadlines.

Other Requirements

• You are able to work in an outdoor environment with some physical activity involved, including lifting and carrying weighted items in accordance with the Employment Standards Act and Workplace Health and Safety regulations.
• You are willing and able to participate in field work that may include multi-day trips involving overnight travel.
• Some positions may require a valid Ontario G2 (or higher) Driver's License or equivalent.

Other student and recent graduate opportunities

See what other summer opportunities are currently available!
Also, check out all the other student and new recent graduate opportunities offered within the Ontario Public Service.

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Don't meet every qualification?

The SEO program is designed for students and recent graduates who are looking to kick-start their careers and gain practical work experience. If you're excited about this position but don't meet all the listed qualifications, please still consider applying.

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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:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

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What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province.

We offer:
• a purpose-driven service culture with passionate professionals who contribute to our province
• a career that can grow across multiple job functions and program areas 
• flexible learning opportunities, including professional development and mentorship programs 
• employee networks to foster community and make connections 
• employee-centric programs to support and empower equity-deserving groups 
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment

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Additional information:

Note:

• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• Some positions advertised on this job ad are represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and successful candidates will be required to pay monthly union dues, which are automatically deducted from your pay.
  
  Other positions advertised on this job ad may be excluded from the OPSEU Collective Agreement (i.e. not represented by OPSEU), depending on the business area within the Ministry in which the work is performed. You will be advised during the recruitment process by the hiring manager of the business area.
  
  You will receive a confirmation splash page verifying receipt of your application when it has been successfully received. You will only receive an email confirmation if you have entered your email address in the application. If you do not receive a confirmation splash page, it is likely that your application was not successfully received and it is recommended that you resubmit your application. If that still does not result in a confirmation, please contact SEO@ontario.ca during the posting period. We cannot provide assistance with submitting your application after the job ad deadline date.

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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.