Senior Policy Advisor

The Renewables Policy Unit within the Renewables Integration and Distributed Energy Resources Branch is looking for an experienced and knowledgeable policy professional with excellent analytical and communication skills to join our exciting and challenging work environment.

As a senior member of our team, you will provide analysis and advice to senior management on policies and issues in Ontario's evolving energy sector. Working with a small team of dedicated professionals, you will conduct research and analysis to support a range of policy challenges related to the integration of renewable and distributed energy resources into Ontario's electricity system and to identify and understand opportunities to support innovation in the sector.

You will also consult with and build effective relationships with our key partners, including federal, provincial and municipal bodies, agencies and industry.

What can I expect to do in this role?

• lead research activities and the development of policy and regulatory proposals by analyzing and reviewing data, discussion papers, legislation and regulations related to renewable and distributed energy resources, and identifying considerations and options for the Ontario context
• develop and maintain relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
• provide information and advice to staff, senior management and industry stakeholders
• prepare and present a range of materials (e.g. briefing material, position papers) to senior decision makers

How do I qualify?

Policy Development, Analytical and Research Skills:

• You have the ability to research and analyze current and emerging policy issues requiring legislative/regulatory reform and/or policy or program responses.
• You can review, assess and draft policy and program initiatives
• You can review external research studies and reports to identify policy implications and relevance to government priorities.
• You can develop and/or utilize quantitative models and tools to assess policy options, identify economic and electricity system impacts, provide cost-benefit analyses and understand technology business models.
• You can identify key issues, provide analysis, and develops policy options and recommendations to support decision making.
• You can prepare legislative and regulatory amendments in collaboration with legal teams and partners.
• You can gather intelligence about emerging market trends, government policy initiatives, and provide relevant analysis.

Specialized Knowledge:

• You have knowledge of renewable energy and distributed energy resources in Ontario, integrated energy solutions (including thermal renewable technologies), and other subject matters in the areas of Energy and Electricity policy.
• You have knowledge of the broad economic, environmental, legal, and political issues underlying policy development in the energy sector and legislative frameworks (e.g. Electricity Act, 1998).
• You have knowledge of the energy industry, including regional and global trends, energy markets, technology types, integrated energy solutions, costs and financial considerations.

Consultation and Relationship Management Skills:

• You can develop and build working relationships with energy sector stakeholders, other ministries, governments and jurisdictions.
• You can organize and conduct/facilitate consultations, to gain intelligence, discuss current policy issues, and discuss/probe for partnership and innovation opportunities.
• You can conduct stakeholder consultation processes to seek input on policy, legislative and regulatory initiatives.

Communication Skills:

• You can prepare a range of written materials requested by internal and external stakeholders, including policy-related documentation (briefing notes, Cabinet submissions, meeting notes, executive correspondence and other written products).
• You can provide verbal briefings to manager, director and senior decision makers.
• You can prepare or support communication strategies and outreach initiatives.

Project Management and Organizational Skills:

• You can coordinate and undertake policy initiatives and projects; develops work plans, resolve project issues, etc.
• You can undertake research projects, research goals, scoping of project deliverables and timelines.
• You can identify and recommend data requirements and other project resources.
• You can participate on multi-disciplinary, intra/inter-ministerial project teams.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Thursday, November 21, 2019 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.