Senior Policy Advisor

Are you interested in improving outcomes for children, youth, families and individuals in Ontario who need support? Are you an innovative, strategic and collaborative professional with demonstrated experience in delivering on complex policy issues?

If this sounds like you, consider joining the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services in an exciting opportunity with the Strategic Policy Division. The Division leads a wide range of activities including leading strategic advice, coordination and oversight of strategic policy, intergovernmental relations, research and delivery planning.

The Policy Development and Collaboration Branchprovides advice, analysis and recommendations to support government decision-making on social policy issues to improve outcomes for the diverse populations and communities we support. The branch provides leadership and expertise in policy development and provides advice on policy options, recommendations and decision-making products. The branch supports a focus on future-oriented thinking and horizontal collaboration to deliver on the Ministry's mandate for change.

The Branch is hiring four (4) Senior Policy Advisors across two Units: Policy Development Unit (1 Permanent, 1 Temporary), and the Strategic Policy Initiatives Unit (2 Temporary).

Info Session
We are offering an opportunity for those interested to attend a virtual session to learn more about the branch and the position to be filled.
Date: August 02, 2023
Time: 12 noon - 12:45pm
Remember to add this event to your calendar
Meeting Link : Click here to join the meeting
Alternatively, you can join the meeting by:
1- Open your MS Teams Calendar
2- Select# Join with an ID
3- Enter the following meeting ID and passcode:
Meeting ID: 286 702 826 241
Passcode: HxFXBN

Download Teams |Join on the web

* This session is optional and has no impact on hiring decisions

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

• Lead policy development, analysis and recommendations across a range of complex and cross-cutting social policy issues. This includes identifying the policy problem and developing options through evidence-based analysis, done with an equity and anti-racism lens and in consideration of ministry and government objectives.
• Conduct rigorous analysis that is informed by the needs of our populations, leading research, fiscal impacts, delivery considerations and stakeholder interests.
• Prepare materials in a variety of formats (e.g., briefing decks or notes), to support decision-making for senior audiences that are accurate, relevant and easy to digest.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the ministry and government in cross-functional teams, maintain seamless information flow and build consensus on challenging issues.
• Foster critical stakeholder and partner relationships to support cross-ministry and cross-government collaboration, lead engagements and consultations internally and externally, and use influencing skills to advance ministry policy objectives.
• Take leadership and ownership over policy files, and mentor the team through complex projects.

How do I qualify?

Specialized Policy Knowledge and Development

• You have knowledge of policy and program development principles and techniques and can lead or participate in the development of strategies, policies, and evaluation.
• You possess critical thinking skills to break down complex problems to identify the root cause to be solved.
• You can use your knowledge to support the development of legislative frameworks related to social services policy.
• You can identify policy issues, gaps, and options, managing policy files through the government approvals process.
• You understand organizations, organizational structures, and decision making processes.
• You have knowledge of social policy trends, issues and service needs, and use your sensing capability to advise leadership on trends that impact Ministry policy areas.
• You have ability to ensure that ministry and government objectives and directions are considered in the development of social policy and program design.
• You have ability to gain knowledge of Ministry specific mandate, policies and priorities, strategic directions and related legislation.

Relationship Management Experience

• You can use interpersonal skills, political acuity and diplomacy to represent the Assistant Deputy Minister's Office with Deputy Minister's Office and other executive offices in MCCSS and other ministries.
• You can establish key stakeholder linkages across the division, ministry and OPS to work cooperatively on social policy development projects.
• You can analyze the interests of stakeholders and use influencing skills to gain support for ministry policy and program initiatives from other divisions and ministries to resolve issues, and to develop a coordinated position of social policy issues.

Communication Skills

• You have strong verbal communications skills and can produce high-quality, easy-to-digest written reports to support decision making.
• You display sound judgement and have a high degree of tact and political acuity to advise on and explain to senior executives on the strategic policy work.
• You can respond to issues, provide recommendations, prepare reports, options papers, socio-economic analysis briefing or decision materials and correspondence.
• You can use presentation, persuasion, and influencing skills to provide policy advice, explain social policy and program recommendations.

Project Management and Leadership

• You can effectively manage multiple projects and deadlines within a high-demand work environment.
• You have experience working in or are comfortable operating in a matrix structure, working with multiple, cross-functional teams at once.
• You possess project management and leadership skills to lead and support teams to deliver effectively on projects.
• You take leadership and ownership over your work and are able to mentor other team members effectively.

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 Monday, August 14, 2023 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

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