Senior Policy Advisor and Policy Advisor

About the job

Working as part of a team, you will:

• Formulate strategies, policy and program analysis, policy options, and a recommended course of action to address issues of housing and homelessness in Ontario.
• Provide project leadership, management and/or participation in the development and evaluation of strategic housing policies, program design, regulations and/or legislation which address a range of issues within Ontario's housing and homelessness system.
• Develop and coordinate critical stakeholder consultations and partnerships.
• Liaise and participate in cross-divisional and ministry research studies and projects related to affordable housing, community housing, supportive housing and homelessness.
• Represent the ministry and province on inter-ministerial/inter-jurisdictional working groups and committees.
• Prepare and brief senior management and decision-makers on policy options, analysis and recommendations.
• What you bring to the team

Policy and Program

You have:

• knowledge and experience in policy and program development, particularly in the area of community and supportive housing.
• program analysis skills to evaluate and develop strategic policy and program initiatives.
• the ability to assess policy and make recommendations for positive change.
• the ability to provide input to policy and program development and implementation.

Technical Knowledge

You have:

• knowledge of the various public and private stakeholders in the land use planning, development and housing sectors.
• an understanding of the governance and infrastructure of municipal governments and agencies.
• the ability to interpret and apply relevant programs, policies, legislation and regulations impacting the housing sector Research, Analysis and Problem-Solving

You have:

• research skills to conduct environment scans, trends, gaps and needs analysis, undertake qualitative/quantitative analysis, and comparative analysis of options, impacts, and best practices.
• the ability to strategically think, conceptualize and identify options.
• the ability to evaluate and monitor issues and recommend options, considering fiscal implications.
• good judgment and tact to recommend strategic directions and approaches to issue resolution as well as research, develop and formulate policy options and analyses.

Project Management

• You have project management experience to plan and lead project teams, including providing guidance and advice to team members.

Communication and Interpersonal

You have:

• Consultation and partnership building skills to establish productive relationships across the OPS and with various levels of government and housing providers and advocacy groups on program and policy development issues.
• Consensus-building, mediation and negotiation skills to gain support for ministry policy and program initiatives.
• Presentation, persuasion and communication skills to prepare, present, and explain ideas/analyses, and to provide policy advice.
• Facilitation skills, diplomacy, political acuity and business acumen, to represent the ministry/province.
• Written communication skills to respond to issues, provide recommendations, prepare reports, analyses, Cabinet submissions, briefing materials and correspondence Don't meet every qualification?
• If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
• 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