Corporate Policy Specialist

Niagara Region; Thorold; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Niagara Region seeks a Corporate Policy Specialist to lead the delivery of a comprehensive policy framework. You will provide policy expertise, conduct research, and coordinate consultations to address issues and opportunities while ensuring compliance and continuous improvement.

You will develop and maintain policy frameworks, guide strategic policy recommendations, and collaborate with Legal, Risk, and Audit teams to strengthen governance and service delivery.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary degree in Public Policy/Administration, Business, Communications, Political Science, or related discipline.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a policy research, analysis, and development role.
• Experience understanding and interpreting provincial and municipal legislation.
• Knowledge of government decision making processes, corporate policies and relevant legislation.
• Proven ability to identify and evaluate policy implications and drive policy change.
• Experience providing expert policy recommendations and developing policy frameworks.
• Knowledge of research methodologies and forecasting.
• Strong oral and written communication, analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Proficient with MS Office, SharePoint, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and databases.
• Formal training in project management or program evaluation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops the corporate policy framework and ensures compliance with legislation and priorities.
• Leads policy reviews, identifies risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensures alignment with mission and values and communicates policy changes clearly.
• Manages policy tracking, reporting and evidence-based decision support.
• Advises senior leaders on new and updated policies and coordinates stakeholder consultation.
• Collaborates with internal and external invested parties to strengthen governance and policy quality.
• Supports project teams in creating policies, procedures and guidelines and monitors outcomes.
• Prepares reports for the Corporate Leadership Team and Council on trends and challenges.

Job description

Reporting to the Associate Director Strategic Initiatives, the Corporate Policy Specialist is responsible for leading the delivery of a comprehensive corporate policy framework and program, while providing policy expertise, conducting research, consultation, analysis, and interpretation of trends and opportunities and recommending viable policy options to address issues. In addition, this role drives a culture of performance and continuous improvement through effective policy development, implementation and compliance follow-through.

Education

• Post-secondary degree in Public Policy/Administration, Business, Communications, Political Science, or related discipline. An equivalent combination of education, experience and qualifications may be considered.
• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a policy research, analysis, and development role preferably in a public sector environment.
• Experience understanding and interpreting provincial and municipal legislation.
• Knowledge of government decision making processes, corporate policies, bylaws, and relevant legislation, such as but not limited to Employment Standards Act, Human Rights Code and Occupational Health & Safety Act, AODA, and a general understanding of issues impacting local government.
• Proven ability to identify and evaluate implications of potential policy changes, deliver best practices in policy development and implementation (articulation, training and change management) to ensure compliance.
• Experience providing expert evidence-based strategic policy recommendations, development of policy frameworks and policy maintenance procedures.
• Knowledge of research methodologies, environmental and jurisdictional scanning, modeling and forecasting.
• Well-developed oral/written communication skills, advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including conflict resolution and facilitation skills.
• Proficient in a variety of computer platforms, including MS Office, SharePoint, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, internet/intranet technologies, and various databases.
• Formal training in project management, process redesign, quality improvement or program evaluation preferred.

Knowledge and Responsibilities

Responsible for the development, integration and continuous improvement of the corporate policy framework (30% of time)

• Develops, maintains and continuously improves the Corporate Policy Framework to ensure it remains current, operationally effective and aligned with legislation, corporate priorities and emerging best practices.
• Conducts and coordinates policy reviews, regularly evaluating corporate policies to ensure compliance with the Framework and legislative requirements, identifying risks, gaps and opportunities for improvement
• Ensures alignment with Corporate mission, vision and values, overseeing that the Corporate Policy Program supports strong organizational culture, strategic direction and innovation, reinforcing corporate performance outcomes
• Leads the corporate communication of changes to the Corporate Policy Manual, ensuring clarity for departments, while maintaining accurate document retention and accessible policy records.
• Establishes mechanisms for policy tracking and reporting, ensuring policies and compliance measures are documented, monitored and reported using evidence-based practices that support decision making by Council and the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT).

Delivers integrated policy analysis and strategic consultation that support the development of new and updated policies that align with and strengthen the Corporate Policy Program. (30% of time)

• Advises and consults with senior leaders and departments on the development of new and updated policies that strengthen the Corporate Policy Program and advance organizational priorities.
• Applies policy expertise to assist invested parties identify gaps, guide analysis and oversee the development of adaptive corporate policies that improve performance and service delivery.
• Coordinates and oversees the consultation process with internal and external invested parties on complex policy development that considers benefits, risks, impacts, funding and legislative requirements.
• Provides guidance and strategic policy recommendations that assists policy stakeholders resolve program and service challenges, enabling positive outcomes and alignment with corporate goals.

Manages relationships with key internal and external invested parties to ensure alignment, trust and collaboration (20% of time)

• Builds effective and strong working relationships and trust with a broad range of invested parties to gather insights and feedback to inform continuous improvement of the Corporate Policy Program.
• Collaborates with senior leadership and staff to advance innovative approaches to policy development and strengthen organizational capacity for creating adaptive, future-focused policies that enable high-performing services and programs.
• Evaluates the organizational and community impacts of policy changes to support informed decision-making and ensure alignment with corporate objectives and invested party needs.
• Engages external partners and agencies in policy review processes to strengthen alignment, gather sector insights and support coordinated policy development.
• Collaborates with Legal Services, Risk Management, Internal Audit, Office of the Regional Clerk and other oversight partners to integrate expert input, strengthen governance and enhance the quality and effectiveness of corporate policies.

Provides project management, leadership and support in research, analysis and policy development (20% of time)

• Supports cross-departmental project teams in the creation of new corporate policies, procedures and guidelines, as well as major updates that advance organizational priorities and governance expectations.
• Engages policy owners and senior leaders in collaborative decision-making to build consensus, clarify strategic intent and support the successful delivery of policy-related project outcomes.
• Promotes and strengthens awareness of the Corporate Policy Program through targeted consultations, presentations and engagement with employees at all levels, including the Corporate Leadership Team, to reinforce the strategic importance of policy governance and alignment.
• Prepares and presents reports that advise Corporate Leadership Team and Council on Corporate Policy trends, challenges, opportunities, results and provides best practice recommendations.
• Monitors evolving legislative and policy trends to identify implications for corporate priorities, governance requirements and long-range decision-making.
• Provides functional advice and guidance to staff on policy matters.

Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required

Special Requirements

• Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.

We confirm that we do not use AI in screening of applicants, and this position is an existing vacancy.

This position currently falls within our hybrid model, allowing the employee to typically work a minimum of 50% of your time at your regular work location and the other 50% of time at home.

As an employer of choice, Niagara Region offers competitive salaries and benefits, a defined benefit pension plan, a corporate wellness centre, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), mentorship and training programs, employee recognition programs, and more. In addition, the Region recognises the value of having flexible work arrangements to support better work-life balance for our employees. Hybrid work arrangements may vary from one employee to another and may also differ in the number of remote workdays. These opportunities remain subject to the alignment of operational needs, business requirements, and customer service expectations.