Director, Policy, Regulation and Research

Institute of Public Administration of Canada; Richmond; Hybrid; CAD 190,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

WorkSafeBC in British Columbia seeks a strategic Director of Policy, Regulation and Research to lead policy, regulatory, and research functions and align them with the organization's mandates. Reporting to the Senior Director, you will build relationships with government, regulators, industry, labour, and researchers, mentor a high-performing team, and influence policy decisions at the Board level.

This hybrid role offers a chance to shape safe workplaces across BC while advancing evidence-based

Qualifications

• Law degree and active Law Society of British Columbia membership with 10+ years in progressively senior leadership roles in policy, regulation, law, governance, research, or related field.
• Experience providing strategic advice to executives, boards, government, regulators, or other senior decision-makers.
• Demonstrated success leading complex policy, legislative, regulatory, or research initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Graduate level degree in public administration or occupational health and safety may be considered with requisite experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead WorkSafeBC's policy, regulatory, and research functions, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and mandate.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on complex policy, legislative, regulatory, and governance issues.
• Oversee the development and evaluation of policy and regulatory initiatives.
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with government, regulators, industry, labour, researchers, and other stakeholders.
• Mentor and develop a high performing team, fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute as a key member of the leadership team, supporting enterprise strategy, organizational planning, and decision-making.
• Model the organizational behaviours expected of all WorkSafeBC employees: responsive, respectful, fair, collaborative, accountable, and forward thinking.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Policy / Regulation leadership

Governance

Education

Law degree

BC Law Society membership

Graduate degree in public administration

Job description

Director, Policy, Regulation and Research

• Closing Date: October 2, 2026
• Job ID:40251
• Salary Range: $189,888.00 - $230,714.00/annually

Job Description

Are you a strategic leader with experience in policy, regulation, and research? Do you excel at building relationships, navigating complex issues, and influencing meaningful outcomes?

Reporting to the Senior Director, the Director, Policy, Regulation and Research provides leadership and direction for WorkSafeBC's policy, regulation, and research functions. Supported by a team of policy, regulatory, and research professionals, this role is responsible for advancing evidence-based policy development, regulatory analysis, environmental scanning, stakeholder engagement, and research initiatives that support WorkSafeBC's claims, insurance, and occupational health and safety mandates and long-term strategic objectives.

This is a specialized leadership role, requiring a leader who can connect the best interests of the workers compensation system, policy and regulation research and analysis and stakeholder perspectives to make policy and regulation recommendations to WorkSafeBC’s business areas and, ultimately, the Board of Directors.

This influential leadership role offers the opportunity to shape policy and regulatory outcomes that support safe and healthy workplaces across British Columbia.

How you'll make a difference:

You'll ensure WorkSafeBC is serving stakeholders across B.C. effectively.

Where you'll work

We serve the workers and employers across B.C., and we do that best when we're together. It's how we collaborate, learn from one another, and develop our people.

This role combines time in our offices with flexibility for remote work.

What you'll do

• Lead WorkSafeBC's policy, regulatory, and research functions, ensuring alignment with the organization's strategic priorities and mandate.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on complex policy, legislative, regulatory, and governance issues.
• Oversee the development and evaluation of policy and regulatory initiatives
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with government, regulators, industry, labour, researchers, and other key stakeholders.
• Conduct outreach on significant policy and regulatory matters with our external communities and with internal working groups.
• Mentor and develop a high performing team, fostering collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute as a key member of the leadership team, supporting enterprise strategy, organizational planning, and decision-making.
• Consistently models the appropriate level of organizational behaviours expected of all WorkSafeBC employees: responsive, respectful, fair, collaborative, accountable, and forward thinking.

Is this a good fit for you?

We're looking for an experienced leader who can:

• Provide expert leadership in complex policy, regulatory, legislative, or governance environments.
• Build credibility and influence with senior leaders, government representatives, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Analyze complex issues, assess competing interests, and develop clear, practical recommendations.
• Apply systems thinking to understand the broader implications of policy and regulatory decisions.
• Facilitate productive dialogue and build alignment around complex and sensitive issues.
• Communicate with confidence and clarity through executive briefings, presentations, and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Balance strategic thinking with sound judgment and effective execution.

Your background and experience

• A law degree and current practicing membership in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia, with a minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively senior leadership roles in policy, regulation, law, governance, research, or a related field, including experience leading professional teams.
• Experience providing strategic advice and recommendations to executives, boards, government, regulators, or other senior decision-makers.
• Demonstrated success leading complex policy, legislative, regulatory, or research initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• We may consider a candidate with a graduate level degree in public administration or occupational health and safety, combined with the requisite level of experience.

Important to know

Before we can finalize any offer of employment, you must:

• Consent to a criminal record check and successfully meet the criminal record check clearance.
• Confirm you're legally entitled to work in Canada.

Who we are

At WorkSafeBC, we promote safe and healthy workplaces across British Columbia. We partner with workers and employers to save lives and prevent injury, disease, and disability. When work-related injuries or diseases occur, we provide compensation and support injured workers in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We're honoured to serve the 2.49 million workers and 263,000 registered employers in our province.

What's it like to work at WorkSafeBC?

It's challenging, stimulating, and rewarding. Our positions offer diversity and opportunities for professional growth. Every day, the work we do impacts people and changes lives. What we do is important, and so are the people we do it for.

Our ability to make a difference relies on building a team with a rich variety of skills, knowledge, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences that reflect the diversity of the people we serve. We are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive work culture where everyone can contribute as their best, authentic self.

As a member of our team, you'll have access to services and benefits that help you get the most out of work - and life. Along with a competitive salary, your total compensation package includes:

• Defined benefit pension plan that provides you with a lifetime monthly pension when you retire.
• Four weeks of vacation in your first year, with regular increases based on years of service.
• Benefits package that includes customizable options for health care and dental benefits, additional days off, and a health care spending account.
• Optional leave arrangements.
• Development opportunities (tuition reimbursement, leadership development, and more).

Salary: $189,888.00 - $230,714.00/annually