Manager, Policy Prototyping Unit

Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Defined-benefit pension plan

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Ontario Public Service Leadership in Toronto seeks a Manager, Policy Prototyping to lead a multidisciplinary team at the intersection of policy, design, and implementation.

You will guide a five-person team, partner with policymakers, frontline staff, community organizations, and people with lived experience to test ideas, generate evidence, and improve outcomes for Ontarians.

Qualifications

• Inclusive leadership that fosters a workplace where people feel valued and included.
• Strong leadership of high-performing teams in fast-paced environments with clear priorities.
• Experience applying human-centred design, user research, and service design to policy or programs.

Responsibilities

• Improve policy and program outcomes through policy prototyping and experimentation.
• Reduce risk and inform decisions by testing ideas before large-scale implementation.
• Identify barriers and uncover solutions that improve program effectiveness.
• Use evidence and user insights to strengthen policy and service design.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across programs and services.
• Build strong partnerships to tackle complex challenges.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of policy and innovation professionals.
• Influence and enable change by championing new ways of working.

Skills

Policy prototyping

Human-centred design

Team leadership

Agile leadership

Stakeholder relationships

Strategic thinking

Change management

Problem solving

Facilitation

Job description

Help Shape Better Outcomes for Ontarians

What if you could lead a team that uncovers why policies and programs succeed, why they struggle, and how they can better serve Ontarians?

What if you could help government test ideas before major investments are made?

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is looking for a Manager, Policy Prototyping to lead a unique team that sits at the intersection of policy, innovation, human-centred design, and implementation.

This isn't traditional policy work. You'll lead a multidisciplinary team that partners with policymakers, frontline staff, community organizations, and people with lived experience to understand complex challenges, test solutions, and generate evidence that improves outcomes.

This role offers a rare opportunity to combine the impact of public service with the energy of a startup environment. You'll help build and grow an emerging policy innovation practice while improving outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities across Ontario.

The Ontario Public Service: Strengthening Ontario, together.

A career in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is driven by a passion for creating a stronger Ontario. If you share this ambition, we are fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where employees have the tools and opportunities they need to be fulfilled and inspired to move Ontario forward. Our leaders enjoy:

• Purpose-driven culture: Be part of a dynamic leadership team dedicated to serving more than 16 million Ontarians. Your leadership will drive long-term impact and contribute to public service excellence.
• Empowering work environment: Thrive in an inclusive and diverse workplace that reflects the population we serve. Enjoy a culture of holistic well-being, flexibility, and safety, with tailored work arrangements to suit your life stage. Our modern, friendly, and accessible workplaces support you in bringing your authentic self to work and exploring your full potential.
• Expansive leadership opportunities: Benefit from endless growth opportunities, mentorship, and the chance to lead across various sectors. In the Ontario Public Service, your leadership journey can span multiple ministries and functions.
• Recognition and Rewards: Your efforts will be recognized both formally and informally, ensuring you feel valued and supported. We offer competitive salaries with performance-based pay, a defined-benefit pension plan, and comprehensive benefits that support your holistic wellness. Enjoy a range of vacation and leave options, along with access to employee and family assistance programs and inclusive counselling services.

About the Policy Prototyping Unit

The Policy Prototyping Unit (PPU) helps the Ministry design, test, and improve policies and programs to achieve better outcomes for Ontarians. Using human-centred design, user research, and agile approaches, the team explores complex challenges, tests new ideas, and generates evidence to inform decision-making.

Meet the Team:

You will lead a highly collaborative team of five professionals in the PPU who have expertise spanning policy, consulting, service design, digital transformation, and innovation.

The PPU is one of three units in the Delivery Planning and Implementation Support Branch (DPISB), and you and the PPU will work closely with your colleagues to help deliver upon government priorities, assess impact and advance implementation progress.

DPISB team members bring experience from across government, the private sector, and international organizations, creating a diverse and dynamic environment where new ideas are encouraged and tested. This is a team that is curious, collaborative, and motivated by improving outcomes for Ontarians.

This position reports to Chris Ling, Director of Delivery Planning & Implementation Support.

Chris is a people-focused leader who loves working with colleagues across government and with our partners to have positive impact on the lives of others. Alongside you and our DPISB team, Chris strives to create a workplace where our people are proud to work, and where together we can help drive large-scale, transformational change.

Throughout his nine years in the OPS and his previous 15 years of experience as a management consultant, Chris has led high performing teams to navigate complex challenges and deliver results. He and his teams work in true partnership with others, drawing upon our combined skills and experiences to understand the problem to be solved, develop a plan to address it, and then follow through on that plan – doing what is needed, big or small, to reach our goals.

Chris is committed to maintaining a learning environment within DPISB and is looking for a like-minded leader who will draw out the best from our team and our partners, while helping them to build their skills and advance in their own professional development.

About the job

We believe great leadership starts with high standards and strong support. In the OPS, that means showing up with authenticity, acting with integrity, and having the courage to do what's right, even when it's hard.

As a leader, you'll shape a team culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion. You'll help build a workplace that is diverse, anti-racist, and accessible, where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.

You won't be doing it alone. We invest in our leaders through mentorship, learning opportunities, and cross-ministry networks that help you grow your impact and connect with peers across the organization.

Leadership is about impact, and in this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful one.

You will:

• Improve policy and program outcomes through policy prototyping and experimentation.
• Reduce risk and inform decisions by testing ideas before large-scale implementation.
• Identify barriers and uncover solutions that improve program effectiveness.
• Use evidence and user insights to strengthen policy and service design.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement across programs and services.
• Build strong partnerships to tackle complex challenges.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of policy and innovation professionals.
• Influence and enable change by championing new ways of working.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of policy innovation in government.

The Policy Prototyping Unit is still growing and evolving, giving you the chance to build an emerging practice, influence how government tackles complex challenges, and help shape the team's future direction.

Success in this role requires curiosity, resilience, and patience. You'll be navigating complex systems, building relationships, and influencing change where clear answers don't always exist. For leaders who enjoy turning ambiguity into action, this is a unique opportunity to create lasting public value.

What you bring to the team

Leadership and People Management

• Inclusive Leadership: You foster a workplace where people feel valued, respected, and included.
• Team Leadership: You have experience leading high-performing teams in fast-paced, evolving environments, setting priorities, and delivering results through change. You lead through influence, foster shared ownership, and support teams working across organizational boundaries.
• Talent Development: You coach, support, and develop staff, helping them grow while building strong team performance. You have experience setting clear expectations, maintaining high standards, and coaching staff through complex and ambiguous work.
• Strategic Thinking & Innovation: You can see the big picture, challenge existing approaches, and find new ways to improve results. You help others to do the same.
• Human-Centred Design and Innovation: You apply human-centred design, user research, service design, prototyping, and digital innovation methods to improve outcomes.
• Agile Leadership: You have experience leading teams that work in flexible, iterative ways to achieve results. You have comfort adjusting approaches based on new information, feedback, or shifting priorities, while maintaining focus on intended outcomes.
• Problem Solving and Facilitation: You bring people together to define challenges, test assumptions, and develop innovative solutions. You have experience facilitating discussions, workshops, or leadership tables to build alignment and support decision-making.
• Policy and Program Expertise: You understand policy development, implementation, delivery, and evaluation.
• Change & Transformation: You have experience leading complex organizational change and applying transformation and continuous improvement approaches in fast-moving and uncertain environments.

Relationship Building & Communication

• Stakeholder Relationships: You are exceptional at building trusted relationships and working effectively and collaboratively with staff, clients, and partners.
• Influence & Consensus Building: You can navigate complex issues, build consensus, and advance shared priorities across diverse groups. You act as a trusted thinking partner and \"friendly challenge\", bringing strategic insights to help teams and senior leaders to sharpen ideas and navigate trade-offs.
• Communication and Presentation: You have superior written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex issues into clear, actionable advice.
• Political Acuity: You demonstrate sound judgment and discretion when dealing with sensitive or confidential matters.