Policy Development Officer

Jobtailor; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Toronto is seeking a policy & equity lead to advance social policy analysis and program development. You will coordinate monitoring & evaluation, engage diverse community stakeholders, and provide strategic guidance to city divisions and partners with a focus on accountability to communities most affected.

Strong experience in policy development, community engagement, and inclusive governance is essential. This role emphasizes collaboration and impact across city programs and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in social sciences, public policy or administration.
• Extensive experience in monitoring & evaluation design, data collection and analysis.
• Experience in project management from inception to implementation with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with human-centered design and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead or coordinate monitoring and evaluation initiatives to advance equity and inclusion.
• Coordinate social policy planning and management of research, writing and evaluation.
• Facilitate meaningful engagement processes with diverse stakeholders.
• Provide strategic advice to staff, management and community partners.
• Evaluate programs and policies and develop policy responses aligned to city priorities.
• Represent the City at workshops and committees affecting social development.
• Foster collaborative relationships with officials, staff and community partners.
• Supervise staff and manage budgets, RFPs and service contracts.

Skills

Monitoring And Evaluation

Project Management

Policy Development

Human-Centered Design

Stakeholder Engagement

Equity & Inclusion Understanding

Policy Analysis

Education

Post-secondary education in Social Sciences or Public Policy & Administration

Tools

Qualitative Data Analysis

Quantitative Data Analysis

Report Writing

Policy Analysis Tools

Job description

• Leads and/or co-ordinates monitoring and evaluation initiatives, strategic policy development and implementation, policy analysis, research and program development processes to advance equity and inclusion, in partnership with diverse stakeholders.
• Co-ordinates social policy planning and development and manages the research, writing and production and evaluation of strategic social policy programs.
• Develops and facilitates meaningful engagement processes by applying appropriate conceptual and analytical frameworks in policy analysis and policy and program development processes to ensure policy positions are rooted in the needs, experience and expertise of those most impacted, and that there is involvement of and accountability to those most impacted by the policy.
• Provides strategic expertise, advice and support to staff, management, senior management, City divisions and agencies, and community partners to support the achievement of shared goals.
• Evaluates programs, policies and initiatives of other orders of government and their impact on City priorities, and develops appropriate policy/program responses.
• Represents the City, Deputy City Manager, Division at workshops and committees which have an impact on social development in Toronto.
• Fosters and maintains cooperative and transparent relationships with elected officials, City staff, stakeholders and other orders of government.
• Contributes to a highly collaborative and collegial work environment that fosters effective team work, high quality work and innovation.
• Supervises and/or advises staff, consultants and project teams to research, prepare, and monitor implementation of recommendations and manages budgets, requests for proposals, and service contracts related to projects.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Social Sciences, Public Policy & Administration, Political Science or the suitable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive experience in monitoring and evaluation, with strong knowledge of its design, appropriate application, and implementation, with considerable experience collecting, managing, and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Extensive experience in project management, including managing complex assignments from inception through to implementation with minimal direction while balancing political, staff, community and other stakeholder interests, and resolving conflicts.
• Considerable experience in human-centered design and/or working with multiple and diverse stakeholders, including community groups and residents, to align interests and successfully collaborate to achieve shared goals.
• Experience in policy and program planning, development and implementation, including report writing.
• Experience working daily with a broad range of community and stakeholder groups maintaining supporting relationships and productive partnerships.
• A strong understanding of colonization, transphobia, anti-Black racism, and other forms of oppression and injustice.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
• Excellent written, verbal and listening communication skills.
• Knowledge of legislation, programs and stakeholders relevant to the advancement of priorities related to equity, reconciliation and inclusion.
• Lived experience as a First Nations, Inuit or Metis person, or as a member of a Black or other equity-deserving community would be an asset.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, and program development with a strong focus on equity and inclusion. Proven ability to engage diverse stakeholders and manage complex projects while fostering collaborative relationships.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Monitoring And Evaluation
• Project Management
• Policy Development
• Human-Centered Design
• Stakeholder Engagement

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Policy Analysis
• Program Development
• Qualitative Data Analysis
• Quantitative Data AnalysisReport Writing

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication Skills
• Team Collaboration
• Conflict Resolution

Industry Keywords

• Social Policy
• Equity
• Inclusion
• Reconciliation
• Community Engagement