Program Analyst

Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness | Agriculture, Alimentation et Agroentreprise; Guelph; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental agricultural agency is seeking a dynamic team player to provide leadership in the development of sustainable agricultural policies in Ontario. This role involves addressing environmental challenges and building collaborations with stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the agriculture sector, excellent communication skills, and proven ability in policy and program development. This position is critical for supporting a healthy agri-food sector in the region, offering a chance to make a real impact.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of current environmental and resource management issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of policy and program development processes.
• Experience presenting strategic advice to senior management.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership on policies protecting soil, water, and resources.
• Lead analysis of environmental initiatives.
• Develop relationships with government and stakeholders.

Skills

Knowledge of agriculture and agri-food industry

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Effective consultation and negotiation skills

Job description

Are you a creative and dynamic team player with a keen interest in the agri-environment and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Ontario's agriculture and food sectors?

This is your opportunity to join a team that designs innovative approaches and builds collaborative partnerships to address agri-environmental challenges and opportunities such as climate change, sustainability, soil health and water quality. You will provide coordination and leadership to the development of policies, programs and research initiatives through engagement with stakeholders and strategic partners to support a healthy and environmentally sustainable agri-food sector in the province of Ontario.

Interested in learning more?

To learn more about this role, the ministry, and the recruitment process, we welcome you to attend our information session on Friday February 13th, 2026 at 10am. Please register here.

Attendance is optional and will not influence the screening and selection process.

About the job

In this role, you will:

• provide leadership, advice, and coordination on policies and programs that protect soil, water, and ecological resources and strengthen the agriculture sector's climate resilience.
• lead the analysis and evaluation of environmental initiatives for the agriculture and agri-food sectors
• provide issues management support during the implementation of new program initiatives
• develop relationships and networks with government partners and external stakeholders and represent the Ministry in consultations.

What you bring to the team

Technical Knowledge:

You have:

• knowledge of the agriculture and agri-food industry.
• knowledge of current environmental and resource management issues and implications for the agriculture and agri-food sectors.
• knowledge of related legislation, policy, programs and best management practices.

Policy and Program Development Expertise:

You have:

• demonstrated knowledge of policy and program development processes and consultation techniques in order to manage complex and diverse policy issues.
• demonstrated knowledge of program evaluation and performance measurement principles to assess the effectiveness of policies and programs.
• the ability to effectively plan and execute projects while managing competing priorities.
• analytical, problem solving, and strategic thinking skills to evaluate diverse information, identify issues and implications, and formulate logical resolutions and recommendations.

Communication Skills:

You have:

• experience presenting strategic advice to senior management in support of decision-making.
• excellent communications skills and experience in preparing concise decision-making documents, reports, presentations, briefing notes.
• the ability to translate complex technical and legal information into plain language and present it in a clear and compelling way to a variety of internal and external audiences.

Relationship Management Skills:

You have:

• effective consultation and negotiation skills to establish long term delivery partnerships and build credibility and consensus among teams, stakeholders, other government jurisdictions, and senior management.
• demonstrated stakeholder management skills to build and maintain collaborative relationships.

Additional information

Address:

• 1 English Permanent, 1 Stone Rd W, Guelph, West Region
• 3 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 1 Stone Rd W, Guelph, West Region

Compensation Group: Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario

How to apply:

1. You must apply online.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Remember:

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 24, 2026 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.