Senior Policy Advisor

Mitacs; Toronto; On-site; CAD 77,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Mitacs is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor to translate complex data into strategic insights that guide national innovation policy. You will lead environmental scans, analyze federal and provincial priorities, and craft compelling narratives for government funders.

This role drives organizational transformation and policy alignment across Programs, Government Relations, and Evaluations. You will co-create new initiatives, support program design with rigorous evidence, and develop robust materials

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in public policy, economics, political science, sociology, or a related field preferred.
• 5-8+ years of experience in policy analysis, public-sector research, strategic planning, or government-related roles.
• Proven experience conducting original policy research that informs strategy or program design.
• Strong understanding of government decision-making, funding processes, and public-sector priorities.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills—able to distill complexity into compelling stories.
• Experience contributing to organizational strategy or transformation initiatives is a strong asset.
• Comfort working with data, evaluation findings, and qualitative/quantitative research methods.
• Knowledge of innovation, research, or economic development policy is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original policy research, environmental scans, and jurisdictional analyses to inform Mitacs's evolution and long-term direction.
• Identify new opportunities in research, innovation, talent development, and economic policy that should shape Mitacs programs and partnerships.
• Demonstrate how emerging federal/provincial priorities may impact Mitacs, and provide actionable recommendations for organizational alignment.
• Provide evidence-informed policy advice that supports organizational transformation, modernization, and alignment with stakeholder expectations.
• Identify policy gaps, risks, and opportunities to strengthen Mitacs's positioning within the broader innovation ecosystem.
• Develop strategic insights that help executives make decisions about new directions, partnerships, and funding opportunities.
• Articulate the rationale behind new programs and pilots by grounding them in research, evaluation findings, and public priorities.
• Work with Program teams to interpret evaluation data and recommend whether programs should be scaled, adapted, or sunset.
• Contribute to theories of change, logic models, and other foundational policy materials.
• Produce intelligence briefs, strategic insights, and tailored messaging that help Government Relations engage funders.
• Co-author funding proposals that draw on policy analysis, program impact, and organizational strategy.
• Track government mandates, budget cycles, and policy developments to inform both immediate and long-term organizational strategy.
• Collaborate with Evaluations to translate program results into compelling stories for governments, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Develop content for panels, events, and public communications to clearly articulate Mitacs's impact.
• Ensure that data, insights, and narratives are aligned with Mitacs's strategic objectives and funder expectations.

Skills

Policy analysis

Strategic thinking

Writing

Communication

Collaboration

Data interpretation

Education

Graduate degree in public policy, economics, political science, sociology

Job description

Do you want to be part of a mission driven organization shaping Canada's innovation future? Do you thrive in collaborative environments where creativity, continuous improvement, and strategic thinking are valued? Are you motivated by work that strengthens Canada's competitiveness and delivers meaningful impact for communities and businesses?

At Mitacs, we take a talent first approach to building Canada's innovation capacity. We connect researchers with organizations across every region of the country to help solve pressing challenges and accelerate economic growth. By enabling business academic collaboration and supporting the development of highly skilled talent, we contribute to a resilient, future ready Canadian economy.

Guided by our values - Impact, Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence, and Talent - we work with partners nationwide to advance research, commercialization, and innovation.

At Mitacs, you become part of a team committed to empowering Canadian talent, fostering meaningful partnerships, and driving innovation that supports Canada's long-term competitiveness.

About the Policy Team

The Policy team at Mitacs plays a central role in translating complexity into clear, actionable insight. We transform data into informed decisions, develop evidence-based rationales for new initiatives, and articulate the organization's impact in ways that resonate with government and partners. We ensure that Mitacs programs align with public priorities, clarify the underlying purpose of our work, and provide the policy intelligence and strategic advice necessary to support organizational transformation.

We collaborate closely with Programs, Government Relations, and Evaluations to ensure that Mitacs's strategies, programs, and proposals are grounded in robust evidence, responsive to public-sector priorities, and communicated effectively to funders and stakeholders.

The Senior Policy Advisor is a strategic thinker, researcher, and storyteller who will help support Mitacs's evolution and implement its new strategic plan. A key function of this role is conducting original research that identifies emerging trends, risks, and opportunities—providing the organization with strategic advice for policy alignment and organizational transformation.

You will translate complex data into actionable insights, develop compelling narratives for government funders, and support evidence-informed program design. You will lead priority policy files, drive forward-looking analysis, and help shape the strategic direction of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Policy Research & Forreight

• Conduct original policy research, environmental scans, and jurisdictional analyses to inform Mitacs's evolution and long-term direction.
• Identify new opportunities in research, innovation, talent development, and economic policy that should shape Mitacs programs and partnerships.
• Demonstrate how emerging federal/provincial priorities may impact Mitacs, and provide actionable recommendations for organizational alignment.

Organizational Strategy & Transformation

• Provide evidence-informed policy advice that supports organizational transformation, modernization, and alignment with stakeholder expectations.
• Identify policy gaps, risks, and opportunities to strengthen Mitacs's positioning within the broader innovation ecosystem.
• Develop strategic insights that help executives make decisions about new directions, partnerships, and funding opportunities.

Program Development & Evaluation Integration

• Articulate the rationale behind new programs and pilots by grounding them in research, evaluation findings, and public priorities.
• Work with Program teams to interpret evaluation data and recommend whether programs should be scaled, adapted, or sunset.
• Contribute to theories of change, logic models, and other foundational policy materials.

Government Relations Support & Funding Proposals

• Produce intelligence briefs, strategic insights, and tailored messaging that help Government Relations engage funders.
• Co-author funding proposals that draw on policy analysis, program impact, and organizational strategy.
• Track government mandates, budget cycles, and policy developments to inform both immediate and long-term organizational strategy.

Impact Communication & Storytelling

• Collaborate with Evaluations to translate program results into compelling stories for governments, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Develop content for panels, events, and public communications to clearly articulate Mitacs's impact.
• Ensure that data, insights, and narratives are aligned with Mitacs's strategic objectives and funder expectations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate degree in public policy, economics, political science, sociology, or a related field preferred.
• 5-8+ years of experience in policy analysis, public-sector research, strategic planning, or government-related roles.
• Proven experience conducting original policy research that informs strategy or program design.
• Strong understanding of government decision-making, funding processes, and public-sector priorities.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills—able to distill complexity into compelling stories.
• Experience contributing to organizational strategy or transformation initiatives is a strong asset.
• Comfort working with data, evaluation findings, and qualitative/quantitative research methods.
• Knowledge of innovation, research, or economic development policy is an advantage.

What You Bring

• A strategic mindset that connects research insights to organizational decision-making.
• Curiosity and the ability to uncover the "why" behind issues and programs.
• Strong analytical capabilities paired with excellent storytelling instincts.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to influence across teams.
• Comfort working in an evolving environment where policy, strategy, and program delivery intersect.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion and reconciliation are strong commitments at Mitacs: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Mitacs. We believe a diverse workforce comprised of individuals with different lived experiences, ideas, strengths, and backgrounds (e.g., gender identities and expressions, Indigeneity, race, abilities, sexual orientation, and other identities) are crucial to our success. We welcome everyone to apply and encourage you to connect with us if you require accommodations during the recruitment process.

Hiring Range: $77,100 - $97,660

Hiring and Salary Range Transparency Typically, employees are hired, transferred, or promoted within the salary range, specifically between the minimum and midpoint in the hiring range.

The salary range refers to the range of base salaries for a given position, encompassing the minimum and maximum amounts. The midpoint of the range is positioned approximately halfway between the minimum and maximum, indicating a fully qualified employee with comprehensive job knowledge and experience for the role.

Only in rare and exceptional circumstances, where a candidate has the experience, skills, and expertise that far exceed those required for the position, would we consider paying above the hiring range for this role.