Senior Policy Advisor and Policy Advisor

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment, Conservation and Parks in Toronto seeks Senior Policy Advisor and Policy Advisor to advance housing policy initiatives, support strategic planning, and collaborate with partners across government and housing providers. You will lead policy analysis, research, and business planning to address homelessness and affordable housing in Ontario.

The roles require strong collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to develop options and recommendations for complex policy

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in policy and program development, particularly in housing.
• Strong research and analysis skills to support policy options and decision-making.
• Ability to provide input to policy and program development and implementation.
• Excellent communication and collaboration with internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Formulate strategies, policy and program analysis, policy options, and recommended actions to address housing and homelessness issues in Ontario.
• Lead or participate in the development and evaluation of strategic housing policies, program design, regulations and/or legislation.
• Develop and coordinate stakeholder consultations and partnerships.
• Liaise with cross-divisional and ministry research projects related to affordable housing and homelessness.
• Represent the ministry on inter-ministerial working groups and committees.
• Prepare briefing materials and Cabinet submissions for senior management.

Skills

Policy development

Research & analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Diplomacy

Job description

Senior Policy Advisor and Policy Advisor

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Division:

Housing Division - Community Housing and Homelessness Policy Branch

City:

Toronto

Position(s) language:

Job term:

3 Temporary (18 months with a possible extension)

Are you looking for an opportunity to showcase your policy development, research, and analytical skills?
Are you a collaborator who is able to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners? If so, bring these skills to the Community Housing and Homelessness Policy Branch at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing where you will provide advanced policy analysis, research, and business planning in support of strategic housing policy initiatives.
About Us:
These positions are in the Community Housing Equity and Supply Unit and the Homelessness and Supportive Housing Unit.
Community Housing Equity and Supply Unit
The Community Housing Equity and Supply Unit leads policy development aimed at maintaining existing supply, increasing new supply, protecting the quality of community housing, and the implementation of an equity lens across housing-specific policies and programs. Through stakeholder engagement and coordination across partner ministries and the federal government, the unit contributes strategic and technical advice and planning on a diverse range of files related to community housing such as energy, insurance, etc. Moreover, to maintain and grow the existing supply of community housing, the unit manages legacy community housing projects and is responsible for the renewal and administration of social and supportive housing mortgages.
Homelessness and Supportive Housing Unit
The Homelessness and Supportive Housing Unit is responsible for developing coordinated policies to address homelessness in Ontario and works across government to improve the supportive housing system in the province.

About the job

Working as part of a team, you will:

• Formulate strategies, policy and program analysis, policy options, and a recommended course of action to address issues of housing and homelessness in Ontario.
• Provide project leadership, management and/or participation in the development and evaluation of strategic housing policies, program design, regulations and/or legislation which address a range of issues within Ontario's housing and homelessness system.
• Develop and coordinate critical stakeholder consultations and partnerships.
• Liaise and participate in cross-divisional and ministry research studies and projects related to affordable housing, community housing, supportive housing and homelessness.
• Represent the ministry and province on inter-ministerial/inter-jurisdictional working groups and committees.
• Prepare and brief senior management and decision-makers on policy options, analysis and recommendations.

What you bring to the team

Policy and Program

You have:

• knowledge and experience in policy and program development, particularly in the area of community and supportive housing.
• program analysis skills to evaluate and develop strategic policy and program initiatives.
• the ability to assess policy and make recommendations for positive change.
• the ability to provide input to policy and program development and implementation.

Technical Knowledge

You have:

• knowledge of the various public and private stakeholders in the land use planning, development and housing sectors.
• an understanding of the governance and infrastructure of municipal governments and agencies.
• the ability to interpret and apply relevant programs, policies, legislation and regulations impacting the housing sector

Research, Analysis and Problem-Solving

You have:

• research skills to conduct environment scans, trends, gaps and needs analysis, undertake qualitative/quantitative analysis, and comparative analysis of options, impacts, and best practices.
• the ability to strategically think, conceptualize and identify options.
• the ability to evaluate and monitor issues and recommend options, considering fiscal implications.
• good judgment and tact to recommend strategic directions and approaches to issue resolution as well as research, develop and formulate policy options and analyses.

Project Management

• You have project management experience to plan and lead project teams, including providing guidance and advice to team members.

Communication and Interpersonal

You have:

• Consultation and partnership building skills to establish productive relationships across the OPS and with various levels of government and housing providers and advocacy groups on program and policy development issues.
• Consensus-building, mediation and negotiation skills to gain support for ministry policy and program initiatives.
• Presentation, persuasion and communication skills to prepare, present, and explain ideas/analyses, and to provide policy advice.
• Facilitation skills, diplomacy, political acuity and business acumen, to represent the ministry/province.
• Written communication skills to respond to issues, provide recommendations, prepare reports, analyses, Cabinet submissions, briefing materials and correspondence

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

• 3 English Temporary, duration up to 18 months, 777 Bay St, Toronto, Toronto Region

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.