Senior Policy Advisor - Food Security

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid group insurance

RRSP contributions

Annual training allowance

Health and wellness allowance

Relocation allowance

Vacation – starting at 3 weeks/year

Paid Christmas break

Job summary

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) seeks a Senior Policy Advisor to promote Inuit policy priorities and coordinate multi-stakeholder work. You will advise on policy development, liaise with Treaty Organizations and government bodies, and guide program activities with ITK regions and partners.

The role emphasizes collaboration, strategic planning, and evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes for Inuit communities across national policy areas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with 4+ years of policy-related work experience or equivalent.
• Experience in project management or program development and implementation.
• Experience with partnership development and maintenance.
• Excellent oral and written communication in English; Inuktitut or French an asset.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead on policy issues assigned and prioritized by the Manager.
• Draft and edit reports, studies, position papers and policy statements.
• Identify evidence gaps and collaborate with partners to fill them.
• Coordinate program activities with Inuit regions, ITK staff and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with national policy stakeholders and monitor external trends.

Skills

Policy analysis

Program development

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Team collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline

Grade 12 with 5 years relevant experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Internet

Email

Job description

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᐅᓯᒥ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᕐᐸᑦᓯ ᐅᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᖃᑕᐅᔪᓯ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᖁᓪᓗᓯ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᑦᓯᓐᓂᒃ

Iqqanaijaaqtaarasuaqtut ilagijauqatalinni Inuit Nunanganni Nunalirinirnmut Angirutiusimajunut sivulliqpautauniaqtut iqqanaijaaqtaartitaujunnaqtunut. Ikajuqturpatsi iqqanaijaaqtaarasuaqataujusi nalunaqsillu ilagijauqataunitsinnik.

APPLICANTS WHO ARE REGISTERED UNDER AN INUIT LAND CLAIMS AGREEMENT WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY HIRING. WE ENCOURAGE INUIT APPLICANTS TO SELF-IDENTIFY. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ENSURE AUTHENTICITY OF INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS IDENTITY CLAIMS.

Closing Date: September 6, 2026

Senior Policy Advisor - Food Security - Existing position

Band 4: $70,276.62 - $87,845.78**Compensation is aligned with internal equity and market benchmarks. In limited circumstances, offers above the posted range may be considered for candidates with exceptional qualifications or highly specialized expertise**

This role, as with all positions at ITK is 100% in-office, requires being in the office full-time at 75 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON.

We do not use AI to assess or screen applications. Our hiring process is grounded in human review and values lived experience, cultural competency, and diverse career paths, in addition to formal education and work experience.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to a Manager within the Department of Policy Advancement, the Senior Policy Advisor will work towards promoting and improving the place of Canada’s Inuit in specific policy areas. This position provides recommendations to improve policy and associated outcomes for Inuit and act as a liaison between Inuit Treaty Organizations, government departments and non-government organizations. In addition, the incumbent coordinates and facilitates designated program activities in close cooperation with Inuit regions, ITK staff and federal and provincial/territorial stakeholders; ensuring goals and objectives are met in accordance with prescribed priorities, time limitations and funding conditions.

Key policy areas may include, but not limited to:

• Food Security

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

POLICY & PLANNING

• Act as a lead on file specific matters as assigned and prioritized by the Manager;
• Draft, edit and produce reports, studies, position papers, policy statements and other documents in relation to assigned policy areas (i.e. health and social development; environment and wildlife; education, language, culture and economic development);
• Identify evidence gaps related to assigned policy areas and collaborate with partners to fill these gaps;
• Design proposals, inclusive of cover letter, work plan and budget for funders;
• Participate in the development of departmental and organizational strategic, operations and work plans including recommending priority areas of activity for the department and ITK as relevant to the file areas;
• Conduct analyses and formulate recommendations/positions as they relate to policy development at the national level;
• Facilitate and coordinate the efforts of various working groups and committees associated with assigned policy areas;
• Consult/collaborate with colleagues within ITK, Inuit Treaty Organizations, federal and provincial/territorial governments, and other relevant bodies working in various policy areas;
• Collaborate with relevant national policy stakeholders, organizations and associations;
• Monitor developing external trends, policies, programs and issues with actual or potential impact on issues and interests related Canada’s Inuit; and
• Collaborate with communications to develop communications plans on key policy areas.

COMMUNICATION

• Establish and maintain working relationships with Inuit Treaty Organizations and other agencies;
• Attend meetings and conduct videoconferences (as necessary)to ensure regular communications with key stakeholders assigned to specific policy areas;
• Facilitate and participate in relevant meetings, workshops and conferences;
• Create and nurture high performance environment within national level working groups and committees;
• Participate in and lead internal working teams related to assigned policy areas; and
• Train, mentor and review the work of other department staff as required.

ADMINISTRATION

• Disseminate relevant information in an appropriate and organized manner;
• Coordinate the management of assignments from start to finish, including budget monitoring, consultation activities, working group/committee work, workshop and videoconference organization and logistics, communications, and various reporting requirements; and
• Establish and maintain policy, research, and systems records as required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

KEY CONTACTS

• Represent ITK in meetings and conferences or on committees and working groups as assigned by the Manager, including participation on task forces or working groups that bring together government departments and Inuit Treaty Organizations.
• Must be able to work both independently and co-operatively with a variety of individuals and groups, including government and Inuit Treaty Organizations; and other partners
• Must be able to foster strong working relationships with Inuit Treaty Organizations and relevant Federal and Provincial/Territorial Government departments.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Good working knowledge and understanding of a breadth of policy issues as they relate to Inuit in Canada;
• Good understanding of community needs and traditional values in Inuit communities;
• Knowledge and understanding of Inuit land claim agreements and organizations and related legislation and policy frameworks;
• Familiarity with federal government programs and policy including the ability to understand and interpret policy and legal documents, legislation, and regulation;
• Proven and effective writing, speaking, organization, facilitation, coordination, prioritization and time management skills;
• Familiarity with the principles and practices of business administration, including program budgeting;
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills (primarily in English; Inuktitut and/or French an asset);
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access), internet, and e-mail;
• Team player, self-motivated and directed;

• Ability in the areas of analysis, program development, evaluation, and consultation;
• Sound problem solving and analytical skills; and
• Sensitive to local, political and cultural issues.

EXPERIENCE

• General research and policy development experience;
• Experience with project management or program development and implementation; and
• Experience with partnership development and maintenance.

EDUCATION

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline: health, health sciences, nutrition, political/social science, environmental sciences, etc. with a minimum of 4 years of related work experience and/or field research in a similar role; OR
• Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent and a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in a similar role.

OTHER INFORMATION

• In-person office environment: frequent use of computer and telephone;
• Long periods of sitting at a desk in front of a computer;
• Occasional travel and regular meetings;
• Operational direction is provided by the Director;
• Politically sensitive issues may become stressful; and
• Frequent deadlines, which intensify when workload is large.

BENEFITS

Conditional to ITK’s Human Resources Policies, you may be eligible for:

• 100% employer-paid group insurance upon hire
• Employer RRSP contributions
• Annual training allowance
• Excellent health and wellness allowance
• Relocation allowance
• Vacation – starting at 3 weeks/year
• Paid Christmas break (usually between Xmas and New Year)
• Candidates with exceptional skills or experience may be considered for compensation above the posted range.

*Applicants who are registered under an Inuit Land Claims Agreement will be given priority hiring. We encourage Inuit applicants to self-identify. We reserve the right to ensure authenticity of Inuit or other Indigenous identity claims.

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for their interest in ITK however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.