Senior Policy Analyst (Senior Program Analyst)

Regional Municipality of York; Newmarket; On-site; CAD 87,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Regional Municipality of York is seeking a Senior Policy Analyst for a 16-month temporary full-time role based in York Region, Ontario. The incumbent will coordinate the annual community investment funding process, analyze policy options, and provide strategic advice to the department.

Reporting to the Program Manager, Community Investments, the role involves research, data analysis, briefing notes and cross-functional collaboration to ensure alignment with provincial and federal goals.

Qualifications

• A University degree in Business, Public Administration, Planning or Social Sciences or equivalent.
• Five+ years in municipal/provincial policy development with complex projects.
• Knowledge of department operations and the community served.
• Knowledge of community agency development in human services.
• Ability to interpret provincial legislation and policy frameworks.
• Experience with social research, data interpretation and reporting.
• Knowledge of budget processes and business planning.
• Strong communication, teamwork, innovation and ownership.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements work plans for program policy and strategies with strong stakeholder linkages.
• Develops policies and implementation strategies for initiatives.
• Executes program evaluations, managing internal and external resources.
• Researches and analyzes social, economic, legislative and policy contexts and relevant best practices.
• Gathers data and prepares presentations, impact analyses, environmental scans and reports.
• Prepares updates, briefing notes and committee materials for management.
• Develops strategic linkages with provincial governments, agencies and municipalities.
• Represents the Branch on external task forces and committees.
• Develops and monitors corporate reporting and compliance frameworks.
• Collaborates with management and regional staff to meet compliance requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Policy development

Project leadership

Public administration

Analytical skills

Communication

Teamwork

Ownership

Education

University degree in Business/Public Administration/Planning/Social Sciences

Job description

Job Title: Senior Policy Analyst (Senior Program Analyst)

Status: Temporary Full-Time

Temporary - Approximate length of assignment, in months: 16

Type of Position: a Replacement

Start Date: Immediate

Salary: Per hour

Salary Grade: $63.50 - $69.03

Department: York Region -> Community & Health Services -> Strategies and Partnerships

Location: Hybrid work opportunities may apply - CA Strategies&Partnerships Branch - 17150 Yonge Street - Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3 CA (Primary)

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 35

Union: CUPE Local 4900

Close Date: August 10, 2026

# of Hires Needed: 1

ABOUT US

Almost 1.2 million residents call York Region home, making it one of the largest regions in Canada - and the fastest growing with a population that's expected to grow to more than 2 million by 2051. Our geography, which is comprised of about 1,800 square kilometers over nine different municipalities, is as beautiful, interesting and diverse as our people. Local government is organized in a two-tier structure and we work together with our local municipalities to provide residents and businesses access to a broad selection of services and resources.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Defined Benefit Pension Program - With the Ontario Municipality Employees Retirement System (OMERS) defined benefit pension plan, you can confidently retire knowing that you will have income for life. Eligibility from date of hire as a full-time employee and includes employer-matched contributions.
• Employer of Choice - Recognized as the highest-ranking government employer in Canada and fourth overall among 300 organizations.
• Benefits and Wellness - Employees and their loved ones have access to an employee health care spending account, access to a 24/7 Employee and Family Assistance Program and corporate discounts and purchase plans for day-to-day products and services. Casual employees are eligible to receive payment in lieu of benefits and/or vacation.
• Inclusive and Diverse Workforce - We're committed to fostering an environment that celebrates all dimensions of diversity and ensures everyone can develop to their full potential, participate freely in society and live with respect, dignity and freedom from discrimination. Our robust Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility program continues to grow, and has been recognized by the United Nations and many other organizations for our leadership.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Program Manager, Community Investments, is responsible for providing program support, including coordination and administration of all aspects of the annual community investment funding process, including consultation with internal and external stakeholders, financial and statistical analysis for the implementation of the Community Investment Fund; providing policy support and strategic advice to the Department; interpreting federal and provincial legislation and regulations, monitoring and assessing impact on Regional policies and practices, including planning initiatives and providing advice on performance measurement; researching, developing and analyzing innovative and strategic policies and programs to respond to human services, agencies and community needs; preparing environmental scans; and developing cross-functional linkages to ensure that policies and programs align with Department, Provincial and Federal goals; preparing briefing notes and committee reports.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Develops and implements work plans for program policy and strategies, ensuring strong linkages with other Branches and stakeholders.
• Develops program policies and implementation strategies for initiatives.
• Develops and executes program evaluations, managing both internal and external resources.
• Researches, analyzes and evaluates social, economic, legislation and policies in a local and provincial context and evaluates applicability to the Department, clients and community agencies and identifying best practices for inclusion in Regional program proposals.
• Gathers and analyzes information and data on program and services related issues; prepares presentations, impact and options analysis, environmental scans, and statistical reports; monitors and reviews data to identify trends and develop community and Branch strategies.
• Prepares updates, reports and develops statements, program proposals and interpretation, background materials, briefing notes and presentations required by Management and Senior Management on related policies, processes, programs and special projects.
• Develops strategic linkages with provincial governments, sector organizations, community agencies, the private sector and local/regional municipalities to share information and develop effective program policies and partnerships.
• Represents the Branch and Department on external task forces and committees with community agencies, federal, provincial, municipal/regional governments and other stakeholders, as directed.
• Develops and implements and monitors corporate reporting mechanism and compliance monitoring framework for related programs.
• Works with Department management and Regional staff to support the meeting of compliance requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned, in accordance with Branch and Department objectives.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Successful completion of a University Degree in Business or Public Administration, Planning or Social Sciences or related field or approved equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum five (5) years' experience in a municipal or provincial public policy development sector with responsibilities in leading complex project initiatives and program/policy development.
• Knowledge of the Department's program delivery operations, programs and services, the community served and client social issues.
• Knowledge of community agency development programs and community development principles for the human services sector.
• Knowledge of provincial legislative, regulatory and policy framework and ability to interpret and translate into policy and policy options for the Department.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary social research and evaluation methods, including experience interpreting and reporting statistical, demographic and socio-economic data, and writing detailed reports and proposals.
• Knowledge of budget process and business planning.
• Knowledge and demonstrated ability in corporate core competencies including communication, innovation, teamwork and collaboration, and personal ownership.

York Region is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity, aiming to build a qualified workforce that reflects the population we serve. Should you require an accommodation under the Human Rights Code during the recruitment and selection process, including accessible formats and communication supports, please email [e-mail] or call 1-877-464-9675 extension 75506. Accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request during recruitment processes and throughout employment.

All employment opportunities are recorded on a 24-Hour Career Line and may be accessed by calling 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75508. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please be advised, York Region uses email as the primary means of communication with candidates and does not use AI technology in any part of the recruitment process. Please ensure your email address is up to date, checked frequently (including your spam folder), and accepts messages from unknown users.