Senior Policy Advisor / Conseiller principal en politiques; conseillère principale en politiques in Peterborough

Are you an experienced policy professional who thrives on tackling complex issues, building strong partnerships, and developing solutions that create meaningful change? The Strategic Initiatives and Social Policy Branch (SISP) is seeking Senior Policy Advisors to lead high-profile policy initiatives that support Indigenous priorities. Our work supports government decision-making on matters that are important to Indigenous communities and organizations and advance community priorities that strengthen social, cultural, and economic well-being.

In this role, you will lead complex policy projects, provide strategic advice to senior leadership, coordinate work across ministries and governments, and engage with Indigenous partners to help develop responsive, evidence-informed policy approaches. You will play a critical role in supporting Ontario’s relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations while helping shape policy solutions to some of the province’s most challenging and important issues.

If you are a strategic thinker, skilled communicator, and experienced policy leader looking to make an impact, we encourage you to apply.

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you will:

• Lead strategic policy research, analysis, and development on complex and often multi-jurisdictional issues.
• Develop policy options, recommendations, and implementation approaches for senior leaders and decision-makers.
• Analyze legislation, policy proposals, emerging trends, and government priorities to identify opportunities, risks, and implications.
• Lead projects involving multiple ministries, governments, and Indigenous partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Indigenous communities, organizations, and leadership.
• Plan and facilitate engagement, consultation, and information-sharing activities.
• Evaluate programs, initiatives, and policy approaches to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare briefing notes, decision notes, presentations, correspondence, and other strategic materials that support government decision-making.
• Provide leadership and mentorship on complex policy files and contribute to branch priorities.

You have:

• Experience leading or contributing to policy solutions that address complex, cross-cutting issues.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to assess legislation, policy frameworks, and emerging trends.
• Experience developing strategic advice, policy options, and recommendations for senior decision-makers.
• The ability to connect research, analysis, stakeholder perspectives, and broader government priorities to develop meaningful policy responses.
• Strong project management and organizational skills that enable you to manage multiple files and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

You can:

• Build and maintain respectful, productive relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations, government partners, and stakeholders.
• Lead consultation and engagement processes that support meaningful dialogue and information sharing.
• Navigate sensitive and complex issues with diplomacy, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Foster collaboration and bring diverse perspectives together to support shared objectives and policy outcomes.

You bring:

• Experience assessing the effectiveness of policies, programs, and initiatives.
• The ability to identify performance measures, evaluate outcomes, and recommend improvements.
• Experience supporting implementation planning, communications, and change management activities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to translate findings into practical recommendations and actions.

You understand:

• The diversity of First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous communities and organizations in Ontario.
• Indigenous governance structures, priorities, and perspectives.
• The historical, legal, social, and political context that shapes Indigenous policy in Ontario and Canada.
• Treaty relationships, Aboriginal and Treaty rights, intergovernmental relations, and reconciliation-related priorities.
• Approaches and protocols that support respectful engagement with Indigenous partners.

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!

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.

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