Senior Policy Analyst

ONCAT Careers

Senior Policy Analyst

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Type: 12-Month Contract or secondment opportunity

Location: Downtown Toronto location at University and Dundas, near St. Patrick Station (180 Dundas West, Suite 1902) – Remote to start.

Salary Range: $85,000 to $95,000

About the Employer

Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) was created to enhance academic pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer among Ontario’s publicly funded colleges, universities, and Indigenous institutes. As a member organization, we work with those institutions to develop transfer credit policies and practices to ease student mobility. As a non-profit organization created and funded by the Government of Ontario, ONCAT works with postsecondary education institutions to build a seamless system for transfer credit in Ontario and support student mobility.

ONCAT staff are currently working from home and plan to return to the office gradually in the fall.

About the Position

Overview

The incumbent supports senior management in providing the provincial government (our funder) with information about ONCAT’s activities, in line with both our contractual obligations and our organization’s strategic direction, while maintaining a positive working relationship with government. The incumbent also provides ONCAT staff with information about policy developments impacting our organization’s activities and provides support for policy and programs activities.

Responsibilities

Government Relations, Reporting, and Planning

  • Prepares reports and documents as per ONCAT’s contractual obligations with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities as outlined in the organization’s payment agreements.
  • Writes high-quality drafts for senior management review and coordinates staff efforts to produce reporting requirements.
  • Identifies issues that may affect ONCAT’s ability to meet contractual obligations and develops plans with associated government relations activities with a high degree of professionalism.
  • Plays an active and key role in maintaining a positive, collegial working relationship between ONCAT and the Provincial Government.

Policy Analysis

  • Collects, compiles, analyzes, and synthesizes qualitative and quantitative data from a wide range of internal and external sources to support policy analysis, planning, and evaluation.
  • Works with cross-functional teams to gather relevant information related to credit transfer and student mobility to inform planning and report preparation.
  • Stays abreast of trends related to student mobility, higher education, and emerging government directions and priorities.

Program Management

  • Coordinates the Faculty Fellows program, including the call for applicants, adjudication of applications, awards, project management, reporting, knowledge mobilization, and general engagement of selected Fellows.
  • Provides orientations to Faculty Fellows and organizes webinars to share project learnings.
  • Evaluates the program to make incremental improvements over time.

Job Requirements

Qualifications

  • Excellent knowledge and understanding of the postsecondary sector in Ontario and issues related to student mobility and academic collaboration.
  • A minimum of five years of progressive and pertinent work experience in government, non-profit, or other organizations, including report writing and policy analysis.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communications skills.
  • Ability to communicate and take initiative in a professional and diplomatic manner that facilitates collaboration.
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills, including the ability to multi-task, prioritize, adapt to changing needs, and guide projects to completion.
  • Positive, flexible, and collaborative approach, with a strong focus on achieving results.
  • Familiarity with government processes (particularly related to Transfer Payment Agreements and reporting) and understanding of Government/Ministry priorities relating to postsecondary education.
  • Keen attention to detail.

Application Instructions

Please email your resume and cover letter to careers@oncat.ca and use the position title as your subject line. In your cover letter, please outline:

  1. Why you are applying for this position, and
  2. How your qualifications relate directly to the requirements of the position.

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late applications will not be accepted. We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted. Additional testing may be required.

ONCAT is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process to applicants with accessibility needs in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require an accommodation during this process, please inform ONCAT of your requirements.

ONCAT welcomes qualified applications from persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples from North America, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples, visible minorities (racialized) persons, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. ONCAT supports an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace.