Policy Advisor
- Job Type
- Full Time
- Job Level
- Other
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
- Impact Area
- Other
- Impact Category
- Other
- Company Type
- Other
About this position
Position: Policy Advisor
Reports to: Director, Advocacy & Government Engagement
Position Term: Full Time Permanent
Deadline: Until Filled
Location: Permanent Virtual (Based in Ottawa)
Job Description
Are you a passionate policy professional and have a proven track record of success? Do you have experience with international development policy trends and organizations, and understand how they relate to Canada's international development priorities – especially around child rights, humanitarian, and fragile contexts? Do you thrive on navigating Ottawa’s political and legislative decision-making process? Do you get energized by working collaboratively on a long-term advocacy campaign? Have you worked on public engagement campaigns? Can you build consensus between organizations and individuals who have diverging interests and capacities?
Working closely with World Vision Canada’s (WVC) Fragile and Humanitarian team and Development Programs team, as well as the Strategic Communications teams, the Policy Advisor will be responsible for designing and implementing policy change strategies. The successful candidate will build relationships with key stakeholders, including policy makers, thought leaders and other NGOs for the purpose of increasing WVC’s access to, and influence over, the development of relevant policy. The Policy Advisor will engage - and lead - in Ottawa-based coalitions and represent WVC at external events. Gender equality is a priority focus of WVC. As such, all duties and responsibilities will be undertaken through a gender equality lens.
Duties and responsibilities
Proactively identify and pursue emerging opportunities to influence the government of Canada’s policies:
- Lead the development and implementation of long-term, policy change agendas.
- Develop policy research and write a diverse range of policy products (reports, briefing notes, letters etc.).
- Initiate and maintain external relationships with government, academic, and civil society partners.
Support and or lead World Vision’s international partnership activities which promote advocacy and policy influence:
- Participate in regular Partnership policy coordination processes.
- Contribute technical and political expertise to Partnership policy efforts.
Collaborate internally to develop joint strategy and messaging:
- Collaborate closely with Strategic Communications teams to advance short and long-term objectives.
- Review communication strategies, press releases and other communication tools to ensure alignment with policy objectives.
- Collaborate with the Fragile and Humanitarian team and Development Programs team to draw out relevant field experience and realities and to ensure alignment of policy priorities with resource acquisition objectives.
- Support senior leader’s external engagements.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Graduate degree in relevant field.
- 5 years of policy experience, including policy/advocacy positions in Ottawa or a comparable setting.
Required Knowledge:
- Excellent understanding of international and Canadian development and foreign policy, and how they impact the well-being of children in developing country contexts.
- Demonstrated commitment to gender equality in the context of policy change/ government relations.
- Proven experience in developing and implementing strategies for influencing Canadian government policy obtained by either working in a similar position in an NGO, for an elected official, or in a Government of Canada department.
- Proven experience with public advocacy campaigns aimed at achieving policy change.
Critical Skills & Abilities:
- Strong ability to identify and champion emerging issues with government partners.
- Outgoing personality, able to proactively build and maintain internal and external relationships.
- Ability to think strategically, synthesize complex information and develop innovative policy approaches.
- Excellent and winsome communication and public presentation skills, both oral and written, for internal and external audiences.
- Ability to effectively brief and support senior executives.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others in a multi-disciplinary approach through policy coalitions and public engagement/public relations partners.
- Ability to work constructively with global colleagues.
- Flexible, self-starter, sense of humour, team player, able to work without supervision.
- Excellent Microsoft Office skills, comfortable working virtually.
- Bilingual (English/French) strongly preferred.
- Commitment to World Vision’s Vision, Mission and Values and ability to express those.
- Ability to thrive in a cross-cultural and Christian faith-based environment.
Application:
- Please submit – in one document – Resume and Cover letter (no more than two pages), which describes how you fit the specific purpose and qualifications/critical skills of the position.
- In less than one page, describe the following: You’re going on vacation. Where is the 12-hour flight going? What did you pack? Who’s sitting next to you and what are you talking about? What snacks did you bring? Book or tablet?
- Deadline: Interviews will take place as top candidates are identified. Ideal start date mid-to-late October, 2021.