Policy Advisor

**Job Description**:
Kinark has recently introduced a new benefit that gives employees the opportunity to work their role in a hybrid or fully remote arrangement, as assessed for their position, for those who wish to opt-in for this benefit. This role (Policy Advisor) has been assessed in the ‘Remote Worker’ classification, defined as mínimal days in the office unless business demands require.

**Job Summary**:
Reporting to the Lead, Policy, the Policy Advisor supports and sustains the agency policy framework and supports the agency in the areas of policy analysis, development and maintenance. The Policy Advisor will deliver leadership and expertise in the research and development of policies and procedures including consulting with stakeholders, drafting and revising policy and procedural content, managing timelines, and managing the agency policy library. The work of the Policy Advisor supports enables the consistency, quality and productivity of Kinark services related to child and youth mental health, autism and forensic mental health. In addition, the Policy Advisor provides advice and support to the agency in strategic planning through environmental scanning, situational analysis and the development of opinions and recommendations for how the organization should respond to changes in our environment (e.g., legislation changes, emergent issues (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic).

**Duties & Responsibilities**:

- Plan, design and undertake various types of research and analysis to develop policy and program options, frameworks and operational guidelines.
- Write briefing notes on policy changes and other key issues
- Develop PowerPoint decks and present on various elements of the organization’s policy work
- Receive policy related queries from program leaders across the agency, research, develop recommendations and respond.
- Manage agency policy framework and maintain the current agency policy review cycle.
- Identify opportunities for enhanced consistency in practice across different agency departments.
- Identify, monitor and analyze trends in the child and youth mental health, autism and forensic mental health research relevant to agency policy and priorities and develop products that translate research to policy for diverse audiences.
- Develop knowledge management tools to encourage policy uptake and implementation

**Qualifications**:

- Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy or a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Knowledge of policy development, program design principles and techniques.
- Knowledge of child and youth mental health, autism and/or forensic mental health sectors
- Two (2) years experience in leading project initiatives and program/policy development.
- Excellent research and program management skills as they relate to a policy advisor role.
- Experience in identifying issues/concerns and creating, analyzing and developing policies and solutions that address these issues/concerns.
- Consultation and relationship management skills to establish key stakeholder linkages across Kinark program.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish solid, collaborative working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, particularly as they relate to the explanation of complex systems to a broader audience
- Experience in conducting environmental scans, analyzing and assessing research and information from a variety of sources in relation to government system processes, strategic policy and developing written products that translate research into policy content.
- Knowledge of not for profit sector and child and youth services system in Ontario will be considered an asset.

**Kinark Child and Family Services conditions of employment include but are not limited to successful Criminal Record Check, completed Pre-Employment Medical certificate, and proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.** Fully vaccinated is defined as having received all required doses of a World Health Organization Approved COVID-19 Vaccine at least one of which being approved for use in Canada and 14 days have passed since your last dose. Proof of vaccination for each vaccine dose received is required.