Director, Policy Advancement

**JOB SUMMARY**

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director, Policy Advancement is responsible for advancing the rights and interests of Inuit. Specifically, the Director is responsible for the overall management of the department; including strategic planning, program coordination, identification and prioritization of key policy areas, supervision of departmental staff and contract personnel and management of departmental funding including developing and submitting funding proposals for acceptance by funding agencies.

**KEY ACCOUNTABILITIESPOLICY ADVANCEMENT**:

- Conducts environmental scans and develops a strategic understanding of emerging issues; Monitors and analyses developing external trends, policies, programs and issues with actual or potential impact on Inuit rights and interests. Areas include, but are not limited to, environment and wildlife, health and social development, language and education.
- Identifies and prioritizes key policy areas related to the Department’s mandate;
- Provides leadership to Policy Managers and their teams, committees and/or working groups, ensuring that the various committees are appropriately structured, staffed and supported to address both priority policy issues and other matters that require attention.
- Supports ITK’s Strategic Planning process, and the on-going reporting on achievement of deliverables.
- Participates in the review and formulation of legislation;
- Oversees a team of Policy experts to ensure effective delivery of position papers and policy recommendations for various issues to the Director, President and Board;
- Follows-up after approval on policy area by designing appropriate procedures and securing appropriate resources to implement policy;
- Ensures appropriate communications with Regional Inuit Associations, media, external government and non-government organizations;
- Liaises, plans and coordinates with other ITK Directors to integrate approaches on issues involving several Departments.

**PLANNING/WORKING WITH OTHERS**:

- In conjunction with IQ, designs and conducts regional consultations and research projects, including internal consultation and external consultation with Inuit organizations as required;
- Develops the overall policy framework for the Department
- Leads annual departmental planning and produces annual operational work plans; track progress and ensures completion of all activities as identified in the operational work plan;
- Identifies and pursues issues and funding opportunities for potential participation by ITK on behalf of Inuit;
- Oversees the drafting, submission and reporting requirements of proposals in a timely manner;
- Report as required on the department’s plans and operational priorities to the Executive Director and/or President;
- Liaise with all Federal, Territorial, Provincial Government departments, Inuit organizations and non-government organizations on program and policy areas;
- Collaborates with the Director of Communications to develop communications strategies with media, governments, and Inuit stakeholders for on key policy issues.

**MANAGEMENT OF STAFF**:

- Manages Departmental staff including the Assistant Director, Policy Managers and a support staff;
- Assigns and delegate authority to Department staff for the management of specific programs, projects and tasks as required;
- Reviews and revise departmental job descriptions when necessary;
- Hires, trains, develop and evaluates employees accountable to the Director in accordance with the policies of the organization and best human resources practices.
- Produces annual staffing plans for review and approval the Executive Director;
- Provides advice, coaching and mentoring to staff; discusses and determines individual training and development plans for all direct reports.
- Conducts quarterly staff reviews and annual performance appraisal reports for all direct reports, review performance appraisals completed by other department Managers

**BUDGETING**:

- Develops annual departmental budgets in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Administration and with consultation from department staff
- Develop Policy and Research work plans and budgets;
- Authorizes expenditures according to approved budget; ensures that the departmental expenses remain within budgeted amounts;
- Prepares revisions, as appropriate, to the departmental budget for review and approval by the Executive Director.
- Provides budget reports to the Executive Director as required

**AUTHORITY**:

- The Director, Policy Advancement will have authority to approve invoices and claims which are consistent with approved budget(s) and approved mandate(s) for the Department, including its’ programs and projects; and
- Authority to expend up to $500 annually for representation purposes is authorized.

Performs any other duties as assigned.

**KEY CONTACTS**
- Represent ITK in meetings, conference meetings and working groups. This could include task forces or workin