Policy and Program Analyst

**Status**: Full time, 2 years, temporary
**Location**: Ottawa, Ontario, or Toronto, Ontario (hybrid)
**Closing date**: February 13, 2025
**Salary range**: $97,000 to $121,000 per year
Canada’s Drug Agency is a pan-Canadian health organization. We are an independent, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Ottawa, with a satellite office in Toronto. Created and funded by Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments, we drive better coordination, alignment, and public value within Canada’s drug and health technology landscape. We provide Canada’s health system leaders with independent evidence and advice so they can make informed drug, health technology, and health system decisions, and we collaborate with national and international partners to enhance our collective impact.
We are proud to be a 2024 National Capital Region Top Employer. This recognition celebrates our dedication to fostering a work environment that nurtures growth; innovation; and inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA). It reaffirms our ongoing efforts to create an outstanding workplace where our employees thrive and feel valued.
Primary Focus
What do the daily responsibilities look like?
**On any given day, the Policy and Program Analyst will**:

- collect information from diverse sources, including published and grey literature, information available online and through discussions with individual experts, organizations, and employees, to scope and shape issues that would improve the coordination and efficiency within the pharmaceutical system in Canada, if addressed
- effectively communicate complex, technical information, policy issues, and considerations about the drug system in plain, easy-to-understand language, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of audiences; this includes translating intricate data into clear, digestible formats such as visualizations, infographics, or simplified summaries
- identify, describe, analyze, and advance initiatives, such as business development opportunities and government priorities, to contribute to strategic positioning, including preparing options papers and presentations as well as describing potential issues concisely and in a way that is targeted to the appropriate audience
- collaborate with colleagues to develop an initial evaluation framework and metrics, building on it over time to understand the organization’s impact of this new area of work
- support analyses and present issues to interested parties, ensuring consistency of approach and integration with the organization’s mandate, strategic direction, procedures, and processes
- facilitate activities, in collaboration with identified teams and colleagues, related to planning through execution of system coordination initiatives, which include drafting and reviewing documents (e.g., briefing notes, presentations, reports), delivering presentations and information sessions, and providing advice regarding sequencing and scope of any work the organization undertakes to support system coordination
- ensure the appropriate flow of information, perspectives, and evidence to support and advance work that aligns with government initiatives and priorities
- support and facilitate the work of the ad hoc panels and expert groups relevant to System Coordination and Alignment, as needed
- provide advice on pharmaceutical-related issues and prepare questions and reports for interested parties, if applicable
- monitor project initiatives and inform risk analysis to mitigate and manage risks to the project; coordinate their timely integration with other projects, initiatives, and processes, ensuring that strategies support the requirements and program delivery needs of Canada’s Drug Agency
- assist the Director, System Coordination, in resource planning, including identifying interested parties’ concerns and key issues as operational planning for the System Coordination and Alignment program
- support the Director, System Coordination, in designing and leading targeted internal and external topic-specific consultations, consolidating input, and identifying opportunities to enhance engagement and communication with key interested parties..

Is this the right role for you?
**The Policy and Program Analyst will likely have**:

- a related postsecondary education, coupled with at least 5 years of experience performing work of a similar nature, is required; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
- previous experience navigating the drug system along with a strong understanding of health care systems in Canada and the relationship between Canada’s Drug Agency, its funders, and health partners
- experience with complex systems issues analysis and an appreciation for lived experience related to the pharmaceutical ecosystem in Canada
- a strong understanding of how to critically appraise grey and published literature
- the ability to establish effective working relationships with various groups, c