Careers

Department: National Institute on Ageing
Position supervisor: Director of Policy, National Institute on Ageing
Contract length: 1 year (renewable, subject to confirmation of funding)
Hours of work per week: 36.25
Position type: MAC
Rate of pay: $75,000 – $90,000 annual salary

The Survey Research Lead plans, develops, leads and administers the NIA’s survey and quantitative research initiatives. The role ensures that the NIA’s survey-related initiatives accomplish their funded objectives and collaborates with multiple partners, both internal and external, to ensure these initiatives are relevant, innovative, and impactful. The Survey Research Lead also contributes to and supports the NIA’s communications, external activities, stakeholder relationship management, public appearances, media interviews and government relations activities related to the NIA’s survey and quantitative data initiatives.

Project Planning

• Plans, develops and leads the NIA’s survey and quantitative research initiatives, including developing the research agenda, establishing research priorities, developing new projects, leading the delivery of research deliverables in accordance with the requirements of funders and organizational priorities and working closely with internal and external stakeholders.
• Leads the development of proposals for new survey and quantitative projects as well as funding applications, in collaboration with relevant internal stakeholders.
• Participates in short- and long-range strategic planning and conducts the necessary research to gather relevant information regarding trends, issues and developments relevant to the NIA’s mandate, and presents these and any recommendations to the Director of Policy and other internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for future projects and partnerships.
• Keeps current on relevant provincial, federal and international ageing policy developments, trends and topics of interest, and participates in and supports NIA stakeholder and government relations efforts to ensure the NIA’s survey research initiatives remain relevant, timely, and impactful.
• Leads the preparation, coordination and submission of research ethics applications, amendments, renewals and related documentation, and tracks submissions, approvals and renewal timelines.

Research and data analysis

• Leads, monitors and conducts individual survey and quantitative data analysis projects, from project planning to implementation / delivery. Defines and develops project scope and objectives, timetables and deliverables. Identifies the necessary resources for the project, including equipment, space and other project requirements, project specific status reports, outlining anticipated issues and risks that may impact project delivery schedules and financial reporting.
• Conducts primary and secondary research through various methods, including literature and evidence reviews, evidence synthesis, expert and key subject interviews, data synthesis, and environmental and jurisdictional scans.
• Leads data-related tasks, including cleaning, coding, managing and analyzing raw survey data, including descriptive and inferential analysis, using Excel and statistical software as appropriate. Develops compelling visual representations of data.

Stakeholder engagement

• Develops and maintains positive relationships with funders and other supporters. Contributes to and leads (where appropriate) the development of formal and informal reports to funders and provides updates on their funded projects. Identifies partnership, collaboration and fundraising opportunities.
• Works with funders, partners and external stakeholders to effectively design and implement projects, including providing formal and informal updates and reports.
• Prepares and presents project updates and reports to internal and external partners and stakeholders as appropriate.
• Engages directly with funders and external stakeholders including day-to-day interactions and communications, and ensures that funders and partners receive updates in a timely manner.

Knowledge Mobilization

• Authors and leads the coordination and dissemination of communication and knowledge mobilization materials, including but not limited to reports, briefing documents, infographics, newsletter, website and social media content, and a variety of knowledge mobilization tools etc., to promote NIA survey and other research initiatives and insights.
• Works with internal and external stakeholders to develop communications strategies related to survey research and other NIA initiatives including key messages, and content of communications materials.
• Prepares presentation materials, presents and participates in sessions at conferences, meetings and events to showcase research findings where appropriate.
• Participates in media interviews on research findings where appropriate.

Project Management

• Employs established project management practices and techniques to ensure that project deliverables are achieved on time, within budget and in accordance with project and funding agreements. Establishes work plans, identifies required resources, timelines, milestones and deliverables. Monitors progress, identifies risks and issues and provides regular updates to key stakeholders.
• Supports project budget tracking, expense coordination and funder reporting as required, in collaboration with NIA operations, finance and leadership teams.
• Reviews and negotiates contracts as necessary and as appropriate in consultation with relevant Directors.
• Interfaces with other TMU and NIA departments to ensure that project, program and operational requirements are achieved. Manages risks and issues and takes corrective measures as needed.
• Coordinates contributions from research assistants, students or other project contributors as required.
• Participates in NIA activities, including providing administrative support where necessary and appropriate.

Department: National Institute on Ageing (NIA)
Position supervisor: Director, Policy
Work Location: Hybrid
Contract length: ASAP-August 6, 2027 (Possibility of further extension pending available funding)
Hours of work per week: 36.25
Employee Group: OPSEU
Grade: 13
Salary Scale: $88,420.35 – $112,008.23
Hiring Salary Scale: $88,420.35 – $96,619.30

The Senior Policy Analyst monitors and tracks policy issues and political trends across Canada, undertakes comparative analysis, and develops actionable policy recommendations to support the National Institute on Ageing’s (NIA) public policy agenda.

They provide policy advice to the Director and develop policy-specific communications products in English and French, such as briefing notes, policy options papers, discussion papers, reports, submissions, and correspondence, to promote NIA’s mandate, priorities and activities.

The Senior Policy Analyst leads engagement and outreach activities, collects and solicits input from a broad pan-Canadian and cross sectoral network of diverse partners, and builds productive, collaborative relationships with stakeholders, partners, and government officials to advance progress on key issues related to ageing in Canada.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with strong initiative, capable of working independently while contributing to a positive, collaborative team environment.
The Senior Policy Analyst will take a leadership role in report writing and policy project management, while actively engaging in policy research. Demonstrated experience in these areas is an asset.

This role requires adaptability, sound judgment, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting as new priorities and projects emerge across the NIA’s growing policy portfolio.

Qualifications

To help us learn more about you, please provide a cover letter and resume describing how you meet the following required qualifications:

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Completion of a post-secondary degree in political science, public policy, business administration, economics or another relevant field.
• Bilingual skills in English and French are required (oral/writing/reading).
• Minimum four (4) years’ experience in a similar role, preferably within the public sector, not-for-profit organization or academic institution, including experience engaging and interacting with government officials to understand their priorities, collect information and support a policy-related mandate.
• Experience designing and executing policy research, performing complex analysis and writing policy documents.
• Experience leading policy projects.
• Knowledge of national and jurisdictional key issues relating to ageing in Canada, such as  health, social wellbeing, financial security, housing, and/or poverty alleviation among older adults.
• Knowledge of analytical techniques to review, synthesize and conduct in-depth analysis of complex information.
• Knowledge of policy analysis theories, methods and principles.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to prepare and deliver presentations on policy research findings, draft recommendations and policy options papers.
• Excellent analytical skills to complete statistical and data analysis.
• Political acuity and ability to successfully engage with senior government officials on policy implications and other sensitive matters.
• Ability to foster and maintain stakeholders and partnerships relationships and work cooperatively within a multidisciplinary team.
•  Project management skills including planning, execution and closeout.