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.

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

QUALIFICATIONSKNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Knowledge and understanding of regional and community issues affecting Inuit, including working knowledge of Inuit land claims agreements and Inuit priorities;
• Policy development, review and analysis;
• Program development and evaluation;
• Consultation protocol;
• An understanding of Federal Government organizational structures;
• Understanding of Inuit committees and organizational structures and how they function; and
• Familiarity with the various land claim agreements.
• Must have excellent cross-cultural skills and the ability to deal with a diversity of people;
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills (English required, Inuktitut and/or French a definite asset);
• Computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access), Internet e-mail.

EXPERIENCE

• 7-10 years of work experience in similar positions or a combination of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as health sciences, public policy and political or social science and a minimum of 5 years work experience in a similar role;
• 2-3 years’ experience managing a team
• Experience in project management and program delivery;
• Experience in reviewing and analyzing government legislation and policy;

EDUCATION

• Degree in a relevant field, or:
• Any combination of education and experience providing the required skill and knowledge for successful performance is evident.

Please refer the Job description for details