Senior Policy Advisor

at  Ministry of Transportation

Are you a collaborative and innovative leader with strong analytical, policy development, and communications skills? Then consider joining the Transportation Policy Branch where you will play a key role delivering the government’s ambitious transportation policy mandate and preparing for the future of mobility.
As a Senior Policy Advisor in the Director’s Office you will provide executive support and strategic policy and program advice in a dynamic, innovative and fast-paced work environment by supporting staff and the leadership team in advancing branch priorities.
The Transportation Policy Branch in MTO’s Integrated Policy and Planning Division is responsible for developing policies and strategies and providing advice to other areas of the ministry to ensure that Ontario’s transportation system is safe, future ready, user-focused, and considers equity for all transportation users.

POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ANALYTICAL SKILLS

• You can use analysis and problem solving skills to lead the development and implementation of transportation policies, options, strategies and initiatives
• You can provide interpretation and advice to senior management on policy and programs related to a broad range of transportation issues
• You have the ability to identify emerging and long-term issues, trends, and best practices, and to provide advice, interpretation, and policy expertise
• You have the ability to design and plan research projects, including issues and gaps identification and identifying solutions to support the development of strategic policy recommendations/options

CONSULTATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• You have consultation and consensus-building skills to discuss and resolve diverse and competing policy and program-related issues
• You can use interpersonal skills to gain support from other ministries and various stakeholder groups
• You can build partnerships by using influencing and consensus building skills to develop effective linkages and consultation frameworks

COMMUNICATION AND PRESENTATION SKILLS

• You have oral communications skills and techniques to lead and represent the ministry or provincial position on policy consultations and negotiations
• You can use written communication skills and techniques to coordinate, prepare and present reports, policy analyses, briefing notes and issues analyses to senior management
• You have presentation skills to explain program policy positions and promote policy and strategic initiatives to ministry executives and internal/external stakeholders

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS

• You know project management techniques and principles to plan and manage options, impact analyses, and policy review and development processes
• You can plan, conceptualize, organize, implement, monitor and complete projects and effective alternatives and solutions to transportation issues
• You can effectively use project resources, and achieve program deliverables
• You can manage competing priorities and develop critical paths and work plans to complete time sensitive files

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE

• You have knowledge of socio-economic theory and principles to assess the economic, social, fiscal and corporate implications of initiatives/proposals
• You have knowledge of legislation governing transportation
• You have knowledge of consultation frameworks and network of inter-jurisdictional transportation stakeholders, interest/advocacy groups and professional associations

In this role, you will:

• Provide executive support and strategic analysis and advice on transportation policies and initiatives being led by the branch
• Support and/or undertake policy development and program analysis on key files that advance the branch’s transportation priorities
• Provide senior management with information, analysis and advice to support decision making and coordinate/develop responses to requests from the ADMO, other branches, and other ministries
• Collaborate and build strong partnerships with other divisions, ministries, and key stakeholders, including the ADMO and DMO
• Demonstrate political acuity by managing potentially critical and sensitive issues on behalf of the Director, and proactively leading and/or planning special branch level projects