Title: Director, Policy and Research

Department: Strategy, and Policy Research

Reporting to: Senior Director, Policy and Research

Compensation: CAD102K - CAD131K

Employment: Full Time

Location: Remote - Canada (The team is primarily based in Ontario; candidates located in Ontario are encouraged to apply)

About the Opportunity:

The Director, Policy and Research provides strategic leadership in advancing WES Canada's policy, research, and advocacy agenda. Working closely with the Senior Director, Strategy and Policy Research, the Director leads major policy initiatives, develops evidence-based policy positions, manages strategic research, and cultivates high-impact partnerships that strengthen WES's influence across Canada's immigration and workforce development.

The Director leads complex cross-functional initiatives that advance WES Canada's strategic priorities. This role combines senior policy leadership with hands-on technical research capability, including the design and execution of applied economic research on immigration, economics, and labour market outcomes.

The Director provides leadership to policy staff, consultants, and project teams while fostering collaboration across WES departments to strengthen organizational impact and thought leadership. The role is responsible for translating emerging policy trends and research into organizational strategy, supporting executive decision making, and representing WES externally with governments, business associations, sector partners, and other stakeholders.

What You'll Do:

Policy Leadership and Strategic Influence (35%)

• Apply rigorous economic and quantitative analysis, including econometric evidence on immigration and labour market outcomes to strengthen the empirical foundation of WES policy positions.
• Lead the development of policy positions, strategic analysis, consultation submissions, and advocacy strategies aligned with WES Canada's priorities.
• Identify emerging immigration, labour market, education, and workforce policy trends and assess strategic implications for WES.
• Lead complex policy research projects that support evidence-informed organizational decision making.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership regarding policy risks, opportunities, and emerging issues.
• Develop policy frameworks and recommendations that strengthen WES's influence with governments and sector partners.
• Represent WES in external policy forums, advisory committees, and stakeholder consultations.
• Lead the preparation of executive briefing materials, policy papers, presentations, and strategic reports.

Research, Thought Leadership and Strategic Partnerships (30%)

• Design and lead applied economic research on immigration and workforce integration, including econometric and quantitative studies related to immigration policy or economic issues, credential recognition, and labour market outcomes.
• Direct strategic research initiatives that support WES Canada's public policy, advocacy, and systems change objectives.
• Build and steward the team's technical research capacity, including research design, quantitative methods, data acquisition, analytical tooling, and quality assurance standards for all empirical economic-focused work.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with governments, business associations, post-secondary institutions, regulatory bodies, employers, and sector organizations.
• Identify opportunities for collaborative research, policy development, and strategic partnerships that advance WES priorities.
• Lead the development and dissemination of thought leadership publications, policy briefs, and research reports.
• Provide strategic oversight of external research partnerships and ensure research quality and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Represent WES as a recognized subject matter expert through speaking engagements, conferences, and stakeholder meetings.

Strategy, Governance and Organizational Leadership (20%)

• Lead strategic planning initiatives that support implementation of WES Canada's strategic priorities as it relates to policy, research, and the advocacy agenda.
• Direct cross-functional projects involving multiple departments and external stakeholders.
• Lead strategic environmental scanning and scenario planning activities to inform executive decision making.
• Support organizational governance through development of board materials, executive briefings, dashboards, and performance reporting.
• Lead strategic planning and implementation of major policy, research and advocacy related initiatives within the Managing Director Office.
• Develop systems and processes that strengthen knowledge management, organizational learning, and policy coordination.

Leadership and People Management (15%)

• Lead, coach, and develop policy and research staff, consultants, and project teams.
• Establish work plans, priorities, and performance expectations for direct reports.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing team culture.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, and professional development within the Policy and Research function.
• Promote effective collaboration across WES departments to achieve shared organizational objectives.

Your Experience:

Required

• A bachelor's degree in economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Social Sciences, or another related discipline, or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research or public policy within the social impact, public, or non-profit sectors.
• Demonstrated technical research capacity, including experience designing and executing applied economic research on immigration and labour markets, from research design and data strategy through analysis, peer review, and publication.
• Strong econometric and quantitative skills, including regression analysis, causal inference methods, and labour market outcome analysis, with working proficiency in statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python.
• Minimum five (5) years of management or leadership experience leading teams, consultants, or complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in Canadian labour market policy, workforce development, credential recognition, immigration or related public policy fields.
• Experience managing external research partnerships and commissioned research.
• Experience working with Canadian labour market and immigration data, such as the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB), Census, and Labour Force Survey, including Statistics Canada Research Data Centre or administrative microdata environments.
• Extensive experience leading policy development, consultation submissions, research projects, and strategic advocacy initiatives.
• Proven ability to influence policy through research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with senior government officials, business leaders, funders, and sector organizations.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and executive presence: ability to build strong relationships and work with individuals at all levels of the organization; work collaboratively with people of different backgrounds, experiences, communication styles, and cultures towards collective goals.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and systems thinking capabilities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level briefings, reports, and presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.
• Excellent judgment, political acuity, and ability to manage sensitive issues with discretion.
• Knowledge of federal and provincial government decision-making processes.
• Experience managing external research partnerships and commissioned research.
• Experience developing organizational policy and advocacy strategies.

Desired

• A record of published economic or policy research, including peer-reviewed publications, working papers, or widely cited policy reports on immigration, economic policy, workforce development, and/or labour market topics.
• Experience representing an organization publicly through conferences, media, or government consultations.
• Functional bilingualism in English and French is considered a strong asset.

What We Offer:

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work, which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included. Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization.

Values:

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.