POLICY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER P&R

City of Toronto • $105K — $160K *

Toronto, ON M3C 0E3In-Person

Education, Government & Non-Profit

Less than 5 years of experience

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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

Post-secondary education in social sciences, urban planning, public policy, or equivalent experience.
Extensive project management experience with minimal direction, balancing various stakeholder interests.
Strong background in strategy development and policy design, translating research into actionable policy.
Significant experience in using evidence to inform policy development processes.
Exceptional problem-solving skills with a track record of creative solutions to complex issues.
Proven leadership abilities with strong negotiation and collaboration skills, able to influence without authority.
In-depth knowledge of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and sustainability issues.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement evidence-based policies for Parks & Recreation in alignment with corporate priorities.
Prepare high-quality reports and decision-support materials for Council and senior decision-makers.
Monitor evolving local and governmental issues to align policy with community needs.
Conduct comprehensive scans to inform policy development and decision-making.
Establish project objectives and scope while leading projects from conception to implementation.
Identify gaps in operations and policy, providing practical solutions to address them.
Cultivate relationships and represent the Division at interdivisional initiatives and consultative meetings.

Benefits

Opportunity to work in a collaborative, multi-stakeholder environment.
Professional development initiatives to enhance project management and policy skills.
Engagement in community-focused projects impacting Toronto's residents.
Potential for contributing to meaningful policy changes that promote equity and sustainability.

Full Job Description

Job ID: 64128
Job Category: Policy, Planning & Research
Division & Section: Parks & Recreation, PR Policy & Strategic Planning
Work Location: North York Civic Center, 5100 Yonge Street
Job Type & Duration: Full-time, 2 Permanent Vacancies
Salary Range: $105,241.00 - $160,649.00, TM2430 and PTM3
Shift Information: Mon - Fri, 35 Hours/week per week
Affiliation: Non-Union
Number of Positions Open: 1
Posting Period: 30-SEPT-2026 to 14-OCT-2026

Major Responsibilities:

Policy Development: Research, Analysis and Reporting

Develops and delivers system-level and evidence-based policies, procedures, and projects for P&R Division in alignment with corporate and divisional priorities assessing risks, implications, trade-offs and feasibility.
Prepare high-quality Council reports, briefing notes, policy reports, recommendations and other decision-support materials.
Monitors other orders of government and non-government organizations, academic and research bodies and local communities to ensure ongoing awareness of existing and evolving issues and concerns related to the needs of Toronto's residents and PR strategic objectives.
Conduct jurisdictional scans, environmental scans and best-practice reviews to identify opportunities, risks and emerging approaches that inform policy development and decision-making.
Develop outcomes, targets, performance measures and evaluation approaches to support evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.
Analyze legislation, government policy and municipal decision-making processes to identify policy considerations, opportunities and impacts for the Division.
Apply reconciliation, equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression principles to policy development, engagement and decision-making.

Project Management

Convenes and leads multi-stakeholder teams, often without direct authority, to successfully complete and deliver complex research, analysis, consultation and policy development products, using effective negotiation, collaboration, coaching and influencing skills.
Leads complex projects from conception through implementation, ensuring strategic alignment and successful delivery.
Establishes project objectives, scope, deliverables, timelines and evaluation approaches.
Develops implementation plans, operational guidance, evaluation approaches and continuous improvement processes that support effective delivery throughout the project lifecycle.
Identifies operational, policy, program and resource gaps and develop practical solutions to address them.
Manages a diverse portfolio of policy files, balancing competing priorities and working independently on complex assignments while exercising sound judgement in a fast-paced and politically sensitive environment.

Relationship Building and Communication

Stewards, leads or coordinates PR's role in strategic corporate initiatives. Partners with other divisions to expand opportunities and interdivisional efforts that impact PR.
Cultivates strong relationships and represent the Division by providing policy expertise at project, consultation and partnership meetings across the City of Toronto, ensuring policy development is informed by stakeholder perspectives and community needs.
Builds alignment among stakeholders with diverse interests, priorities and perspectives.
Designs and leads engagement, consultation and collaboration processes that inform policy and program development.
Communicates complex information clearly, concisely and appropriately for different audiences.
Prepares accurate, high-quality presentations, correspondence, reports and communication materials tailored to senior leaders, decision-makers and stakeholders.
Presents analysis, recommendations and options in a manner that supports informed decision-making.
Demonstrates strong political acuity and the ability to navigate sensitive, complex and high-profile issues.
Handles confidential and sensitive information with professionalism, diplomacy and discretion.

Key Qualifications:

Post-secondary education in a related discipline (e.g. social sciences, urban design/planning, public policy/public administration) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Extensive project management experience, stewarding complex initiatives from inception through to implementation with minimal direction while balancing political, community and other stakeholder interests, and resolving conflicts.
Considerable experience in strategy development and policy design, ability to advance knowledge translation between research, policy and operations.
Considerable experience using evidence to support policy development.
Exceptional problem-solving abilities; proven ability to generate creative solutions to complex operational, policy and evaluation problems.
Exceptional leadership, negotiation and collaboration skills and the ability to coach and influence without direct authority.
Strong knowledge of some or all of the following: equity, diversity and inclusion issues; anti- racism and anti-oppression; reconciliation; environmental resilience and sustainability; community development; recreation service system planning; parks design or planning.
Ability to work independently and under pressure to meet deadlines.
Ability to articulate insights and present information spoken, visual, and written across all levels of management.
Political acuity with an exceptional ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations with diplomacy.

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