POLICY & RESEARCH CONSULTANT – City of Toronto

Job Title: POLICY & RESEARCH CONSULTANT

Location: Toronto, ON

Job Description: Job ID: 51770

• Job Category: Policy, Planning & Research
• Division & Section: Social Development, Finance & Admin, Community Safety & Wellbeing
• Work Location: City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent
• Hourly Rate and Wage Grade: $48.49 – $53.14 (2024 Rate)
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week
• Affiliation: L79 Full-time
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 06-JAN-2025 to 20-JAN-2025

Job Summary:The City of Toronto’s Social Development, Finance & Administration Division, TO Wards Peace program is holding a 60- minute Information Session for the Policy & Research Consultant on Monday, January 13th, 2025 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm details available below. All applicants interested in this position are encouraged to attend this session, during which the Manager and Supervisor of TO Wards Peace will provide insights regarding the positions. There will also be a Q&A period.Info Session Link:The Social Development, Finance and Administration division (SDFA) drives transformative change to achieve stronger, safer, and more resilient and equitable communities and neighbourhoods in Toronto. , the City of Toronto’s 10-year Community Safety & Well-being Plan was unanimously adopted by City Council to drive 26 actions across 7 strategic goals. To advance SafeTO’s objectives and the SafeTO lmplementation Plan, TO Wards Peace is hiring a Policy & Research Consultant.TO Wards Peace is an integrated risk-driven, violence interruption model that was co-designed with residents to build the capacity of grassroots organizations to lead teams of Violence Disruption Workers, to intervene in incidences of violence, interrupt escalations or potential retaliation and support the development of community-based solutions within a Public Health Approach. As part of TO Wards Peace, you will work in partnership with program staff, other Community Safety and Wellbeing programs as well as various stakeholders embedded withing the integrated Violence Prevention TO Office. The Policy and Research Consultant will play a key role in program evaluation and performance measurement, as well as play a key role in the development of critical program reports, data analysis, research pertaining to similar international models, and close monitoring of City Committee and City Council decisions.Major Responsibilities:

• Plans, conducts, interprets and evaluates data, processes, research and policy studies, including joint projects within TO Wards Peace and the Community, Safety and Well-being Unit, city divisions, taskforces and committees, other levels of government and other external groups or agencies.
• Researches issues and develops policies and recommendations in order to provide divisional and corporate leadership in collaborative risk driven approaches, policy, program delivery models, advocacy and community safety and well-being strategies.
• Provides lead project management support in the development and implementation of city-wide policies for all aspects of community safety and well-being strategies for vulnerable populations in the City of Toronto.
• Conducts research and analysis into assigned policy areas, conveys information and policy implications to senior staff, external stakeholders and Council, taking into account trends and developments in the field of collaborative risk driven approaches, Community Safety and Well-being strategies, corporate policies and practices, legislative requirements, initiatives by other service providers/funders and other levels of government.
• Supports the analysis of e-business solutions and databases to identify emerging trends and opportunities to support the development of targeted investment.
• Designs, undertakes, and advises on research projects and analyses including data from TO Wards Peace and Community Safety and Well-being initiatives, surveys, sector analyses, trend and comparative analyses and economic impact analyses with other divisions, external organizations, and other sector clients.
• Promotes the use of information and its application to decision making within Community, Safety and Well-being through collaboration, the development of linkages, and capacity building initiatives.
• Consults and/or works collaboratively with external groups, including the development of contacts with other jurisdictions, at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, non-governmental organizations and interest groups, other agencies and the private sector.
• Leads the development and maintenance of a variety of TO wards Peace communications and information products (web-based and print).
• May conduct speaking engagements, workshops and information sessions for the public, community, and media, in collaboration with staff, answers inquiries on research and policy issues.
• Researches, organizes, and writes briefing materials, discussion papers, policy proposals, reports and correspondence on various issues.
• Prepares reports on complex subjects for consideration by City Council, its Standing Committees, Steering Committees, city divisions and external stakeholders.
• Develops and implements project plans for work assignments, ensuring deadlines for such assignments are met.
• Support development of dashboards for program areas.
• Support requests for data from TO Wards Peace and other areas as required.
• Participates in and/or chairs internal and external committees.
• Reviews literature, studies and reports produced by other governments and research agencies to determine potential impact on policy, research and programs.
• Coordinates meetings and works collaboratively with internal program partners and wide range of external stakeholder groups, including contacts with local agencies and grassroots organizations, other jurisdictions, at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels, non-governmental organizations, through various networks.
• Acts as a consultant to identify and service policy, research, evaluation, and program needs.
• Identifies issues, assesses the required resources, and develops strategies. Research current and projected needs and makes recommendations for meeting those needs including implementation strategies.

Key Qualifications:Your application must describe your qualifications as they relate to:

• Post-secondary education in Social Policy, Public Policy Administration, non-profit sector management or related discipline, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Considerable experience with business process analysis and development and writing reports for senior management audiences.
• Considerable experience in project management from inception to implementation including conducting preliminary research and information gathering, planning project phases, coordination, and achieving deliverables within set timelines.
• Experience in leading strategic policy development and planning in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience in leading complex social research and/or community development projects and initiatives.
• Experience working with community groups or residents in the formulation of social policy, analysis and/or research

You must also have:

• Ability to research, identify, gather, analyze, conceptualize, and interpret policies and other multifaceted information from a variety of sources and develop recommendations.
• Ability to analyze, interpret and synthesize quantitative and qualitative research and complex information and write detailed/complex reports and proposals.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to develop effective working relationships with multiple stakeholder.
• Advance knowledge of community well-being approaches.
• Knowledge of program development, planning and budgeting, municipal resource management and funding business processes.
• Excellent project management, problem solving, leadership and facilitation skills.
• Strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing to convey multifaceted process and policy issues to a variety of audiences.
• Strong knowledge of Community Safety and Well-being Strategies (e.g. Collaborative Risk Driven Approaches, Situation Tables, Community Crisis Intervention and Prevention).
• Ability to prioritize and manage diverse activities.
• Knowledge of Human Services and Cultural Services sector information sources and issues.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment
• Ability to utilize a variety of software packages and database applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Visio, Project & SAP).
• Ability to support the Toronto Public Service values to ensure a culture that champions equity, diversity and respectful workplaces.

NOTE TO INTERNAL FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME CITY OF TORONTO EMPLOYEES:City of Toronto employees must apply to full-time or part-time employment opportunities posted on the City’s Internal Job Posting Portal.Equity, Diversity and InclusionThe City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to .AccommodationThe City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. . Learn more about the City’s .

Company Name: City of Toronto

Salary: $48.49 – 53.14 per hour

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