Job Summary
Reporting to the divisional leadership team, the Specialist is responsible for a range of research, policy, special projects, financial and analytical activities to support the development, implementation and management of policies, programs and projects for the Community Services Department.
Education
- Post-secondary degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or equivalent combination of education and experience.,
- Certificate or education courses in continuous quality improvement, community development, strategic planning, financial analysis, project management and program evaluation preferred.
Knowledge
- Minimum five years’ experience in continuous quality improvement, strategic planning, program evaluation, and measurement preferable in government environment
- At least 3 years’ experience in conducting primary and secondary research including evaluation
- At least 3 years’ experience in strategic planning and program evaluation.
- Knowledge of applicable program legislation ie. Child Care Early Years Act, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Ministry of Long-term Care, Homelessness etc. an asset.
- Experience with policy or program-based initiatives that involve diverse internal and external invested parties.
- Familiarity working collaboratively with multiple community partners and ability to build and manage community and invested parties relationships, including accountability oversight
- Familiarity preparing research proposals, reports, and other knowledge translation methods is preferred
- Knowledge of project management techniques/software, facilitation tools, and invested parties engagement and consultation principles and techniques
- Ability to review, understand, analyze and synthesis financial information and data
- Advanced knowledge of office productivity software with experience using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook, Office 365.
- Progressive experience within a Human Services environment with experience in policy, program planning and evaluation.
- Ability to lead and develop projects, manage multiple projects concurrently, determine objectives and program goals, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Strong report writing, research, risk analysis, analytical and project management skills to meet program objectives and work to tight deadlines.
- Highly developed analytical and business planning skills with a proven track record for long-term visioning.
- Experience with GIS Mapping and PowerBI or other data visualization tools is an asset
- Experience developing responses to funding proposals.
Responsibilities
Designs and conducts research and evaluation activities resulting in the development of a wide range of knowledge products to support service system planning and decision making. (30% of time)
- Lead, review and analysis of research, trends, community needs and leading practices to support the planning and development of policies and initiatives in Niagara.
- Develop strategies to enhance service capacity, support program planning, policy development and establish performance measures, including the development of options, recommendations and risk management strategies.
- Develop and implement various mechanisms for data collection based on needs of target audience(s).
- Prepare evaluation reports and presentations effectively communicating issues, trend, analysis and recommendations.
- Develop, implement, analyze and research various databases, applications, and tools to support planning, policy development and program delivery.
- Produce products to support information and knowledge transfer to relevant internal and external early year’s partners, practitioners and the community.
- Develops service statistics to improve service planning.
- Provide data, outcome and performance measures to support effective system planning in Niagara.
Project Management and Regular Reporting (30% of time):
- Collaborate with invested parties on projects related to system planning.
- Leads and facilitates meetings, internal and external communication, developing work plans and organizing engagement to support the internal and externally-linked governance structures, assessing risks, and KPI’s.
- Prepare reports, presentations, and other key documents to support communication and reporting.
- Establish and maintain and provide leadership to community relationships, local area municipalities and invested parties.
- Ensure internal and external coordination of departments and resources.
- Prepare reports using performance measures, demographic and statistical information for the provincial and federal governments, regional council and standing committees.
- Lead all project management functions which includes; internal and external communication, work plans and community engagement.
- Develops project plans for completion of activities.
Sustains a network of community partners, representation groups and relationships (20% of time).
- Establishes linkages and collaborate with health, justice, social planning, university research groups and community partners to share information and support collaborative planning.
- Actively participates on and support local advisory boards, committees and planning groups disseminating results of local data collection and evaluation.
- Facilitates sharing of data between service agencies, and partners.
- Build positive and inclusive work environments by cultivating and managing strategic partnerships and fostering collaboration with internal and external parties.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-pronged public engagement strategy to respond to community needs, identify existing service capacity, and support community goals and priorities.
- Represent the Region on community tables and committees as required.
- Develop and maintain effective and accountable working relations with community partners to support the expansion and delivery of Community Services .
- Communication with funders and local partners regarding evolving upper tier policy direction.
- Ensures focus is service excellence, communication/transparency, innovation, and data integrity and workflow integration.
Provides strategic advice and analysis on related program planning and delivery of mandated service integration and modernization projects. (20% of time)
- Keeps up to date on social political, economic trends, legislative changes, public policy documents, etc. to support evidence- informed decisions related to program and integrated service delivery.
- Using business and management principles involved in organizational change initiatives, strategic planning and policy development.
- Authors knowledge products to support planning and decision making for management and divisional staff e.g. position papers, briefing notes, presentations on policy issues.
- Liaises with staff from other levels of government and other jurisdiction to facilitate inter-sectoral cooperation, information sharing and best practices, understanding of policy direction, and cooperation on areas of mutual interest across jurisdictions.
- Working with the divisional leadership team, responds to time sensitive internal and external requests for information from members of the senior leadership team.
- Represents the Division, attends conferences and policy forums, and participates in community tables/committees, as required.
Special Requirements
- In accordance with the Corporate Criminal Record Check Policy, the position requires the incumbent to undergo a Criminal Record Check, with vulnerable sector search, and submit a Canadian Police Clearance Certificate
- Must maintain ability to travel in a timely manner to other offices, work locations or sites as authorized by the Corporation for business reasons.
Regional staff strive to enable the strategic priorities of council and the organization through the completion of their work. Staff carry out their work by demonstrating the corporate values.
