A Career Opportunity

UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children. Across 190 countries and territories, and in the world’s toughest places, we workday in and day out to help children survive. To defend their rights. To keep them protected, healthy and educated. To give them a fair chance to fulfil their potential. Our work for every child relies entirely on voluntary support, including donations from generous Canadians.

Policy Specialist

(Contract Jan-June 2024, Full Time - Based in Toronto/GTA or Ottawa, Hybrid Remote)

This Policy Specialist has an exciting role in UNICEF Canada – influencing public policy and providing technical support to advance the rights and well-being of Canada’s children and youth. Reporting to the Director, Policy and Research, the Policy Specialist will design and deliver advocacy plans to influence legislation, policies, investments, and knowledge in different levels of government and across the child and youth serving sector in Canada. You will develop and sustain policy analysis and communications and manage stakeholder relationships of influence to advance advocacy priorities through government relations, youth participation and public engagement.

Responsibilities of the position will include, but not limited to:

Advocacy (45%)

  • Develop and implement strategies for advocacy and youth participation to advance policy priorities, including research, events, campaigns, and other activities.
  • Develop and sustain policy analysis to create legislative and issue briefs, briefing papers, official correspondence, presentations and campaign and communications content, drawing on your knowledge of Canadian child and youth policy and Canada’s children’s rights obligations. 
  • Monitor the policy environment, parliamentary activities and your child and youth sector stakeholder network relevant to advocacy priorities.

Stakeholder engagement (25%)

  • Cultivate effective relationships with government officials and parliamentarians.
  • Advance effective relationships with civil society organizations in advocacy collaborations; coordinate meetings and represent UNICEF Canada at meetings and events.
  • Organize events and initiatives and participate in or present on policy work in diverse settings as required. 
  • Contribute to diverse stakeholder communications.

Youth engagement (20%)

  • Support youth participation opportunities in collaboration with UNICEF Canada’s Youth Participation Lead.

Organizational development (10%)

  • Participate in Agile planning, team meetings and other initiatives.
  • Cultivate effective relationships within UNICEF Canada/across teams. 
  • Ensure integrity with the organizational mission and values in all activities.
  • Develop and manage advocacy materials including translation and production services.
  • Maintain an effective system to organize information and documentation.

Qualifications, Competencies & Skills

  • Post-secondary degree or college diploma in Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field, or equivalent years’ work experience. 
  • A minimum of five (3) years relevant work experience in parliamentary affairs, government relations, policy development and advocacy.
  • Exceptional organizational skills, with superb attention to detail and quality while meeting deadlines and multitasking in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
  • Good understanding of issues affecting children and youth in Canada.
  • Competency in working toward reconciliation, diversity, inclusion, and equity.
  • Critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and the ability to take initiative.
  • Comfortable with standard office software and with social media platforms.
  • Available for local, regional, and national travel.
  • Occasional evening and weekend work.

Salary Range: $62,000 - $71,500 per year.

For consideration, please submit your resume and cover letter to careers@unicef.ca by November 20th, 2023. Please attach your cover letter (including salary expectations) and resume as one document and reference “Policy Specialist” clearly in the subject heading. UNICEF Canada sincerely thanks all applicants for their expressed interest in this opportunity, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Consistent with our Child Protection Policy, the successful candidate must receive clearance by a police background check, including the vulnerable sector screen.

UNICEF Canada is an inclusive workplace and is committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the requirements.