Manager, Policy Advancement

ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᖅᑐ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐃᓄᐃᑦ ᓄᓇᖓᓐᓂ ᓄᓇᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᖏᕈᑎᐅᓯᒪᔪᓄᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐸᐅᑎᑕᐅᓂᐊᖅᑐᑦ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕐᑎᑕᐅᔪᓐᓇᖅᑐᓄᑦ. ᐃᑲᔪᖅᑐᕐᐸᑦᓯ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔮᖅᑖᕋᓱᐊᖃᑕᐅᔪᓯ ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᖁᓪᓗᓯ ᐃᓚᒋᔭᐅᖃᑕᐅᓂᑦᓯᓐᓂᒃ.

Iqqanaijaaqtaarasuaqtut ilagijauqataullutik Inuit Nunanganni Nunalirinirnmut Angirutiusimajunut sivulliqpautauniaqtut iqqanaijaaqtaartitaujunnaqtunut. Ikajuqturpatsi iqqanaijaaqtaarasuaqataujusi nalunaiqsiqullusi ilagijauqataunitsinnik.

APPLICANTS WHO ARE REGISTERED UNDER AN INUIT LAND CLAIMS AGREEMENT WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY HIRING. WE ENCOURAGE INUIT APPLICANTS TO SELF-IDENTIFY. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ENSURE AUTHENTICITY OF INUIT OR OTHER INDIGENOUS IDENTITY CLAIMS.

Closing Date: May 8, 2026

Manager, Policy Advancement - Existing position

Band: 5 - $80,780 - $100,975 **Compensation is aligned with internal equity and market benchmarks. In limited circumstances, offers above the posted range may be considered for candidates with exceptional qualifications or highly specialized expertise**  

This role, as with all positions at ITK is 100% in-office, requires being in the office full-time at 75 Albert Street, Ottawa, ON.

We do not use AI to assess or screen applications. Our hiring process is grounded in human review and values lived experience, cultural competency, and diverse career paths, in addition to formal education and work experience.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Policy Advancement, the Manager is responsible for leading the development and delivery of policy programs and priority initiatives that advance outcomes for Inuit across Canada.

The Manager leads a team of policy professionals, driving performance, setting priorities, and ensuring the effective execution of departmental objectives. This role operates at the intersection of policy development, stakeholder engagement, and program delivery, ensuring alignment with ITK’s strategic direction.

Key policy areas may include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Education
• Inuktut
• Urban Inuit

The Manager oversees the development of policy positions and recommendations, ensuring quality, alignment, and impact, while working collaboratively with other Managers and leadership across the Policy Advancement team.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

POLICY LEADERSHIP & PROGRAM DELIVERY 

• Lead and manage the development and delivery of policy initiatives within assigned portfolios.
• Oversee the production of policy positions, reports, and recommendations, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
• Execute strategic and operational plans, translating direction from senior leadership into actionable workplans and deliverables.
• Establish and manage priorities, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery across multiple projects and files.
• Direct policy analysis and research activities, ensuring evidence-based recommendations.
• Identify emerging trends and risks, and adjust priorities and approaches accordingly.
• Guide the development of funding proposals, workplans, and budgets, ensuring alignment with program objectives.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Lead, mentor, and develop staff, fostering a high-performing, collaborative team environment.
• Set clear expectations and performance objectives, and manage ongoing performance and development.
• Allocate resources effectively, ensuring alignment with priorities and workload demands.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and oversight on complex policy and project work.
  
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and talent development in collaboration with senior leadership.
  

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT & COLLABORATION

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with Inuit regional organizations, governments, and key partners.
• Lead engagement with stakeholders, ensuring Inuit perspectives are reflected in policy development.
• Collaborate across departments to align policy, communications, and program objectives.
• Represent ITK in external forums, working groups, and discussions as required.
  

OPERATIONATIONAL MANAGEMENT & OVERSIGHT

• Oversee program and project execution, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and reporting.
• Ensure effective coordination of activities across portfolios, maintaining alignment with broader organizational priorities.
• Drive accountability for deliverables, timelines, and resource utilization.
• Implement processes and tools to support efficient program delivery and continuous improvement.
  

COMMUNICATION & REPRESENTATION

• Lead internal and external communications related to assigned policy areas, in collaboration with Communications.
• Represent ITK in meetings, conferences, and working groups.
• Facilitate discussions and engagement sessions with partners and stakeholders.
  

Performs any other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of policy development processes, particularly as they relate to Inuit priorities in Canada.
• Understanding of Inuit communities, land claim organizations, and relevant legislative and policy frameworks.
• Knowledge of federal, provincial, and territorial policy environments and programs.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage competing priorities, and deliver results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to translate analysis into actionable recommendations.
• Ability to navigate complex, politically sensitive environments with sound judgment.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills (primarily in English; Inuktitut and/or French an asset).
• Proven and effective writing, speaking, organization, facilitation, coordination, prioritization and time management skills.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Access), internet, e-mail, and PowerPoint.
  
• Ability to understand and interpret policy and legal documents, legislation, and regulation.

EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience in policy analysis, program development, and/or evaluation.
• Experience leading teams and managing staff performance.
  
• Experience managing projects, budgets, and competing priorities.
• Experience building and maintaining partnerships with governments, organizations, and stakeholders.
  

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. education, Inuktut, public policy, etc.) with a minimum of 8 years of related work experience; OR
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Office environment: frequent use of computer and telephone
• Long periods of sitting at a desk in front of a computer
• Occasional travel and regular meetings
• Operational direction is provided by the Director and Assistant Director
• Politically sensitive issues may become stressful
• Frequent deadlines, which intensify when workload is large

BENEFITS

Conditional to ITK’s Human Resources Policies, you may be eligible for:

• 100% employer-paid group insurance upon hire
• Employer RRSP contributions 
• Annual training allowance 
• Excellent health and wellness allowance 
• Relocation allowance 
• Vacation – starting at 3 weeks/year 
• Paid Christmas break (usually between Xmas and New Year)
• Candidates with exceptional skills or experience may be considered for compensation above the posted range.

*Applicants who are registered under an Inuit Land Claims Agreement will be given priority hiring. We encourage Inuit applicants to self-identify. We reserve the right to ensure authenticity of Inuit or other Indigenous identity claims.

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for their interest in ITK however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.