Policy Lead - Energy

Reports to: VP, Policy and Programming

Location: Hybrid

Global energy systems, including Canada’s, are undergoing a period of historic change, driven by mutually reinforcing climate policy and technological innovation in both conventional and alternative sectors.Are you passionate about shaping policy on the future of Canada’s energy systems?

The Public Policy Forum is seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated policy professional to lead our Energy Future Forum, which works with industry, governments, Indigenous groups and others, as Policy Lead.

The Policy Lead is responsible for providing direction and guidance to the project team and must be able to confidently anticipate problems and develop solutions with minimal direction. This is both an inward and outward looking position and involves working with senior figures in energy policy. Initiative, strong organisational skills, familiarity with the subject matter and good judgement are key to succeeding in the role.

The Policy Lead works collaboratively with PPF staff, management and Fellows, as well as external partners and research collaborators, to deliver multiple projects within the Energy Future Forum at a consistently high level, on time and according to budget.While the focus will be on projects relating to Canada’s energy policy, this position may also have the opportunity to contribute work on other exciting projects that fulfil PPF’s strategic objective depending on the candidate.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Vice President of Policy & Programming.

Salary commensurate with experience.

The Public Policy Forum is a 33-year-old non-profit organization that works with all levels of government and the public service, the private sector, labour, post-secondary institutions, NGOs and Indigenous groups to improve policy outcomes for Canadians. As a non-partisan, member-based organization, we work from “inclusion to conclusion," by convening discussions of emerging and established thinkers, doers and deciders on fundamental policy issues and by identifying fresh policy options and paths forward. The Public Policy Forum researches and convenes around topical public policy challenges and celebrates great policy contributions at our testimonial dinners. We are committed to making a meaningful contribution to policy development that leads to a better Canada.

Scope and Objectives:

The Public Policy Forum conducts research and engagement activities on a wide variety of public policy issues of relevance to Canadians with a primary focus on the following intersecting areas of inquiry:

• Good governance and healthy democracy
• Canada's role in a time of geopolitical disruption
• Indigenous growth and governance
• Policy-making at a time of technological flux
• Energy transition amidst climate change
• The social and economic determinants of growth and competitiveness

The Policy Lead’s key duties include:

Taking ownership of and driving forward PPF’s projects in relation to energy policy, including through:

• The building of effective relationships with external project partners (funders, researchers, advisory council etc.) to develop and deliver projects.
• Managing projects related to the PPF’s other areas of focus from time to time, including developing project proposals, managing budgets, research, drafting short and long papers, managing project teams, supervising logistics for events and building relationships with partners.
• Being a public face of Energy Future Forum.
• Supervising logistics for events, coordinating and briefing chairs/facilitators/speakers for events, providing on-site support for events, planning and oversight of the budget;
• Supervising and conducting research, and preparing major reports and other key documents for projects such as background papers, discussion guides, case studies, interview guides, agendas, website content, presentation decks, blogs, op-eds;
• Overall management of the projects, including budget oversight, communications planning and project management
• The design and development of project proposals including researching the issue, developing budgets, and critical path development;

• Excellent writing skills and a proven ability to prepare and edit documents to a high standard;
• Advanced qualitative / quantitative research skills;
• High level of relevant computer literacy;
• Post-secondary education in a relevant discipline, plus at least five years of relevant work experience;
• In-depth knowledge of public service, public administration and political science;
• Ability to help conceive, develop and implement multi-stakeholder, non-partisan engagement projects, on time and within budget, with minimal direction;
• Strong analytical skills: ability to identify relevant materials and main trends, and to prepare succinct summaries of main findings, with minimal direction;
• Proven track record in developing and managing multiple complex projects, from conception through to conclusion;
• Confidence in cultivating and managing relationships with external partners;
• Proficiency in both of Canada’s official languages is preferred but not essential.
• Experience in public policy research, analysis and writing, with a particular focus on energy;

Please email your CV, a cover letter and one writing sample to [email protected] by June 23, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Accommodations will be provided at all stages of the hiring process. We ask applicants to make their needs known in advance.