We are currently seeking a Director of Policy.
Provincial office located in Sault Ste. Marie (Baawating); and/or
Regional offices located in Dryden, Sudbury, Timmins, Peterborough, Hamilton, London; and/or
Consideration may be provided for residency in Toronto, Ottawa or other locations within Ontario; and,
This position accommodates ‘temporary work-from-home and hybrid’ arrangements with currently sporadic
travel required. It is anticipated that travel requirements will increase as/when the pandemic subsides.
This will include regular travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto, Ottawa and other provincial, national and international locations as required. Future work location(s) will be discussed with the Director of Policy and determined by OAHS.Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Policy is responsible to provide strategic leadership and the application of Indigenous values and traditional knowledge in an interwoven and complimentary manner next to the western culture in which we also live. The Director of Policy will apply an urban and rural Indigenous rights and a human rights approach that honours, respects and restores an environment where Housing at individual, family and community levels is supported throughout the life journey of Indigenous people.
The Director of Policy will support the OAHS’ vision: To lead, through an Indigenous-led organisational structure, the design, development and delivery of sustainable, culture-based housing that promotes excellence and well-being in
communities; and the OAHS mission which is: To provide safe and affordable housing throughout the life journey of
Indigenous people living in urban and rural areas of Ontario.
Working closely with the Director of Programs and Research, other Directors and Team Members, the Director of Policy will oversee the gathering of data to inform the policy positions of the organization. This data will then influence public policy that advocates for positive change at local, provincial, federal and international levels. They will move the agency’s key positions and priorities forward to shift legislative and policy change that reflects an Indigenous lens. The Director of Policy will build relationships with Indigenous organizations, federal and provincial governments, and key
Canadian and international partners to influence the development and support for Indigenous housing in urban and rural areas.
The Director of Policy is responsible for the development of a policy portfolio strategy and framework that aligns to the
organization’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. The Director of Policy must ensure that the work produced in the
policy portfolio directly and clearly supports OAHS’ vision, mission and strategic goals and leverages OAHS operational
excellence as an implementation tool that is rooted in and directed by and for community.
Further, on an internal policy basis, the Director of Policy will cooperatively work with senior management and other
team members to lead the development of evidence-based internal policies to deliver better housing outcomes and
foster organizational maturity; ensure OAHS is meeting the needs of the people it serves using wise practices and based
in cultural knowledge; and develop diverse, resilient, Indigenous-led housing models through meaningful community engagement.
REQUIREMENTS
Thorough knowledge of Indigenous cultures, traditions and communities and demonstrated values that focus on
assisting people leading to positive and successful outcomes;
Demonstrated ability to consistently lead with kindness, respect, empathy, and based on the teaching and
principles of various Indigenous cultures;
University degree in relevant area such as Social Work, Public Policy and/or Indigenous Issues (Master’s degree
and/or Ph.D. considered a strong asset) and/or a combination of relevant education, cultural knowledge and
related experience;
Minimum of 5 years progressive leadership experience with a not-for-profit organization and must have
demonstrated experience in influencing public policy including planning, development, monitoring and
evaluation; equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential
duties of the job;
Ability to successfully build relationships with other community agencies, services, organizations and
government at a political level;
Knowledge and experience in government bureaucracy at both provincial and federal level;
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) provides safe and affordable housing for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people living in urban and rural areas of Ontario. Our Vision is “to lead the design, development and delivery of sustainable and culturally appropriate housing that promotes excellence in the Indigenous community and organizational infrastructures”. Housing Services are provided throughout the province by over 75 Team Members as well as a wide range of Partners including Indigenous Organizations, Community Organizations, Governments (Municipal, Provincial, Federal), and Private Sector. Our Main Office and Service Centre is located in Sault Ste. Marie and we have Satellite Service Centres in Dryden, Peterborough, and Hamilton.