Strategy Research Analyst

Job Details: Non‑Union (Non‑Union

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Posting Status: Open to all current Town of Oakville employees and external applicants

Duration: 24‑month contract

Closing Date: Applications for this position must be received at  by no later than 11:59 pm on January 23, 2026.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy and will therefore be filled accordingly.

We offer:

• A hybrid work schedule
• A defined benefit pension plan (OMERS)
• Contract employee benefits package
• A progressive work environment that promotes a work/life balance and strives to be a great place for great people to do great things

What can I expect to do in this role?

Reporting to the Manager, Intergovernmental Affairs, Strategic Policy & Research in the Corporate Strategy & Government Relations department, the Strategy Research Analyst provides the Chief Administrative Officer and Commissioners with high‑quality research, scanning, and insight synthesis to further Council and administrative priorities.

Working collaboratively with commissions, departments, and internal groups, the Analyst gathers, analyzes, and translates qualitative and quantitative information to provide insights on a variety of topics, in support of environmental and jurisdictional scanning (e‑scans / j‑scans), emerging issues, corporate strategic projects, performance measurement, consultation opportunities, and evidence‑informed decision‑making.

Activities and sources of information include data analysis, internet research, stakeholder interviews, surveys, academic and think‑tank research, federal/provincial/regional reports, legislation and policy reviews and changes, media and open‑source monitoring, and networks across the municipal and broader public sector landscape. The role’s focus is on connecting diverse inputs to emerging trends, risks, and opportunities facing the Town. The position also supports the continuous improvement of the Town’s research function, including the use of standardized intake processes, project tracking tools, and establishing a research repository to ensure requests are aligned, scoped, prioritized, and delivered efficiently.

In addition to performing other duties as assigned, responsibilities include the following key activities:

• Support the development, management, and continuous improvement of corporate policies, procedures, and tools, primarily through identification and analysis of issues, environmental and jurisdictional scans, best‑practice research, evidence synthesis, and the development of clear implications and options.
• Lead environmental and jurisdictional scans (e‑scans / j‑scans) on priority topics, synthesizing findings into concise, decision‑ready insights for senior leadership.
• Conduct time‑sensitive research to support Council and ELT requests, balancing speed with accuracy and judgment.

• Support activities related to advancing Council’s long‑term strategy and action plan and administrative priorities, including comparative scans, backgrounders, issue framing, evidence reviews, data interpretation, analysis, and synthesis of diverse qualitative and quantitative inputs.
• Support the development of in‑depth and comprehensive reports and analyses; prepare position papers and briefing materials to present strategic options, recommendations, and implementation plans to senior management to inform decision‑making.
• Translate complex or emerging subject matter into accessible, actionable insights for senior audiences.

• Support the scoping, development, and implementation of corporate strategic projects by providing analysis, evidence, insights, and structured research processes. Examples could include climate action; inclusion, equity, diversity and accessibility; digital/AI governance, intergovernmental files, social/emerging issues, and other CAO and senior leadership priorities.
• Activities include intake and early issue identification; creating frameworks; undertaking discussions with stakeholders; evidence‑based analysis; conducting comparative scans, synthesizing research inputs; preparing…