Director of Policy & Research; Remote

Department:
Strategy, and Policy Research
Reporting to:
Senior Director, Policy and Research
Compensation: CAD
102K - CAD
131K
Employment:
Full Time
Location:
Remote
- Canada (The team is primarily based in Ontario; candidates located in Ontario are encouraged to apply)

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact m evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change.

Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website .org.

About the Opportunity:

The Director, Policy and Research provides strategic leadership in advancing WES Canada's policy, research, and advocacy agenda. Working closely with the Senior Director, Strategy and Policy Research, the Director leads major policy initiatives, develops evidence-based policy positions, manages strategic research, and cultivates high-impact partnerships that strengthen WES's influence across Canada's immigration and workforce development.

The Director leads complex cross-functional initiatives that advance WES Canada's strategic priorities. This role combines senior policy leadership with hands‑on technical research capability, including the design and execution of applied economic research on immigration, economics, and labour market outcomes.

The Director provides leadership to policy staff, consultants, and project teams while fostering collaboration across WES departments to strengthen organizational impact and thought leadership. The role is responsible for translating emerging policy trends and research into organizational strategy, supporting executive decision making, and representing WES externally with governments, business associations, sector partners, and other stakeholders.

What You'll Do:

Policy Leadership and Strategic Influence (35%)

• Apply rigorous economic and quantitative analysis, including econometric evidence on immigration and labour market outcomes to strengthen the empirical foundation of WES policy positions.
• Lead the development of policy positions, strategic analysis, consultation submissions, and advocacy strategies aligned with WES Canada's priorities.
• Identify emerging immigration, labour market, education, and workforce policy trends and assess strategic implications for WES.
• Lead complex policy research projects that support evidence-informed organizational decision making.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership regarding policy risks, opportunities, and emerging issues.
• Develop policy frameworks and recommendations that strengthen WES's influence with governments and sector partners.
• Represent WES in external policy forums, advisory committees, and stakeholder consultations.
• Lead the preparation of executive briefing materials, policy papers, presentations, and strategic reports.

Research, Thought Leadership and Strategic Partnerships (30%)

• Design and lead applied economic research on immigration and workforce integration, including econometric and quantitative studies related to immigration policy or economic issues, credential recognition, and labour market outcomes.
• Direct strategic research initiatives…