Senior Policy Advisor

Do you want to be part of a mission driven organization shaping Canada's innovation future? Do you thrive in collaborative environments where creativity, continuous improvement, and strategic thinking are valued? Are you motivated by work that strengthens Canada's competitiveness and delivers meaningful impact for communities and businesses?
At Mitacs, we take a talent first approach to building Canada's innovation capacity. We connect researchers with organizations across every region of the country to help solve pressing challenges and accelerate economic growth. By enabling business academic collaboration and supporting the development of highly skilled talent, we contribute to a resilient, future ready Canadian economy.
Guided by our values - Impact, Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence, and Talent - we work with partners nationwide to advance research, commercialization, and innovation.
At Mitacs, you become part of a team committed to empowering Canadian talent, fostering meaningful partnerships, and driving innovation that supports Canada's long-term competitiveness.
About the Policy Team  The Policy team at Mitacs plays a central role in translating complexity into clear, actionable insight. We transform data into informed decisions, develop evidence-based rationales for new initiatives, and articulate the organization's impact in ways that resonate with government and partners. We ensure that Mitacs programs align with public priorities, clarify the underlying purpose of our work, and provide the policy intelligence and strategic advice necessary to support organizational transformation.
We collaborate closely with Programs, Government Relations, and Evaluations to ensure that Mitacs's strategies, programs, and proposals are grounded in robust evidence, responsive to public-sector priorities, and communicated effectively to funders and stakeholders.
The Senior Policy Advisor is a strategic thinker, researcher, and storyteller who will help support Mitacs's evolution and implement its new strategic plan. A key function of this role is conducting original research that identifies emerging trends, risks, and opportunities—providing the organization with strategic advice for policy alignment and organizational transformation.
You will translate complex data into actionable insights, develop compelling narratives for government funders, and support evidence-informed program design. You will lead priority policy files, drive forward-looking analysis, and help shape the strategic direction of the organization.

Key Responsibilities  Strategic Policy Research & Forreight   Conduct original policy research, environmental scans, and jurisdictional analyses to inform Mitacs's evolution and long-term direction.
Identify new opportunities in research, innovation, talent development, and economic policy that should shape Mitacs programs and partnerships.
Demonstrate how emerging federal/provincial priorities may impact Mitacs, and provide actionable recommendations for organizational alignment.
Organizational Strategy & Transformation   Provide evidence-informed policy advice that supports organizational transformation, modernization, and alignment with stakeholder expectations.
Identify policy gaps, risks, and opportunities to strengthen Mitacs's positioning within the broader innovation ecosystem.
Develop strategic insights that help executives make decisions about new directions, partnerships, and funding opportunities.
Program Development & Evaluation Integration   Articulate the rationale behind new programs and pilots by grounding them in research, evaluation findings, and public priorities.
Work with Program teams to interpret evaluation data and recommend whether programs should be scaled, adapted, or sunset.
Contribute to theories of change, logic models, and other foundational policy materials.
Government Relations Support & Funding Proposals   Produce intelligence briefs, strategic insights, and tailored messaging that help Government Relations engage funders.
Co-author funding proposals that draw on policy analysis, program impact, and organizational strategy.
Track government mandates, budget cycles, and policy developments to inform both immediate and long-term organizational strategy.
Impact Communication & Storytelling   Collaborate with Evaluations to translate program results into compelling stories for governments, partners, and internal stakeholders.
Develop content for panels, events, and public communications to clearly articulate Mitacs's impact.
Ensure that data, insights, and narratives are aligned with Mitacs's strategic objectives and funder expectations.
Qualifications & Experience   Graduate degree in public policy, economics, political science, sociology, or a related field preferred.
5-8+ years of experience in policy analysis, public-sector research, strategic planning, or government-related roles.
Proven experience conducting original policy research that informs strategy or program design.
Strong…