Policy Advisor, Innovation; Whitby

The Region of Durham is committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion within our organization and the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous, racialized, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ and other underrepresented groups.

Policy Advisor – Innovation

• Coordinate, lead and support the implementation of innovation capacity‑building initiatives.
• Build capacity for innovation and research throughout the organization by creating and delivering employee engagement, learning and development opportunities.
• Provide innovation support to regional departments and programs as requested.
• Enable cross‑departmental dialogue, learning and collaboration through the establishment of networks, working groups or communities of practice.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement through the development of positive relationships and staff support.
• Assess the role and impact of innovation activities in achieving strategic objectives across the organization.
• Keep track of emerging issues and trends to assess potential impacts and perks to regional programs and services.
• Liaise with internal departments and external stakeholders on strategic initiatives.
• Represent the Department on internal and external committees, task forces and working groups.
• Build capacity across the organization for systems thinking, user‑centered design, leveraging new technologies and working with data.

• Degree in Social or Political Science, Public or Business Administration or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Master's degree considered an asset.
• Experience applying innovation methods, tools, technologies and techniques in a large organization.
• Experience in policy analysis and program delivery, and citizen/partner/staff engagement.
• Expert facilitation skills with the ability to coach and influence.
• Comfort with ambiguity, experimentation and overcoming challenges.
• Experience using various research methods and distilling complex information into insights.
• Robust stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
• Proactive attitude toward improving services through equity‑informed learning.
• Thorough knowledge of the Municipal Act, other relevant legislation, regional policies and procedures, public policy and administration principles.
• Excellent knowledge of data collection and analysis, evaluation methods and continuous quality improvement.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and accessible documents.
• Superior report writing, public speaking and presentation skills.

Management & Exempt Salary Grade 6 – $109,629 to $137,036 per annum.

All applicants are expected to comply with the Region of Durham's Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct Policies throughout the recruitment process. Proof of education, qualifications and any other job‑bona fide requirements will be required prior to the start date.

The Region of Durham is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier‑free recruitment and selection process. If you require accommodation, please contact Resumes should not be sent to