Policy and Grants Coordinator | Full-time | Contract

Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) is seeking a Policy and Grants Coordinator to support its advocacy work and administer youth employment grants for organizations and communities in the sector.  

PRO is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the social, health, and environmental benefits of quality recreation and parks. The organization was formed in 1995 out of a shared belief in the power of parks and recreation to affect social change. We believe that parks and recreational programs aren't just a fringe benefit, but that they are essential to the social, economic, and environmental health of Ontario. Equitable access to parks and recreational programs promotes health, strengthens communities, and supports environmental sustainability. With this in mind, we work with our 6,500 members to build capacity for the delivery of quality programs and advocate for the parks and recreation sector more broadly. PRO’s work falls under three pillars: training and education, quality standards programs, and policy. This position works collaboratively across all three portfolios to ensure consistent advocacy that reflects the needs of the sector.  

 

What you will do: 

In this position, you will join a small team of individuals looking to affect real change in the parks and recreation sector. Reporting to the Director of Public Policy and Communications, you will support PRO’s role as a catalyst for coordinated advocacy in the sector. You will be responsible for executing on key policy initiatives and administering youth employment programs.  

Policy and Government Relations 

  • - Coordinate and support the implementation of the organization’s government relations and advocacy program in Ontario. 
  • - Conduct research on key issues facing the parks and recreation sector. 
  • - Identify opportunities to further PRO’s advocacy plan by analyzing government policies, reports, and legislative initiatives, and monitoring other relevant current events. 
  • - Research and write accurate, high-quality briefing documents to summarize developments in provincial government programs, policy, and legislation. 
  • - Monitor legislation, guidelines, and other issues that may affect PRO's stakeholders. 
  • - Provide support in developing and managing key relationships with elected officials, political staff, bureaucrats, and other sector partners. 
  • - Research, draft and coordinate correspondence, presentations, formal policy submissions and related materials to elected and non-elected government officials. 
  • - Create and edit public-facing advocacy content and materials for the organization. 
  • - Participate in key government meetings, committees, and working groups as required. 

 
Grants Administration 

  • - Administer grants funded by the Government of Canada through the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association.  
  • - In collaboration with communications staff, develop and implement a plan to promote the program including web content, social media, and other types of engagement. 
  • - Work directly with communities wishing to apply to the program. 
  • - Prepare reports on results/activities. 

Qualifications:  

We know that the best candidates for a position can come from virtually any background, so we have built a guideline for the skillsets required in this position. We strive to build our team with members from diverse backgrounds and skillsets, so if any combination of the bullets listed below describes you, please apply.  

  • - Post-secondary degree in public policy/administration, political science, or a related field. 
  • - Three or more years experience in policy development, advocacy work, and/or research. 
  • - Experience engaging with stakeholders. 
  • - Strategic thinking, research, and analytical skills. 
  • - Experience with qualitative research methods.  
  • - Knowledge of and familiarity with the workings of provincial and municipal governments. 
  • - Exceptional verbal and written communication skills. 
  • - Willingness to learn about new issues. 
  • - Knowledge of the recreation sector an asset. 

You are: 

  • - A critical thinker that is not afraid to ask questions. 
  • - Flexible and able to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines. 
  • - Detail oriented.  
  • - Collaborative, communicative, and creative. 
  • - Passionate about creating change through evidence-based advocacy. 
  • - Solution driven.  
  • - Strategic and analytical. 
  • - Highly motivated and able to work independently.  

Compensation 

Due to COVID-19, we are a hybrid by default organization, with team members working remotely and sometimes in office.  

Salary: $50,000 - $60,000 per year commensurate with experience 

Status: Fulltime, 1 year contract

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

What to expect as a candidate: 

PRO’s candidate selection process is as much about our finding a new team member that will excel in their position as it is about you getting to know us and how we work. For this reason, we have built a process that fosters fairness and helps to minimize bias. This includes structured processes and interviews.  We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until June 1, 2022. 


Stage 1: Send us your resume and a cover letter that outlines how your work connects with ours. Please put this in a single PDF document and email the document to: resumes@prontario.org with the subject line Policy and Grants Coordinator.  You can address your email to Pari Rajagopalan. 


Stage 2: Successful candidates will have a phone interview with PRO's Director of Policy and Communications. If we think your skills and experiences align with this position, we will invite you to the next stage.  


Stage 3: A video discussion with the hiring manager and other relevant members of the team. The objectives here are to dig deeper into how your experiences make you an ideal candidate for this position and for you to learn more about the work that PRO does. Come with questions! 


Stage 4: We may ask you to participate in a short exercise that gives you a realistic preview of the work you’ll do and gives us insight into how you operate.