Policy Officer

We’re looking for

• A professional skilled in analytical, writing and applied research
• An analyst who integrates anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice (AEDIJ) principles into all policy work.
• A bilingual (French/English) policy analyst with 2+ years of experience.
• A collaborator with organizational, facilitation, and coordination skills.

 

Compensation and benefits

• Full-time hours (35 hrs/week), unionized
• $69,927 a year
• 5 weeks of vacation annually and generous benefits
• Flexible and supportive workplace

 

Who are we?

We are Canada’s national association of international cooperation and humanitarian organizations. Cooperation Canada brings together and advocates for Canada’s international development and humanitarian organizations and works with partners in Canada and around the globe towards building a world that’s fair, safe and sustainable for all. Learn more.

 

Who is the Policy Officer?

The Policy Officer is part of Cooperation Canada’s policy team that draws strategic and timely connections between policy-related and other institutional priorities. This position contributes to building an innovative sector association espousing the values of social justice and providing reliable policy insight for inclusive collective action.

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Advocacy, the Policy Officer will be responsible for project coordination and planning, stakeholder management and convening, as well as research and learning activities in support of Cooperation Canada’s role as convenor and thought leader international cooperation.

You are interested in this role because you are an independent thinker, enthusiastic doer, and natural collaborator. You are comfortable with uncertainty and can organize your work with minimal supervision. You are eager to help shape the future of Canada’s role in the world and our contribution to a fairer, safer and more sustainable world. You are bilingual (French and English), comfortable in political circles, hold the pen with ease, center equity in your work, and are eager to work across teams and organizational silos.

 

What will we be looking for in our candidates?

We are seeking a bilingual (French and English) policy analyst with a minimum of two years of relevant experience in policy development, research, or a related field.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical, writing, and applied research skills, with demonstrated experience in synthesizing complex information and producing clear, evidence-based policy materials. You are a collaborative professional with excellent organizational, facilitation, and coordination abilities, capable of managing multiple priorities and engaging effectively with diverse stakeholders.

You work independently and contribute meaningfully to team efforts. Most importantly, you consistently apply the principles of anti-racism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice (AEDIJ) across all aspects of your policy work, supporting Cooperation Canada’s commitment to advancing a more just and inclusive international cooperation sector.

 

Ideally, our candidates will have:

• A master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience in policy analysis
• At least two years of relevant work experience
• Bilingual in English and French (written and spoken)
• Knowledge of international development and humanitarian issues, policies, and practices
• Understanding of Canada’s policymaking process, especially in international cooperation and foreign policy
• Strong skills in research, analysis, and writing
• Excellent interpersonal skills, creativity, and cultural humility
• Strong organizational, facilitation, and coordination abilities
• Self-motivated, collaborative, and open to feedback

 

Assets (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience working with Global Affairs Canada
• Experience working with networks or membership-based organizations
• Experience supporting policy or research-related funding proposals

 

The below table may be a little intimidating, but it outlines in more detail the tasks you can expect to carry out and the competencies associated with them!

Key Responsibilities	Competencies
Policy Portfolio Support (60%) Monitor key policy changes in areas like international aid, human rights, feminist leadership, and emergency response. Gather and review information (articles, reports, news) to support policy work. Track updates in Canadian and global policies that affect international cooperation. Help write policy briefs, letters, blogs, and statements for government and public audiences. Connect with government and other partners on policy issues. Support reporting on any lobbying activities.	Policy Analysis Research Skills Writing Communication
Project management – 20% Plan and carry out events, projects, or special activities from beginning to end. Organize events, whether they are in person or online. Keep track of many tasks and details, making sure everything gets done properly and on time. Work well with different teams and are open to guidance from your manager. Write or talk about how projects are going and help create reports for your team or partners.	Project Management Organization Team Collaboration Reporting & Documentation Initiative Problem-Solving
Other organizational and administrative support (20%) Share updates, take notes, and prepare internal reports to keep the team informed about policy issues. Organize policy-related documents and resources to support easy access and knowledge sharing. Arrange meetings with stakeholders and summarize key points and decisions. Participate in team planning and reporting activities to support coordination and progress tracking. Support fundraising and partnership efforts to expand policy-related work. Promote a workplace culture that values gender equality, inclusion, fairness, trust, and safety. Complete other tasks identified as priorities by the organization.	Communication Skills Organizational Skills= Stakeholder Engagement. Planning & Coordination Cultural Awareness & Inclusion

 

 

If you want a more detailed breakdown of your responsibilities, you can find more information here.

Applications are accepted HERE on an ongoing basis with the final submission deadline of June 8^th, 2025, at 11:59 PM.

 

Interested? What you need to know about how we recruit:

While timelines can shift, our goal is to have the position filled by mid-July, if not earlier. We will keep you updated on our timelines throughout the recruitment process.

Your application will need to demonstrate the competencies for this role to move on in recruitment.

1. Apply!
   • Provide your application through BambooHR. This is the platform we use to manage people and culture from recruitment to onboarding and employee experiences.
   • We want this process to be as accessible as possible. On BambooHR, you will find a request for a short submission to show us your skills! This could be a video clip, an example from your portfolio, an illustration and/or your CV – anything you feel will help us understand how you would be a great fit for this role and our team. You will have the option to upload multiple documents or inputs for your application. Please share an example from your work or portfolio of work. This can be a link to a project, website, article, etc.
   • You will also be asked some pre-screening questions, including your motivation to work for us, and confirmation of your eligibility to work in Canada.
2. Pre-screening call:
   • We start with a 10-15-minute conversation with selected candidates – essentially a chance for us to ask any questions we are unsure about from your application and for you to ask us any questions you have! We believe strongly that recruitment is a reciprocal process, and it is important that you have a chance to raise any questions you may have before continuing in the process.
3. Role-related exercise:
   • We know that one of the best ways for you to show us your skills is through an opportunity to demonstrate them. Up to six candidates will be asked to participate in a role-related exercise. This exercise will take no more than 2 hours to complete, and you will have 24 hours to complete the exercise. You can expect it to include two or three small tasks similar to what you would be expected to do in your role. You may be asked to provide links or documentation of previous work you have completed.
4. Interview:

• • After we review the role-related exercise through an identity-hidden review, we will invite 3 to 4 candidates to an interview, no earlier than the week of March 3^rd. Here is what you can expect:
    • A 60-75 minute in-person interview with questions sent in advance;
    • A portion of the interview is dedicated to your question for us; it is as important that we are a good fit for you as you are for us!

5. References:

• • Following the interviews, we will request and check your references.

6. Selection:

• • If you are successful, you can expect a call from us to share our offer to join our team and confirm your start date, followed by a contract sent via email.

 

You will be compensated for your time in the written exercises (2 hours) and interview (1 hours) (up to 5 hours).

Cooperation Canada is committed to an inclusive, diverse, and safe workplace and to advancing anti-racism in all that we do. This includes removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups, including through self-identification, anonymous review processes and by ensuring diverse hiring panels. Applications are encouraged from all candidates, particularly those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and other racialized communities, persons with disabilities (visible or not), people of diverse gender identities and expressions, and other marginalized groups in our sector who share Cooperation Canada’s mission. We kindly encourage (but do not require) members of these groups to self-identify in their cover letters. We are happy to provide accommodation at any stage throughout the hiring process.