Senior Policy Advisor - Senior Advisor, Policy

Role Summary

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. If you’re inspired by big ideas and passionate about creating national impact, we encourage you to apply.

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.

Responsibilities

Strategic Policy Research & Foresight

• 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.

Requirements

• 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 understanding of government decision-making, funding processes, and public-sector priorities.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills—able to distill complexity into compelling stories.
• Experience contributing to organizational strategy or transformation initiatives is a strong asset.
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Stakeholder engagement and influence

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government authorities, partners and stakeholders of the ecosystem.
• Engage stakeholders to test ideas, gather intelligence, and strengthen the relevance and credibility of policy advice.
• Support senior management in policy interventions by preparing briefing documents, messages and strategic advice.
• Represent Mitacs in meetings, working groups and external forums as a credible policy voice.
• Translate stakeholder perspectives into concrete analyzes informing strategy and program design.
• Organizational strategy and transformation

Provide evidence-based policy advice

• which support the transformation and modernization of the organization, as well as its alignment with stakeholder expectations.
• Identify policy gaps, risks and opportunities to strengthen Mitacs’ positioning within the innovation ecosystem.
• Formulate strategic observations that help members of management to make decisions regarding new directions, partnerships and financing possibilities.

Program development and evaluation integration

• Clearly articulate the rationale for new programs and pilot projects by supporting the argument on research, evaluation results and public sector priorities.
• Work with the Programs team to interpret evaluation data and make recommendations on which programs should be expanded, modified or withdrawn.
• Contribute to theories of change, logic models and other important policy documents.

Support for government relations and funding proposals

• Create fact sheets, strategic overviews and personalized messages that strengthen relationships with government funders.
• Jointly write funding proposals that integrate policy analysis, program impacts and strategic positioning.
• Track government mandates, budget cycles and policy development to inform organizational strategy and engagement approaches.

Impactful communications and stories and external visibility

• Collaborate with the Evaluation and Communications teams to translate program results into compelling stories for governments and partners.
• Create content for panels, events, publications and public resources.
• Ensure that Mitacs policy analyses, data and stories are clear, consistent and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Help strengthen Mitacs’ public image as a benchmark for evidence-based policy and innovation.
• Advanced 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. Government experience desired.
• Proven experience conducting original public policy research to guide strategy and program design.
• Experience collaborating with stakeholders and contributing to policy discussions or public-facing content (e.g. briefing papers, panels, publications).
• Strong understanding of government decision-making, funding processes and public sector priorities.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills and the ability to transform complex data into compelling and engaging stories.
• Experience contributing to organizational strategy or transformation initiatives a strong asset.
• Comfortable working with data, evaluation results, and qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Knowledge of public policies regarding innovation, research and economic development, an asset.
• Knowledge of written and spoken English is required in this role, as you will interact with colleagues, customers and stakeholders across Canada.
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