Policy & Advocacy Manager (Remote)

Title:  Manager, Policy & Advocacy

Department:  Strategy, Policy & Research

Reporting to: Sr Director, Policy & Research

Type: Full Time

Location: Remote - Canada (Candidates based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia or willing to relocate)

Compensation: $78,000 - $83,000 CAD

Who We Are:

World Education Services (WES) is a non-profit social enterprise that supports the educational, economic, and social inclusion of immigrants, refugees, and international students. For 50 years, WES has set the standard for international academic credential evaluation, supporting millions of people as they seek to achieve their academic and professional goals. Through decades of experience as a leader in global education, WES has developed a wide range of tools to pursue social impact at scale. From evaluating academic credentials to shaping policy, designing programs, and providing philanthropic funding, we partner with a diverse set of organizations, leaders, and networks to uplift individuals and drive systems change. Together with its partners, WES enables people to learn, work, and thrive in new places. For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.  

About the Opportunity:

This role supports the capacity of WES Canada to engage in advocacy to influence policy and programmatic solutions that advance the mission of WES. The role supports policy initiatives related to global mobility, workforce development and equitable labour market inclusion for skilled immigrants and refugees, and international students.

The Manager, Policy & Advocacy role is responsible for collaborating on policy analysis, developing policy advocacy positions and strategies; engaging stakeholders, including those directly impacted by the issues; and coordinating other policy activities (e.g., planning and evaluation). Each Manager, Policy & Advocacy will hold both general and specific portfolios, which may include any of the following:  internationally educated health professionals or professionals in other regulated professionals, immigrant youth, international students, refugees or other immigrant groups facing issues of social and economic inclusion.

What You’ll Do:

Policy Analysis, Development, and Advocacy

• Collaborate with colleagues across WES Canada teams (program, policy, operations, corporate) to provide policy insight and to develop and write policy positions, recommendations, and advocacy strategies on key priorities. This includes developing theories of change/logic models to define goals, outcomes, impacts and progress metrics.
• Develop workplans and implement specific advocacy strategies.
• Participate in monitoring, evaluation and reporting on activities.
• Provide nuanced analysis, identify trends, developments, opportunities, and trade-offs.
• Research, monitor and analyze information from a range of stakeholder perspectives; conduct environmental scans of research, news, policy and program developments, legislation etc.
• Develop policy insight by directly consulting relevant stakeholders to inform policy advocacy positions, with a focus on those directly impacted and proximate leaders.
• With the support of WES Communications teams, develop, write and disseminate policy-related materials reports, position papers, briefing notes, submissions, talking points, blogs for a range of audiences
• Develop materials and present in meetings, conferences, workshops, and other fora.
• Represent WES with external stakeholders

Stakeholder Engagement

• Identify, build, and nurture relationships with a range of system stakeholders including those directly impacted, allies, partners, decision-makers and influencers in order to develop and implement WES’ policy agenda.
• Engage with those directly affected by issues, and proximate leaders, to ensure that WES positions are informed by and amplifying those voices.
• Lead, participate in and/or support stakeholder meetings including coordination, agenda-setting, planning, notetaking, and follow-up, including logging in Salesforce.

Project Management and Operations

• Provide project management for policy and stakeholder initiatives through work-planning, managing critical paths, tracking, and reporting
• With Sr. Director, identify where contractor/consulting support is required on projects, develop scope of work, recruit and manage contractors/consultants.
• Support department and division level planning and evaluation activities including tracking, reporting, and reflection/learning
• Assist in the development and implementation of specials projects as assigned and perform other duties as and when required.

Your Experience:

The ideal candidate will have:

Required

• Master’s degree in public administration, immigration studies, political science, knowledge management or other relevant social science field, or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years of relevant, hands-on policy and advocacy experience.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including a proven ability to create and deliver presentations to a range of audiences and to communicate and liaise with senior leaders and decision-makers.
• Work experience and/or subject matter expertise in immigration policy and economic inclusion of immigrants, with specialized knowledge in one or more of the following: occupational licensing, especially internationally educated health professionals; international students and post-secondary education; temporary workers; immigrant youth; competency-based hiring and employer engagement; or other areas aligned with WES mission.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate the political landscape and the policy making processes of a range of stakeholders
• Demonstrated political acuity to navigate among groups with diverse or divergent interests
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to support and work collaboratively with other team members and partners to advance shared goals and projects.
• Strong research and analytical skills including demonstrated abilities to carry out basic quantitative research and data analysis.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects at once.
• Proven ability to apply a complexity-lens and systems thinking approaches to complex problems and dynamic/emergent environments.
• Ability to navigate in evolving and changing situations to meet goals and objectives 
• High-level of computer proficiency, including MS Office suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), cloud-based systems, Teams and other common digital work tools.
• Be excited about WES’ mission, and advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity.
• Be able to navigate in evolving and dynamic situations to meet goals and objectives. 
• Have a deep-rooted intellectual curiosity and an openness to diverse ideas and perspectives.
• Thrive an environment that values transparency, collaboration, and a learning orientation.
• Build informal working relationships, quickly establish credibility in new areas of work, and mobilize people at all levels towards collaborative goals.

Desired

• None

What We Offer: 

Joining our team at WES means embarking on a purpose-driven career with a global impact, where you contribute daily to making a tangible difference in the lives of people worldwide. You'll thrive in an employee-centric environment, with access to learning opportunities, pathways for personal and professional development, and recognition of your achievements. Our inclusive, mission-driven culture values employees and focuses on investing in our people through our culture, people framework, and programming while offering the flexibility of remote work options.

• Work-Life Harmony: We believe that success is all about maintaining balance. Enjoy the freedom of remote work and flexible scheduling, paired with generous time-off policies designed to assist you in maintaining a healthy equilibrium between your personal and professional commitments. Our comprehensive wellness programs and work environment are focused on fostering your well-being.
• Rewards and Recognition: Your dedication and achievements are the cornerstone of our success. We recognize the importance of valuing your hard work which is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and tangible rewards to celebrate your contributions.
• Professional Growth and Development: We are committed to nurturing growth within our team, recognizing that growth is essential to providing opportunities for career advancement and ongoing professional development. To prioritize your learning and success, we invest in comprehensive training programs and offer tuition reimbursement opportunities. We promote a culture of continuous learning that empowers you to thrive and evolve in your career.
• Innovation and Impact: Engage in work that directly transforms lives and empowers individuals and communities by expanding access to global educational and professional pathways. Join us in fostering a culture that values innovation, embraces new approaches, and leverages transformation to implement and drive impactful change.
• Community and Connection: Our team is made up of individuals from different cultures and backgrounds who have varying perspectives and ideas. Our diverse workforce reflects the global community we serve, and we take pride in it. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and included.

Experience the power of connection by participating in a range of activities, including employee-led resource groups, town halls, collaborative team events, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that promote equity, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a strong sense of belonging within our organization. 

Values: 

• Opportunity - We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion - We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity - We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising - We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
• Expertise - We challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do.

Inclusive Recruitment Process:

We welcome all applicants, irrespective of their experience perfectly fitting the job description, as we value diverse and innovative viewpoints. At our organization, individuals who thrive in a culture of continuous learning and inclusive teamwork excel. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcome members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply.

Our Commitment:

At World Education Services, we're committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the rich tapestry of our communities, both in the US and Canada. This commitment is underscored by our unwavering dedication to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. This commitment extends to every aspect of employment, from recruitment and hiring to promotions, training, and benefits. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. For us, diversity goes beyond compliance – it's about embracing unique perspectives and cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. 

If you require assistance and/or accommodation at any point during the recruitment process, please contact us at hiring@wes.org, we're here to support you. Our Talent Acquisition team is happy to work with you to find solutions that meet your needs.

For more information about WES, please visit our website at www.WES.org.