Policy and Communications Specialist

Location: London, Ontario

Position Type: Full-time, 3-year renewable contract.

Hiring Range: $57,594 - $72,018. 

Application Deadline: Friday, September 20th, at 11:59PM.

About Ivey Business School:

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.

Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada’s leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey’s faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today’s leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

Ivey’s Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management (LNC) bridges the gap between academia, business, and government to advocate for sound policy. The centre’s work focuses on policy issues within the pillars of digital, trade, and supporting social infrastructure to unlock Canadian competitive advantage and generate sustained, inclusive growth.

Established in April 2016, the Scotiabank Digital Banking Lab studies and understands the implications of digital disruption for banking and financial services, and to prepare students to operate in an environment of changing technology and innovation. 

Position Overview:

The Policy and Communications Specialist will apply their expertise and knowledge to research projects, from the conception phase (planning, data collection, field research), all the way through to dissemination (drafting & distribution research outputs). They will carry out and oversee research initiatives under the general direction of the Centre’s Director and Manager.

The incumbent will develop project plans for research briefs, reports and student projects. Additionally, the incumbent will plan the research’s distribution strategies, including via the Centre/Lab’s email lists, social media and press-releases. 

The incumbent’s research interests should relate to management and policy on digital innovation, trade and/or social infrastructures. Topics may include the evolution of emerging technologies and their adoption (i.e. AI, EVs, fintech’s, telecommunications), skill development for future workplace, and more generally, national competitiveness. 

The candidate should have excellent oral and writing skills, have familiarity with academic research and publications, as a key responsibility will be to identify and package academic research advanced by faculty into applied research outputs, amplifying their impact through the Centre’s network and outreach. The incumbent will assist with outreach to external stakeholders and help organize Centre’s events, such as symposiums, workshops and policy summits. 

Responsibilities:

Research 

• Conduct applied research on the Lab’s core pillars; major policy issues involving business-government coordination to enhance Canada’s economic competitiveness.
• Support research in key focus areas such as AI, FinTech, Telecommunications, as directed by the Centre’s director and manager.
• Identify existing and potential business and government stakeholders to partner with for research initiatives.
• Conduct preliminary research by reviewing stakeholder websites, published articles and other relevant sources.
• Analyze stakeholders’ goals, challenges and opportunities to develop targeted interview questions that drive insightful and productive discussions. 
• Manage stakeholder meetings by identifying key issues and areas of interest, ensuring conversations are focused and aligned with research project objectives. 
• Gather and synthesize data from various sources to inform the development of stakeholder engagement strategies and communication plans.
• Work directly with Ivey faculty to translate relevant completed, or ongoing, research projects into briefs for broader distribution through the Centre’s network.
• Develop research reports and projects that advance the intellectual mandate of the Centre.
• Create and execute communication plans to promote research outputs for impact.
• Collaborate with student researchers (RA’s) on research projects within the Centre and Lab and help guide students in completing their research projects.

 Communications, outreach and administration

• Responsible for developing content for the Centre’s and lab’s website and social media pages.
• Develop briefing materials for stakeholder meetings and interviews.
• Develop writing policy briefs and white papers to disseminate the work of the Centre to external partners (Government representatives and industry leaders) in collaboration with Director. 
• Support the team in organizing symposiums, workshops and policy summits.
• Prepare and execute post-event communications plans.
• Assist with overseeing student research progress, payment, and filing out expenses.
• Support the Director and Manager in the Centre’s and lab’s scaling up initiatives.

Qualifications: 

Education and Experience: 

• Undergraduate education, masters preferred, in relevant discipline. Ex. Business Administration, Economics or Public Administration.
• 2 years of work experience, preferably in a policy/research environment.

Skills and Abilities: 

• Desire to learn important policy issues that impact Canada’s Competitiveness.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to describe technical concepts effectively to both novice and sophisticated audience
• Detail-oriented with an ability to function and process information with high levels of accuracy.
• Experience with creating content for websites and social media (e.g. LinkedIn).
• Ability to interpret and synthesize academic literature and research, and translate into clear, comprehendible information for non-academic audiences.
• Ability to collaborate across internal and external boundaries to meet common objectives and drive policy impact.
• Self-motivated multi-tasker with strong organizational skills (i.e. proactive planning and organized approaches to work).
• Ability to work in a fluid work environment with changing deadlines and priorities. 
• Commitment to ongoing professional development with a desire to take on new challenges.
• Familiarity with University research policies and practices is desired but not required.

What We Offer:

• Flexible or hybrid work plans for many roles
• A collaborative and engaging work culture
• Opportunity to join a community of people-focused professionals
• Market competitive compensation with annual increases available 
• Generous benefits package with employer-paid premiums, including a comprehensive Health and Dental Plan, Health Care Spending Account, short- and long-term disability programs, no waiting period required.
• Enhanced mental health benefits coverage and resources.
• Life and AD&D insurance for you and your family.
• Out-of-country travel insurance.
• Employee and Family Assistance Program.
• Pregnancy and Parental top-up leave program.
• A generous group retirement savings plan with 7.5% employer contributions. 
• Vacation starting at 15 days per year plus 2 paid Ivey Personal Days.
• Paid time off during the School’s December holiday closure.
• Numerous campus-wide arts, culture, and sport events.
• Supports for professional development and career progression opportunities.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Ivey

Ivey Business School is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Please explore Ivey’s EDI homepage for more information on Ivey's commitment to EDI, to read about Ivey’s progress in the EDI Update, and to meet Ivey’s EDI Advisory Council members.

Ivey Business School invites applications from all qualified individuals. Ivey is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace, and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodation
Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Please contact us at careers@ivey.ca to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application, and/or throughout the recruitment process.

Application:

If you're excited about joining Canada's leading business school and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume and cover letter via the Ivey Careers page by the application deadline.

*Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.


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