Careers

Work with us

The Public Policy Forum is a 35-year-old non-profit organization and charity that works with all orders of government, particularly the public service, as well as the private sector, trade unions, post-secondary institutions, foundations, NGOs and Indigenous groups to improve policy outcomes for Canadians. As a non-partisan, member-based organization, we work from “inclusion to conclusion,” by convening discussions of emerging and established thinkers, doers and deciders on fundamental policy issues (inclusion) and by identifying fresh policy options and paths forward (conclusion). PPF researches and convenes around topical public policy challenges as well as celebrating great contributions to policy and public service at our testimonial dinners. We believe policy choices and execution directly impact the quality of life of Canadians. Our motto is Good Policy, Better Canada.

Please send your CV and cover letter to: careers@ppforum.ca

We thank all applicants for their interest in this opportunity. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Accommodations will be provided at all stages of the hiring process. We ask applicants to make their needs known in advance.

Senior Director, Strategic Engagement

Term: Permanent – Full-time

Reports to: Vice President, Strategic Engagement

PROFILE

The Public Policy Forum (PPF) is seeking an exceptional relationship manager and strategic thinker who is driven by the organization’s mission- Better Policy, Better Canada. Developing strong partnerships with organizations and leaders across Canada is central to this role, as relationships are integral to ensure a sustainable business model for PPF and the quality of our research and recommendations.. We regularly engage with a diverse and inclusive range of stakeholders across the country..

This role is responsible for working with the Vice-President, Strategic Engagement, in the development of sustainable business models, funding streams and relationships in market. The aim of this work is to scale the impact of PPF’s platforms: Policy Research Projects, Media, Academy, and Events. The VP and Senior Director of Strategic engagement will work collaboratively to ensure that PPF continues to develop sustainable business models and to engage diverse stakeholders together at one table to inform leading edge and implementable, policy ideas. The successful candidate will report directly to the Vice President, Strategic Engagement, and will work closely with members of the Strategic Engagement team, as well as PPF’s management team, Board members and staff, as required.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Business Model Development

  • Support the development and evolution of PPF’s business models across its engagement platforms, working closely with members of the management team to effectively position the organization in-market.
  • Lead the development and execution of PPF’s business models around Academy and Policy Programs.
  • Provide regular market feedback and insights to PPF’s management team and Board to inform the development of PPF’s business models, with the ultimate goal of fortifying finances and relationships across the public policy landscape in Canada.

Business Development

  • Lead business development conversations, partnership development, and grant proposal submissions for Academy and Policy Programs, with the aim of securing long term, multi-year, financial support from partners and donors.
  • Lead the preparation and delivery of market-facing materials such as pitch decks, backgrounders, and presentations at key industry conferences, meetings, and other forums.
  • Develop and cultivate a robust pipeline of prospective partners, providing clear line of sight to significant contributors and enablers for PPF’s growth.

Relationship Management

  • Develop and manage relationships with Academy and Policy Program partners to ensure ongoing engagement and support for PPF’s platforms.
  • Lead relationship management and renewal conversations with PPF partners.
  • Develop clear metrics and reporting structures to clearly communicate the impact and value of Policy Programs in relation to PPF’s mission and objectives.
  • Other duties as may be assigned to meet operational objectives.

Skills and Education

  • Undergraduate degree (ideally in a policy-relevant degree) and at least ten years of relevant work experience (including business development, account management, stakeholder relations).
  • Self-starter and entrepreneurial spirit, thrives in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proven track record of business development, revenue generation and previous success in partnerships and relationship management.
  • Excellent writing (particularly proposal writing), presentation, and communications skills.
  • Ability to help support the conception, development and implementation of multi-stakeholder non-partisan dialogue programs.
  • Ability to speak and write fluently in both English and French is preferred.
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.
  • High level of experience with CRM tools and the MS office suite, including Excel, Word and Outlook.

Digital Editor

Term: Full-time, Permanent

Reports to: Vice-President, PPF Media and Communications

Location: Individual must be based in Ottawa or Toronto (Hybrid)

Salary Range: $60,000-$70,000

Effective: June 2024

OVERVIEW

The Digital Editor is responsible for reaching PPF audiences across a range of platforms, as well as growing and serving new communities of readers. This role requires that the incumbent use analytics to drive engagement and learnings throughout the organization. Strong writing and editing skills are a must. Other duties may be required.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Oversee ppforum.ca, including PPF’s content management system, working with web developers when necessary.
  • Work as a social media editor, expanding PPF’s presence across multiple social channels; on some channels, posting multiple times a day.
  • Work with the VP PPF Media and the Editorial Director to grow newsletter and podcast reach.
  • Work as a team on marketing and communication efforts, including event promotion, member communications and digital marketing.
  • Use analytics to drive engagement and better serve PPF stakeholders. 
  • Other duties shall be assigned as required.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

  • Must be engaged with current affairs and PPF content.
  • Bachelor’s degree in English or Journalism, IT or related discipline.
  • Experience in writing, publishing or journalism.
  • Experience with newsletters and/or podcasts an asset.
  • Experience in marketing/communications an asset.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

  • Strong writer and editor.
  • Metrics-driven and keen attention to detail.
  • Familiar with WordPress, Mailchimp, SEO and the use of social analytics to develop audiences.
  • Ability to speak French.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.
  • Initiative, reliability and good judgement.
  • Contributes story ideas, new approaches and innovative digital storytelling techniques to our work.

Vice-President of Policy

Term: Full-time-Permanent

Reports to: President & CEO

Effective: ASAP

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Public Policy Forum is seeking a broad-minded, intellectually ambitious and entrepreneurial leader with a passion for public policy and a track record in one or more of government, academia, think tanks or related organizations. We are looking for a doer and thinker, someone enthusiastic about engaging with our many partners and ready to lead a team of Policy Leads and Associates and part-time Fellows in designing processes to tackle policy challenges. This is a critical role in our organization, one that faces inward and outward.

PPF prides itself on being the think tank about tomorrow, an applied policy shop working with a cross-section of stakeholders to put forward fresh policy approaches on emerging issues. Our research is generally accompanied by convening interested parties coming from differing perspectives. The Vice-President of Policy is a key member of the leadership team and is responsible for planning and overseeing our policy agenda and research activities, as well as ensuring their impact and excellence.

The position reports to the President & CEO and will work closely with members of the PPF team in delivering on the organization’s strategic and operational mandates. We operate off of four delivery platforms for our content: publications, convenings, PPF Media and our learning arm, PPF Academy.

The Vice-President will represent PPF in policy discussions at conferences and in the media and will sometimes hold the pen on PPF reports or other vehicles that communicate our content. We are looking for someone with recognized public policy expertise who will seek to amplify that recognition on the PPF platform.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

PPF conducts research and engagement activities within a portfolio of public policy issues of relevance to Canada and its people with an eye to being “the think tank about tomorrow.” Although this portfolio will evolve over time, our focus on a handful of primary areas of inquiry allows us to build knowledge, relationships and reputation. Some areas will be more active than others at a given time. Our portfolio of activities currently consists of:

  • Economic Growth, Competitiveness and Living Standards
  • Climate Change & Energy Transition
  • Technological and Social Progress
  • Canada Amidst Geopolitical Change
  • Democratic Trust & Good Governance

A primary task of the Vice-President of Policy is to identify where PPF can be of assistance to policy-making in the face of changing circumstances and to design relevant research initiatives and event programming in support of a publicly interested agenda. All PPF initiatives draw on partnerships for intellectual and financial capital. Working closely with the partnership team, the Vice-President of Policy and the policy team interact with PPF’s diverse group of 200+ members, who reside on the frontiers of policymaking and policy impacts. The VP Policy also interacts regularly with PPF Media and PPF Academy.

The major activities of the Vice-President of Policy and Programming are:

Research and Policy Analysis                                                                                                           

  • In conjunction with the CEO, plan and execute PPF’s research and engagement activities, ensuring they are forward-looking, excellent and dynamic
  • Provide oversight and guidance to the policy team members working on reports and programs and ensuring they are consistently of high relevance and quality
  • Manage roster of PPF Fellows in organizing their contributions to PPF priorities, and lead the recruitment of future PPF Fellows
  • Through readings and ongoing conversations with contacts in government and elsewhere, ensure the ongoing monitoring of policy trends in PPF’s priority areas of concentration, and bring to the attention of the PPF team any emerging issues
  • Work closely with the PPF Academy to design curriculum opportunities flowing from the policy team’s research agenda and build economies of scale by leveraging resources and shared agendas
  • Collaborate with PPF Media and other PPF departments to heighten the impact of PPF’s policy work
  • Work with other members of the management team in securing research partnerships of various types
  • Work closely with the Vice-President Corporate & CFO and the Director of Operations and Planning on project budgets and project management

Outreach and Project Development

  • Collaborate with external partners to develop PPF’s projects and initiatives
  • Build broad networks reaching into the various communities with a public policy interest
  • Work with other members of the PPF team in liaising with foundations, private and public sector organizations, and other external partners in attracting funding for PPF initiatives
  • Serve as a public face of PPF in the media, external events, and within the policy community
  • Prepare and deliver presentations and briefings to policy conferences, membership meetings, and external parties

Management and Team Building     

  • Assign project work to policy team members, ensuring the team’s workload is managed effectively, that assignments are carried out, and that outputs are of consistently high quality
  • Mentor and develop the policy team to ensure both the quality of PPF’s work and the professional advancement of team members
  • Be a great colleague with a long-term stake in building a better organization and a happy, inclusive workplace

SKILLS & EDUCATION

  • A graduate degree or higher and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in a research or policy environment
  • Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work in a dynamic and inclusive team environment
  • Entrepreneurial, take initiative, willingness to do hands-on work
  • Ability to help support the conception, development and implementation of multi-stakeholder, non-partisan policy dialogue and research projects
  • Demonstrated experience in project management and overcoming obstacles to deliver complex projects on time and budget
  • Ability to communicate with people at all levels on complex matters and to bring competing points of view to consensus
  • Ability to quickly develop a working knowledge of new subject matter
  • Strong knowledge of topical public policy issues and the public policy process in Canada
  • Excellent writing, editing and oral communications skills
  • Ability to speak and write fluently in both official languages is preferred

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

In our early years, inclusion entailed gathering government, business, labour and civil society in the same room. Today, the proposition is far more ambitious. As much as possible, we aim to incorporate a broader cross-section of participants and contributors – reflecting factors such as identity and geography – in our research, convening and learning processes.

PPF recognizes the existence of systemic racism in Canada. We are firmly committed to Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and social justice for all communities. We subscribe to the 50-30 Challenge and seek to live our core belief that good policy makes for a better Canada.

We recognize there is more progress to be made and that good policy outcomes for everyone mark the ultimate measure of a successful society. As Canada’s think tank about tomorrow, we take our responsibility seriously to use our work to illuminate inclusive and diverse policy pathways.