Policy Advisor

About The Organization

The Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) has flourished and grown into a major international Indigenous Peoples organization representing approximately 180,000 Inuit of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Chukotka (Russia). The organization holds Consultative Status II at the United Nations.

Job Summary

As a Policy Advisor, you will help to facilitate and execute on critical policy initiatives identified in the ICC Operational Plan and the current GA Declaration. Working on our policy team, you will play a critical role in enhancing the current ICC Canada circumpolar presence on the issues of marine conservation, biodiversity and wildlife and give advice to ICC on these issues. An understanding and awareness of the broader circumpolar Arctic policy and research landscape is key to your success. 

Key Responsibilities

Policy & Planning

• Design and conduct research and analysis that apply to the assigned policy areas.
• Participate in long-term visioning and strategic planning that respond to and support the ICC mandate, mission, and priorities set out in the quadrennial declaration.
• Develop and update work plans for the assigned policy areas and provide recommendations for priority files and opportunities for other areas of activities such as communications and collaborations.
• Identify resources (i.e., human, funding) and develop proposals for effective implementation of work plan.
• Work closely with staff/consultants working on relevant projects.
• Support ICC political leaders as required.
• Collaborate closely with fellow ICC staff and leadership to align priorities, plans, and actions under one clear vision, nurture connections and overlap across policy areas, and ensure direct connection back to ICC’s mandate and mission.
• Create and nurture a high performance and positive work environment within ICC Canada as well as other working groups, committees, and bodies.
• Establish and maintain complete records, for example, through regular ‘status of file and activity’ updates, reports on progress, briefing notes, and updated files in an organized system on ICC Sharepoint.
• Identify and make recommendations on program budgetary and operational requirements by collecting, analyzing, projecting and drafting program information.

Implementation & Programming

• Draft, edit and prepare reports, studies, briefing notes, presentations, position papers, policy statements and other documents in relation to assigned policy area.
• Attend and represent ICC in relevant bodies and spaces that bring together diverse stakeholders, as time and resources permit.
• Design and coordinate activities and events that feed into supporting and achieving the priorities and goals of the assigned policy area and ICC generally, with the view to strengthen the connections between local and international level.
• Collaborate and build partnerships with colleagues within ICC, Inuit Treaty Organizations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK), national, provincial, and territorial governments, Inuit communities, youth, elders, organizations, associations, and other individuals and bodies.
• Monitor and analyze developments in external trends, policies, programs, research, and issues with actual or potential impact on matters and interests related to Inuit in Canada, especially those relevant to the assigned policy area, and formulate recommendations/positions.

Communication

• As needed, provide content to ICC’s communications (i.e., website, social media, press releases, videos, reports, events, etc.) to keep ICC relevant and accessible and explore effective ways to provide and receive regular updates to key individuals and bodies (e.g., President, Board of Directors, Inuit Treaty Organizations, ICC staff, etc.).
• Respond to inquiries on questions and issues related to assigned policy area, involving appropriate leadership as required.
• Participate, from time to time, in meetings within Canada and abroad.
• Facilitate and support full Inuit international community awareness of, and participation in, the Arctic Council and facilitate communication and integration of research and policy components.

What you will need: 

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline: health, health sciences, political/social science, environmental sciences, etc. with a minimum of 3 years of related work experience and/or project management in a similar role; OR,
• College diploma in a field applicable to ICC’s mandate (Indigenous issues, marine issues, environment, food security, health) and a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in a similar role; OR,
• Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent and a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience in a similar role.
• Valid passport to travel within Canada and internationally.

Keys to your success: 

• Ability to work independently and co-operatively with a variety of individuals and groups.
• Very good organization, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to understand and interpret policy, legislation and regulation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (primarily in English; Inuktitut an asset).
• Sensitive to local, political and cultural issues.
• Working knowledge of principles and practices of business administration, including program budgeting.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Inuit issues.
• Strong computer skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), internet, and e-mail.

Other Information:

• ICC provides a hybrid in office and work from home environment.
• Long periods of sitting at a desk in front of a computer.
• Political sensitive issues may become stressful.
• Frequent short notice deadlines.
• Applicants who are a Beneficiary under a Land Claims Agreement will be given priority hiring. We encourage applicants to self-identify.

ICC is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, disability age, or veteran status. For individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation, please contact us at: jdurocher@inuitcircumpolar.com