Consultant, Program & Policy Support

JOB SUMMARY

The Community & Social Services department is responsible for creating a strong social infrastructure by providing support to families and individuals in need to promote their self-reliance and quality of life, in collaboration with community partners. This includes providing financial assistance, housing, childcare, employment, personal care and referral. This position is with the Homelessness Operational Supports and Projects Unit, which provides support to Housing and Homelessness Services’ strategic plans and operational priorities, including leading and supporting various projects.

You are responsible to: research, interpret and communicate social services legislation policy and procedure; provide expert advice, strategies and support implementation of legislative changes; develop and implement operational guidelines, best practices and standards to achieve effective delivery of social services programs and services; and ensure that business applications systems, new directives, and policy & procedure initiatives comply with applicable legislation. You interact with internal staff, other levels of government, other municipalities and community partners, and maintain awareness of social, economic and political issues and trends that affect social policy.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of 4 year university degree in Social Sciences, Business Administration or a related field.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in a directly human services related field, including experience with business applications, business process reviews, interpretation of legislation & policies as it relates to business processes, business systems & developing, communication & evaluation of operational policies, procedures & processes in a social service setting.

KNOWLEDGE

• Regulations of social policy and provincial and/or municipal legislation 
• Current on social, economic, political issues and trends, and the related challenges facing the City of Ottawa and the social services system
• Municipal operations, City, corporate and departmental operational and administrative policies and procedures, departmental business requirements and organizational structures 
• Business application applicable to social services 
• Knowledge of CSSD computer systems and applications
• Project management principles and practices 
• Knowledge of applicable health and safety legislation, including the rights and duties of workers

COMPETENCIES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Organize, prioritize and manage tasks and responsibilities toward timely completion, adjusting priorities as required
• Highly developed verbal communication, presentation, writing and analytical abilities
• Demonstrated negotiation, facilitation, presentation, problem solving and leadership skills
• Deliver results and meet expectations on a wide range of responsibilities of a complex and diverse nature
• Exercise discretion, initiative, tact and alertness and a high degree of confidentiality in dealing with administrative and politically sensitive matters
• Provide strong research, analytical and attention to detail skills, demonstrate integrity, creativity and enthusiasm in achieving results directly and through staff work teams
• Ability to oversee large scale projects and intiatives to reach identified goals
• Provide support and strategic leadership toward achievement of management and organizational goals
• Influence change and gain necessary support and commitment for change
• Computer literacy by learning and applying at an efficient level, existing and new software and programs developed by the Province or in house
• Trouble shooting technical and procedural issues related to in house or provincial technology used to administer services and programs
• Flexibility and ability to cope with stress effectively
• Self-directed and able to balance competing demands
• Attention to detail
• Collaborative personal approach and ability to function in a team environment to achieve corporate, departmental and branch goals
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact cooperatively, effectively and efficiently with elected officials, management, staff, stakeholders, and the public
• Perform effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment, requiring a high degree of personal organization, motivation, initiative, sound judgment and discretion
• Must have a strong public service orientation and be sensitive to a political environment