Grain Farmers of Ontario is looking for an enthusiastic self-starter to join our Government Relations team as the Policy Analyst. Our ideal candidate has a can-do attitude and possesses a passion and strong understanding of Canadian and provincial politics. They have a keen interest in monitoring political developments in the media, enjoy watching political committee hearings, and possess strong writing skills.

If this describes you, we invite you to apply for Grain Farmers of Ontario's Policy Analyst job!

Who we are

Grain Farmers of Ontario is the province's largest commodity organization, representing Ontario's 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers. The crops they grow cover over 6 million acres of farm land across the province, generate over $4.1 billion in production value, result in over $27 billion in economic output and are responsible for over 90,000 jobs in the province.

We value teamwork, honesty, integrity, kindness, and work ethic. We pride ourselves on our team atmosphere, and we work together to create a business atmosphere that allows for the highest returns for our farmer-members. Learn more about us at www.gfo.ca

About the job

The Policy Analyst plays a key role in Grain Farmers of Ontario's Government Relations activities by monitoring and analyzing provincial and federal government policy, regulations, and public affairs trends. They also provide administrative support by preparing and assembling information for communication with the government and planning strategic Government Relation events to support the success of Grain Farmers of Ontario's Government Relation strategy.

Your day-to-day

• Provide input and recommendations on government relations related activities to the Director, Government Relations and support strategic objectives through the execution of key activities
• Support Grain Farmers of Ontario's Government Relations activities through the facilitation of administrative tasks such as meeting coordination, preparing presentation slides, drafting communications, etc.
• Monitor, research, and analyze government activity and evolving international, national, provincial, and local policies and issues that may affect farmer-members.
• Plan and execute strategic events including receptions, lobby days, delegate policy day, and Government Relations committee meetings to support the achievement of the Government Relations strategy.
• Provide information to support the organization in contributing to government consultations by drafting relevant consultation documents as per the Grain Farmers of Ontario government relations consultation SOP.
• Maintain Grain Farmers of Ontario's compliance with the federal Lobby Act using the Grain Farmers of Ontario process for maintaining lobby obligations
• Maintain the Grain Farmers of Ontario policy book and its process to catalogue departmental positions on various topics to ensure organizational alignment on issues messaging
• Contribute to the development of Grain Farmers of Ontario government relations strategy in collaboration with the internal Government Relations team
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships within the team and across all departments
• Performs other duties, as required

What you will Bring

Education & Experience

• University degree in political science, government relations, and/or, communications
• 2+ years related work experience
• Experience working in the Ontario Agricultural industry is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proven experience in research, report writing, and analyzing government relations issues including policy briefs
• Strong understanding of Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal government cycles and an understanding of policy decision-making processes
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information to be relevant, digestible, and formulated for the intended audience; present information in a variety of formats
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats with an understanding of how to communicate with a variety of audiences
• Proven project coordination skills to plan, establish priorities, anticipate issues, and implement recommendations to meet project objectives
• Ability and experience in planning meetings and events including logistics, managing vendors, coordinating speakers, invitations etc.
• Working knowledge of provincial, national, and international trends relating to agriculture policy is considered an asset
• Knowledge of the Canadian grain industry (corn, wheat, soy, oats, barley) is considered an asset
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to work independently or as part of a team
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Sound judgment, critical thinking, and integrity in all actions
• Willingness to work extended hours and evenings as required

What we offer

Grain Farmers of Ontario is a team of passionate, hardworking people focused on using teamwork and collaboration to bring the greatest value to our farmer-members. We offer competitive salaries and a robust benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, and a pension program with an employer contribution. All staff receive 10 sick days per year, 5 of which are paid, and a minimum of 3 weeks' vacation to start. We value supporting our team members to reach their full potential by offering every employee the opportunity for learning and development through our development focused performance management system. We also like to have a little fun! We have an active social committee providing fun and interesting social events.

To apply for this role, click the 'Apply to this Position' Icon.

Submissions must be in the form of a resume with an accompanying cover letter detailing your experience and qualifications relative to the position.

Location: Guelph, ON / Hybrid

Hours of work: Full-Time (35 hours/week)

Application Deadline: Sunday, March 16, 2025 @ 11:59 pm EST

Grain Farmers of Ontario is committed to a fair and inclusive work environment. We will endeavor to accommodate the needs of qualified applicants in all stages of the hiring process. If you require accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to Human Resources at hr@gfo.ca

All resume information is received in confidence. While we appreciate and thank all applicants, we will only directly contact those candidates selected for an interview.