Public Policy Officer

Public Policy Officer

Version française
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists’ (CAOT) Public Policy Officer disseminates the priorities and policies of CAOT with national stakeholders, including the general public. The Public Policy Officer monitors and analyzes domestic and international policy related to health care, social services, professional certification, accreditation, third party payers and human resources development with the purpose of advocating for client access to occupational therapy services and funding. The CAOT Public Policy Officer works with CAOT, its partners and stakeholders in preparing materials for a wide audience to promote the interests of the profession.

The CAOT Public Policy Officer is responsible to the CAOT Director of Policy & Professional Affairs.

Required CAOT Public Policy Officer Qualifications:

1) Policy analysis experience in private and/or public sector;
2) Graduate degree in policy development, political science, communications, or related area;
3) Experience in public relations, advocacy and/or government relations;
4) Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
5) Excellent project management skills;
6) Working knowledge of personal computer software;
7) Strong interpersonal, analytical and organization skills;
8) Bilingual (English/French) or willingness to become bilingual.

Recommended CAOT Public Policy Officer Qualifications:

1) Degree in occupational therapy or thorough understanding of the profession;
2) Experience in health care;
3) Experience with volunteer intensive service operations;
4) Experience with MS Office Standard (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
5) Experience with social media.

Description of Duties and Authority:

The CAOT Public Policy Officer manages the following portfolio within the established policies, procedures and financial guidelines of the Association.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

1. Develop policy briefs, position statements resources and responses requested at such time as mutually agreed upon;
2. Develop and implement a national awareness campaign to raise the profile of the profession with the general public;
3. Represent and promote occupational therapy and CAOT with government agencies;
4. Study proposed legislation to determine possible effect on occupational therapy;
5. Identify and implement strategies to promote funding for occupational therapy services, including working with CAOT staff, Board members and other CAOT members to represent occupational therapy to relevant stakeholder groups;
6. Monitor and analyze current research opportunities and funding trends as appropriate;
7. Develop project proposals in areas related to policy;
8. Manage related projects as required within resources allocated and determined timelines;
Other duties as assigned.

Please forward your resume in word format to blammi@caot.ca and mbrennan@caot.ca