Senior Policy Officer

JOB POSTING – SENIOR POLICY OFFICER
Hybrid position based in Ottawa, Canada

About us – What do we do?

At a time of unprecedented forced displacement and system disruption, we are reforming the global system of safe and legal routes to protection. Our world-class team works closely with leaders and innovators from across sectors in over 20 countries. Together we design, launch, and expand safe and legal routes for displaced people. Together we pilot bold new ideas aimed at making the entire global system of safe and legal routes stronger and more sustainable.

How do we do it?

• We build and lead powerful partnerships and networks.
• We provide trusted advice.
• We accelerate operational delivery.
• We generate and share insights.
• We inspire change.

About the Role – What will you do?

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly skilled professional to join Pathways International’s global team as Senior Policy Officer. Reporting to the Director, Strategy and Legal Affairs, the successful candidate will play a key role in advancing several of the organization’s most strategic projects and partnerships.

The Senior Policy Officer will support the execution of a dynamic portfolio that includes:

• A multi-country project focused on capacity building for protection pathways in Latin America.
• A high-level multilateral forum and a unique multi-sectoral partnership, both aimed at strengthening global protection system, including through sponsorship programs.
• Targeted contributions to the organization’s internal strategy and planning efforts.
• Support to other global partnerships and initiatives as needed.

This role is ideal for a candidate who thrives in a fast-paced environment, brings strong analytical and writing skills, and excels in policy coordination, partnership management, and project delivery. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgment, high levels of discretion, and professionalism while working with high-level stakeholders across sectors and regions.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Conduct targeted research and analysis to inform strategic initiatives, partnerships, and internal planning led by the Director.
• Draft high-quality materials including briefing notes, backgrounders, policy memos, speaking points, and outcomes summaries for internal and external use.
• Monitor and synthesize emerging policy and program developments related to complementary pathways, community sponsorship, and international protection frameworks.
• Contribute to internal strategy and planning processes by preparing tools and materials such as presentation decks, discussion frameworks, and planning templates.
• Coordinate high-level meetings, consultations, and events with senior stakeholders, ensuring agendas, materials, and follow-ups are executed to a high standard.
• Manage meeting schedules and related coordination and communication for multi-sectoral partnerships.
• Maintain organized systems for tracking deliverables, timelines, and communications across key projects and partnerships.
• Collaborate with colleagues across regions and time zones to support effective cross-team coordination.
• Play a key role in supporting a multi-country initiative focused on strengthening protection pathways in Latin America, with an emphasis on Colombia and Brazil.
• Track project milestones, deliverables and impact, contributing to the broader effort to build capacity and coordination across pathways ecosystems.
• Liaise with project funders and partners to facilitate coordination, reporting, and strategic alignment.
• Lead the development of outcome-focused narrative and indicator-based reports, working in collaboration with country teams and MEL consultants.
• Lead coordination of our Latin America project’s Refugee Advisory Board, supporting meaningful engagement and ensuring its contributions are integrated into project planning and delivery.
• Help examine and articulate the broader significance of our initiative in Latin America’s approach and outcomes, including its potential to inform protection pathway efforts in other contexts globally.
• Support Pathways International’s role as Secretariat to the Resettlement Diplomacy Network and core group member of the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative.
• Contribute to the preparation of meeting agendas, background documents, outcome summaries, workplans, and other materials that facilitate collaboration among members of the partnerships we manage.
• Help manage engagement with key governmental and other stakeholders, ensuring timely communication and professional coordination.
• Support the tracking and synthesis of key themes, deliverables, and opportunities across workstreams.

About You – Who Are We Looking For?

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as public policy, political science, international affairs, law, or development studies.
• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in policy, international cooperation, program delivery, or stakeholder engagement.
• Outstanding writing and editing skills in English, with experience producing high-quality materials for both expert and general audiences.
• Exceptional research and analytical skills, including the ability to distill complex information clearly and concisely.
• Proven experience working with or supporting governments, multistakeholder initiatives, and/or complex partnerships.
• High level of professionalism, organization, and attention to detail, including experience coordinating projects and meetings.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and interpersonal skills when engaging with high-level stakeholders

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience working in a remote-first, globally distributed team environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of one or more relevant domains: domestic or foreign policy diplomacy, forced displacement, community sponsorship, complementary pathways, global migration governance, or refugee policy.
• Proficiency in other languages (especially Spanish or Portuguese).
• Familiarity with MEL frameworks or tools for tracking project outcomes.
• Graphic/document design skills (e.g., PowerPoint, Canva, brief formatting).
• Comfort with platforms such as Microsoft 365, Zoom, MS Teams, and SharePoint.
• Familiarity, comfort, and curiosity about the adaptation of AI-enabled tools as part of daily workflows (e.g. ChatGPT).

Location & Work Environment

This is a hybrid position based in Ottawa, Canada. The successful candidate will be expected to attend in-person meetings and office days on a regular basis and must be available for flexible working hours and cross-time-zone collaboration.

Applicants contacted for evaluation will be asked to confirm they have the legal right to work in Canada. Maintaining such legal right is a condition of employment.

Contract Details

Full-time, 1-year term (renewable)

How to Apply

Please submit the following through Pathways International’s BambooHR portal by September 13, 2025.

• A cover letter
• A CV

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pathways International is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from qualified candidates of all genders and from all national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities and those with lived experience of forced displacement. We will provide accommodation upon request during the recruitment, selection, and assessment process.