Senior Program and Policy Specialist
Top Benefits
About the role
Agricorp is looking for a Senior Program and Policy Specialist to join the Program Design and Policy team in the Program Development division [http://www.agricorp.com/en-ca/AboutUs/Pages/CorporateStructure.aspx]. This division is responsible for program analysis, product development and external relations with government partners and industry groups. The division also plays a role in the development of new programs and preparing program changes for operational readiness to ensure effective, timely, transparent and streamlined delivery.
We aim to provide our employees with more than just a job – we offer fulfilling opportunities in a culture that promotes stability, diversity and inclusion, camaraderie, employee recognition, work-life balance, and doing what you love. We care about Ontario agriculture, knowing that what we do matters to our customers. If you’re enthusiastic and committed to excellence, we want to hear from you.
We believe our employees are our greatest strength, which is why we offer:
- Comprehensive health and dental benefitsto keep you and your family well
- Pension planto support your long-term financial security
- Paid vacation days and sick leaveto support your overall well-being
- Work-life balancewith supportive leaders who respect your time outside of work
- Opportunities for learning and growth, including mentoring, coaching, and support for professional development
THE ROLE
The Senior Program & Policy Specialist reports directly to the Manager, Program Design & Policy, with a dotted-line relationship with the Senior Director, Program Development on strategic matters relating to the Ministry and external stakeholders.
The focus of this role is to support the governance framework between Agricorp and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), and to fulfill the secretariat role for the Grain Financial Protection Board and the Livestock Financial Protection Board.
This role helps to build strong relationships with OMAFA by helping ensure effective and efficient management of the governance framework and by working directly with key Ministry staff and senior management. As assigned, this role also reviews government policies and analyzes options, impacts, and feasibility. The projects, issues and tasks assigned to this position are complex in nature and involve working with all of Agricorp’s programs and with public policy.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, you will:
- Serve as Agricorp’s liaison to OMAFA’s Lead, Agency Relations and Accountability in the Farm Finance Branch, while fostering and maintaining key relationships with other ministry leaders and senior policy advisors.
- Advance Agricorp’s strategic partnership with the Ministry by supporting governance forums and executive engagement, including the Director’s Committee, the Collaboration Executive Committee, and the relationship between Agricorp’s Senior Director, Program Development, and OMAFA’s Director, Farm Finance Branch.
- Serve as the key point of contact for governance and program agreements with OMAFA, providing strategic advice and guidance to support negotiation, review, and approval processes.
- Provide secretariat services to the Grain Financial Protection Board and the Livestock Financial Protection Board, and serve as the primary resource for coordinating and completing work on behalf of the boards.
- Act as a lead for program policy and government relations issues, as assigned, including identifying and highlighting risks to Agricorp, OMAFA, and the financial protection boards
- As a senior technical lead for program policy change, collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders, to identify impacts and risks to Agricorp and recommend changes.
- Understand and be technical lead for government governance requirements (e.g., key government directives for agencies, legislation, etc.).
- Interpret program legislation and policies, to provide clarity for internal policies and guidelines, as assigned.
- Articulate recommendations and findings, either in writing or verbally, in a manner appropriate for the audience, which can include divisional management, federal and provincial governments, senior management, and external audiences.
Job status: Permanent (job is for an existing vacancy) Work status: Full time in-office Salary range: $83,016 – $97,665 Location: Guelph, Ontario
WHAT YOU BRING
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, economics, business, statistics, or a related field, or equivalent experience is required (master’s degree is an asset)
- A minimum 5 years’ experience with a focus on government programs, policy and legislation
- Experience supporting boards and senior leaders within formal governance frameworks, including the provision of governance advice, development of governance documentation, and management of governance processes
- Strong written and verbal communications skills
- Knowledge of Agricorp’s programs and policies, including the Grain Financial Protection Program and the Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program is an asset
- Agriculture/agronomic, policy/government, or financial/insurance industry background is an asset
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Achieving quality results – Focuses efforts on managing one’s self to achieve high-quality results consistent with the organization’s standards and measures, while managing risk
- Analytical thinking – Interprets, links and analyses information and situations by breaking them down into component parts, and identifying patterns, connections and underlying issues
- Communication – Listens to others and communicates effectively, fostering open communication
- Critical judgement, decision making & problem solving – Uses critical judgment to make decisions and solve problems involving varied levels of complexity, ambiguity and risk
- Initiative – Looks for opportunities to improve processes; acts in advance to deal with expected difficulties
- Legislation, policies, procedures & standards – Understands and uses relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and standards
- Organizational savvy – Understands and uses the workings, structure and culture of the organization, as well as political, social, and economic issues to achieve results
- Program knowledge – Knows and understands the programs and services provided by Agricorp
- Writing skills – Communicates ideas and information in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact
BACKGROUND
As an agency of the Government of Ontario, Agricorp works with partners to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable agriculture industry. With more than 300 employees serving more than 47,000 producers province-wide, Agricorp delivers programs that help producers manage risk and remain financially secure. The agency was established in 1997 by the provincial government under the authority of the AgriCorp Act, 1996.
Agricorp delivers a variety of programs and payments on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, including AgriStability, Farm Business Registration and Production Insurance. Please see the full list of programs for more information.
APPLY ONLINE
To apply for this position, please go to www.agricorp.com [http://www.agricorp.com] and select Careers. Click on Current Opportunities.
Please submit your application for this position by August 18, 2026
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted directly.
About Agricorp
As an agency of the Government of Ontario, Agricorp works with partners to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable agriculture industry. With more than 400 employees serving more than 47,000 producers province-wide, Agricorp delivers programs that help producers manage risk and remain financially secure. The agency was established in 1997 by the provincial government under the authority of the AgriCorp Act, 1996.
Agricorp delivers a variety of programs and payments on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, including AgriStability, Farm Business Registration and Production Insurance. A full list of programs with brief descriptions is available at www.agricorp.com and select Find Programs.
For additional information about Agricorp visit www.agricorp.com.
Similar Jobs
Senior Program and Policy Specialist
Top Benefits
About the role
Agricorp is looking for a Senior Program and Policy Specialist to join the Program Design and Policy team in the Program Development division [http://www.agricorp.com/en-ca/AboutUs/Pages/CorporateStructure.aspx]. This division is responsible for program analysis, product development and external relations with government partners and industry groups. The division also plays a role in the development of new programs and preparing program changes for operational readiness to ensure effective, timely, transparent and streamlined delivery.
We aim to provide our employees with more than just a job – we offer fulfilling opportunities in a culture that promotes stability, diversity and inclusion, camaraderie, employee recognition, work-life balance, and doing what you love. We care about Ontario agriculture, knowing that what we do matters to our customers. If you’re enthusiastic and committed to excellence, we want to hear from you.
We believe our employees are our greatest strength, which is why we offer:
- Comprehensive health and dental benefitsto keep you and your family well
- Pension planto support your long-term financial security
- Paid vacation days and sick leaveto support your overall well-being
- Work-life balancewith supportive leaders who respect your time outside of work
- Opportunities for learning and growth, including mentoring, coaching, and support for professional development
THE ROLE
The Senior Program & Policy Specialist reports directly to the Manager, Program Design & Policy, with a dotted-line relationship with the Senior Director, Program Development on strategic matters relating to the Ministry and external stakeholders.
The focus of this role is to support the governance framework between Agricorp and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), and to fulfill the secretariat role for the Grain Financial Protection Board and the Livestock Financial Protection Board.
This role helps to build strong relationships with OMAFA by helping ensure effective and efficient management of the governance framework and by working directly with key Ministry staff and senior management. As assigned, this role also reviews government policies and analyzes options, impacts, and feasibility. The projects, issues and tasks assigned to this position are complex in nature and involve working with all of Agricorp’s programs and with public policy.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
In this role, you will:
- Serve as Agricorp’s liaison to OMAFA’s Lead, Agency Relations and Accountability in the Farm Finance Branch, while fostering and maintaining key relationships with other ministry leaders and senior policy advisors.
- Advance Agricorp’s strategic partnership with the Ministry by supporting governance forums and executive engagement, including the Director’s Committee, the Collaboration Executive Committee, and the relationship between Agricorp’s Senior Director, Program Development, and OMAFA’s Director, Farm Finance Branch.
- Serve as the key point of contact for governance and program agreements with OMAFA, providing strategic advice and guidance to support negotiation, review, and approval processes.
- Provide secretariat services to the Grain Financial Protection Board and the Livestock Financial Protection Board, and serve as the primary resource for coordinating and completing work on behalf of the boards.
- Act as a lead for program policy and government relations issues, as assigned, including identifying and highlighting risks to Agricorp, OMAFA, and the financial protection boards
- As a senior technical lead for program policy change, collaborate with key internal and external stakeholders, to identify impacts and risks to Agricorp and recommend changes.
- Understand and be technical lead for government governance requirements (e.g., key government directives for agencies, legislation, etc.).
- Interpret program legislation and policies, to provide clarity for internal policies and guidelines, as assigned.
- Articulate recommendations and findings, either in writing or verbally, in a manner appropriate for the audience, which can include divisional management, federal and provincial governments, senior management, and external audiences.
Job status: Permanent (job is for an existing vacancy) Work status: Full time in-office Salary range: $83,016 – $97,665 Location: Guelph, Ontario
WHAT YOU BRING
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, economics, business, statistics, or a related field, or equivalent experience is required (master’s degree is an asset)
- A minimum 5 years’ experience with a focus on government programs, policy and legislation
- Experience supporting boards and senior leaders within formal governance frameworks, including the provision of governance advice, development of governance documentation, and management of governance processes
- Strong written and verbal communications skills
- Knowledge of Agricorp’s programs and policies, including the Grain Financial Protection Program and the Beef Cattle Financial Protection Program is an asset
- Agriculture/agronomic, policy/government, or financial/insurance industry background is an asset
KEY COMPETENCIES
- Achieving quality results – Focuses efforts on managing one’s self to achieve high-quality results consistent with the organization’s standards and measures, while managing risk
- Analytical thinking – Interprets, links and analyses information and situations by breaking them down into component parts, and identifying patterns, connections and underlying issues
- Communication – Listens to others and communicates effectively, fostering open communication
- Critical judgement, decision making & problem solving – Uses critical judgment to make decisions and solve problems involving varied levels of complexity, ambiguity and risk
- Initiative – Looks for opportunities to improve processes; acts in advance to deal with expected difficulties
- Legislation, policies, procedures & standards – Understands and uses relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and standards
- Organizational savvy – Understands and uses the workings, structure and culture of the organization, as well as political, social, and economic issues to achieve results
- Program knowledge – Knows and understands the programs and services provided by Agricorp
- Writing skills – Communicates ideas and information in writing to ensure that information and messages are understood and have the desired impact
BACKGROUND
As an agency of the Government of Ontario, Agricorp works with partners to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable agriculture industry. With more than 300 employees serving more than 47,000 producers province-wide, Agricorp delivers programs that help producers manage risk and remain financially secure. The agency was established in 1997 by the provincial government under the authority of the AgriCorp Act, 1996.
Agricorp delivers a variety of programs and payments on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, including AgriStability, Farm Business Registration and Production Insurance. Please see the full list of programs for more information.
APPLY ONLINE
To apply for this position, please go to www.agricorp.com [http://www.agricorp.com] and select Careers. Click on Current Opportunities.
Please submit your application for this position by August 18, 2026
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted directly.
About Agricorp
As an agency of the Government of Ontario, Agricorp works with partners to contribute to a vibrant and sustainable agriculture industry. With more than 400 employees serving more than 47,000 producers province-wide, Agricorp delivers programs that help producers manage risk and remain financially secure. The agency was established in 1997 by the provincial government under the authority of the AgriCorp Act, 1996.
Agricorp delivers a variety of programs and payments on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, including AgriStability, Farm Business Registration and Production Insurance. A full list of programs with brief descriptions is available at www.agricorp.com and select Find Programs.
For additional information about Agricorp visit www.agricorp.com.