Senior Policy Advisor

Position Title: Senior Policy Advisor
Location: National Centre for Critical Infrastructure Protection, Security and Resilience (NC-CIPSeR), Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
(Remote opportunities available)
Position Type: Volunteer / Mentorship / Fellowship
Duration: Flexible, with a minimum commitment of 12–24 months recommended

About the Role

The National Centre for Critical Infrastructure Protection, Security and Resilience (NC-CIPSeR) is inviting experienced policy professionals to apply for the role of Senior Policy Advisor.

This role provides strategic policy judgment and senior-level advisory support across NC-CIPSeR’s research, task forces, and collaborative initiatives at the intersection of defence, national security, critical infrastructure, and emergency management and preparedness.

Senior Policy Advisors help ensure that the Centre’s analytical work is relevant, well-framed, and aligned with real-world policy, governance, and operational contexts.

This is a formal volunteer appointment intended for mid- to late-career professionals who bring deep policy experience and are interested in contributing to public-interest research, capacity building, and systems-level problem-solving.

Why It Matters

NC-CIPSeR operates at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, across multiple sectors and domains. Strong analysis alone is not enough – it must be interpreted, contextualized, and translated into insight that decision-makers can use.

The Senior Policy Advisor helps:

-Strengthen the relevance and credibility of NC-CIPSeR outputs

-Bridge research and decision-making

-Provide context, judgment, and strategic framing

-Identify policy gaps, misalignments, and emerging risks

Responsibilities

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you may take on one or more of the following responsibilities, based on your expertise and interests:

Strategic Policy Advice

• Provide senior-level policy advice across NC-CIPSeR initiatives, task forces, and research projects
• Advise on governance, policy, regulatory, and institutional implications of research findings
• Support alignment between research outputs and policy, operational, or strategic priorities

Research Oversight & Synthesis

• Review and provide strategic feedback on policy briefs, reports, and analytical outputs
• Help shape research questions, framing, and synthesis across projects
• Support consistency and coherence across sectoral and cross-cutting work

Mentorship & Capacity Building

• Mentor Policy Analysts, researchers, and volunteers
• Support analytical rigor, policy relevance, and professional development across teams
• Share experience, frameworks, and lessons learned from senior policy environments

Engagement & Knowledge Mobilization

Represent NC-CIPSeR in policy-relevant dialogues and multi-partner initiatives, as appropriate 

Contribute to high-level briefing notes, discussion papers, and presentations

Participate in roundtables, workshops, and consultations with government, industry, and academic partners

Qualifications

 We are seeking candidates who bring strategic insight, policy experience, and credibility across complex policy environments.

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in public policy, national security, critical infrastructure, emergency management, regulation, or related fields
• Demonstrated ability to provide senior-level policy advice and strategic judgment
• Strong understanding of policy development, governance, and interdepartmental coordination
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience mentoring teams or contributing to collaborative, interdisciplinary environments

Assets (Optional but Preferred)

Experience representing organizations in senior-level or multi-partner forums

Experience working with or advising government departments, regulators, or public institutions

Cross-sector experience spanning government, industry, academia, or non-profits

Familiarity with Canadian policy, security, or infrastructure frameworks

• Strong writing and communication skills, with ability to translate complex material into accessible formats.
• Experience in design or multimedia tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, or similar).
• Familiarity with podcast or video production is an asset.
• Bilingual (English/French) preferred.
• Creative, collaborative, and eager to connect research with practice.

What You’ll Gain

• Hands-on experience in applied policy research focused on real-world challenges affecting Canada’s critical infrastructure, public safety, and national resilience
• Exposure to cross-sector policy environments, working at the intersection of government, industry, academia, and defence
• Practical experience translating research into policy-relevant outputs, including briefing notes, backgrounders, and sector analyses
• Mentorship from senior policy advisors and research leaders, with structured feedback on analytical and writing work
• A deeper understanding of governance, legislation, standards, and risk frameworks shaping infrastructure protection and emergency management
• Opportunities to contribute to nationally relevant research and publications, including NC-CIPSeR reports and Pulse & Praxis
• Professional growth within a mission-driven centre focused on reducing fragmentation and strengthening coordination across Canada’s resilience ecosystem

Steps to the Application Process

Joining NC-CIPSeR is a structured and supportive process designed to set you up for success. From your initial application through to orientation and project assignment, each step is intentional—ensuring you understand our mission, meet foundational requirements, and are fully prepared to contribute meaningfully. Once completed, you’ll be matched with a mentor and begin your journey on a project that aligns with your skills and interests. This process helps us maintain a high standard of engagement, professionalism, and impact across everything we do.

• Application
• References check
• Privacy & Confidentiality, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy and Guidelines
• AODA training (online and free)
• Workplace training (online and free)
• Volunteer Agreement – tailored and signed (only after all other admin has been completed)
• Volunteer Orientation
• Mentor Assigned and Project Assigned

To Apply

To get started, please complete our application form through the NC-CIPSeR Application Portal. Be sure to select Pulse & Praxis Journal: Knowledge Translation and Mobilization as the position of interest when completing your application. You’ll be asked to answer a few brief questions, upload your CV, provide reference details, and share why you’re interested in working with us. This helps us get to know you and understand how your skills and interests align with our mission.

About Carleton University

Located in Ottawa, Carleton is an innovative teaching and research institution with a tradition of leading change. Internationally recognized academics, staff, and researchers engage more than 31,000 students in over 100 programs of study. Carleton has long been known for promoting research excellence and connectedness and is involved in partnerships around the globe. With strong leadership, it enjoys a healthy financial position and our proximity to government and cultural institutions, media, and a thriving knowledge economy make Carleton and Ottawa a great place to work, learn, and live. Our picturesque campus is fully accessible and, along with award-winning student services, Carleton’s Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities has been heralded as the gold standard for disability support services in Canada. Learn more about our university and the city of Ottawa at https://carleton.ca/deputyprovost/jobs/.

Carleton University is committed to fostering diversity within its community as a source of excellence, cultural enrichment, and social strength. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our university including, but not limited to: women and gender equity-seeking groups; racialized individuals; Indigenous Peoples; persons with disabilities; and persons of any sexual orientation and/or expression. Furthermore, Carleton understands that career paths vary and interruptions will not prejudice the assessment process. We invite you to review our revitalized Indigenous strategy, Kinàmàgawin at https://carleton.ca/indigenousinitiatives/cu_file/kinamagawin/ and visit our Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities at http://carleton.ca/equity for information about our commitment to leadership in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Accessibility is a university strategic priority and applicants selected for an interview who require accommodations are invited to contact us as soon as possible to ensure that appropriate arrangements may be made.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. All positions are subject to budgetary approval.

Application Deadline:

We accept applications on a rolling basis to accommodate the availability of our volunteers.

This volunteer and mentorship opportunity not only allows you to contribute to vital national security efforts but also offers a platform to influence and shape the future leaders of critical infrastructure protection. Join us in our commitment to safeguarding Canada’s critical infrastructure.

Join Us

This is more than a job opportunity; it’s a chance to contribute to a safer, more resilient Canada. By joining our team, you’ll be at the heart of a national endeavor to protect and secure our critical infrastructure against the threats of tomorrow. Your work will empower informed decision-making, drive innovation, and shape the future of how we assess and think about the most pressing threats and hazards.