Senior Policy Advisor

Senior Policy Advisor

Type: Permanent

Location: Toronto (Hybrid)

Posting Date: January 6, 2024

At OPTrust, paying pensions today, preserving pensions for tomorrow is our mission and business.

When you choose OPTrust, you join a team of smart, talented people who fuel our success and have a passion for pensions. Everyone at OPTrust – in Toronto, London and Sydney – makes a meaningful impact. Our culture is driven by team members with different backgrounds and perspectives creating an inclusive and fulfilling place to work for everyone. We work in a fast-paced environment, but we find time to have fun and give back to the community.

What OPTrust offers you

• Unique culture rooted in our core values – collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence and continuous improvement.
• A purpose-driven environment where we all work towards the common goal of paying pensions today and preserving pensions for tomorrow.
• Comprehensive benefits focused on your health and wellness, including dental, vision and extended health benefits, as well as membership in our world-class defined benefit pension plan.
• A flexible, hybrid work model.
• A dedicated inclusion, diversity and equity strategy with meaningful opportunities to participate, including our employee-led resource groups.
• Extensive professional development opportunities and learning initiatives including access to LinkedIn Learning, guest speakers, tuition reimbursement, professional association memberships, leadership development programs, a mentorship program, monthly professional development time and more.
• A competitive vacation package with additional work-life balance days.

About the role

In this role, you will be working in the PATH program team. The plan policy team plays a critical role in developing, implementing and overseeing policies that protect and enhance the benefit security for OPSEU Pension Plan members. In this role, you are responsible for providing analysis, technical information and advice on matters related to pension policy, legislation, and compliance requirements. You will lead strategic initiatives, develop policy and regulatory submissions.

What you’ll do

Research, Coordination & Communication

• Determine the impact on OPTrust’s pension administration processes based on changes to any federal and provincial legislation, transfer agreements, Plan provisions and other developments in the pension industry.
• Draft plan text amendments and work with the Plan Sponsors and OPTrust’s external advisors to prepare appropriate documentation for approval.
• Recommend and develop policies as required and develop solutions for complex pension processing issues; prepare reports and advice outlining any statutory, financial, legal and/or social impacts on the Plan, its members, sponsors, and its administration.
• Act as a technical and educational resource in the interpretation of Plan terms, applicable legislation, regulatory policies and requirements, pension policies and best practices, and complex transfer agreements.
• Participate in the Plan’s administrative adjudication and appeal process by analyzing case files, preparing written case briefings, and presenting cases to the Board’s Adjudication Committee.
• Produce briefing notes and reports on pension administration and policy issues and respond to requests for information internally and from the Plan Sponsors, government agencies and ministries.
• Prepare and review internal and external communication materials and collaborate with various internal teams to ensure all materials are technically accurate and compliant with the Plan provisions and applicable legislation.
• Prepare draft submissions on behalf of OPTrust in response to provincial and federal government consultations.
• Provide advice and technical support to our internal Legal Services team and/or external legal counsel to resolve legal disputes, challenges, and actions against OPTrust.
• Monitor and coordinate with the preparation and implementation of approved policies, as appropriate.  Evaluates the effectiveness of policies and related procedures on an ongoing basis and recommends proposed changes to management.
• Participates in short and long-term projects and committees internally, with peer pension plan administrators and other external organizations, as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Ensure clear understanding and adherence of all OPTrust’s policies, procedures, guidelines, as well as living our values and fostering an inclusive culture.

What you bring

• Extensive experience working in a pension policy environment.
• Extensive knowledge of applicable provincial and federal legislation, including but not limited to the Income Tax Act, Pension Benefits Act, Family Law Act, Employment Standards Act, Substitute Decisions Act, Succession Law Reform Act, Electronic Commerce Act and Workplace Safety & Insurance Act.
• Ability to analyze and conduct extensive research related to the development of policies and guidelines.
• Proven research, analytical skills, and ability to investigate pension issues, analyze findings to develop appropriate recommendations and/or solutions.
• Demonstrated experience presenting complex research analysis, policy reports and interpretations in simple language.
• Exemplify OPTrust’s values: collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Skills and Education required

• University degree in business, law, or a related field.
• Pension Plan Administration Certificate and/or Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designations preferred.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and experience in preparing research papers, policy reports and directives, and various communication materials for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of research techniques and methods.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work with all levels of the organization and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines in a demanding environment.
• Strong ability to build trusted relationships.

Please submit your application via Workday by January 20, 2025.

Serving a membership as diverse as ours and investing in a global market means cultivating an environment that embraces inclusion, diversity, and equity in everything we do. OPTrust is an organization engaged in building on our unique and diverse strengths. We know a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and perspectives are critical to achieving our shared goals.

If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please send a message to [email protected], or discuss your needs with the Talent Acquisition Consultant during the telephone screening. We will do our best to work with you and provide appropriate accommodation.

As an organization we’re seeking ways to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92. We are working with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business to build bridges with Indigenous communities and partners, and we have created an employee-led Reconciliation Working Group that will work with Indigenous experts to identify a path to reconciliation for our organization.

We thank all interested applicants, however only those under consideration will be contacted.