Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers
Career Overview
Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers conduct research, produce reports and administer elementary, secondary and post-secondary education policies and programs.
People in this occupation:
- Evaluate curriculum and services, recommend improvements, determine the cost and effectiveness of educational policies and programs, produce reports and deliver presentations
- Often work for government, school boards, post-secondary institutions and research institutes, professional associations and educational and other organizations throughout the public and private sectors
- May be self-employed
- Should have an interest in doing research and creating materials and other resources for program delivery and coordinating information for statistical analyses
- Should have quantitative and qualitative research skills
Job Titles
Duties
Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers perform some or all of the following duties:
- Do quantitative and qualitative research, produce reports and manage education or post-secondary education policies and programs
- Evaluate program curriculum and recommend improvements
- Develop the structure, content and objectives of new programs
- Do statistical analyses to determine the cost and effectiveness of education or post-secondary education policies and programs
- Provide ongoing professional development, training and consultative services to teachers and other professionals throughout the public and private sector
- Deliver presentations at conferences, workshops and symposia
- May supervise the work of other education policy researchers, consultants or program officers
- May administer specialized testing and assessment programs
- Develop teaching materials and other resources for program delivery
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,580% Employed Full Time
50%Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers usually work in an office setting with regular working hours And possibly some overtime.
These professionals may work individually or as part of a research team. Travel may be required to gather information or to attend meetings, workshops or conferences.
Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers use computers, so they need to be aware of the stresses placed on the neck, back and shoulders while at their workstations.
Career Pathways
Recent graduates can typically find part-time or on-call work as substitute teachers. Short-term work may include filling in openings caused by maternity leave or sabbaticals.
Teachers with experience may progress to other positions, such as education consultant, vice-principal, principal or school district senior management.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers must have a bachelor's degree in education or in a discipline such as social science or business administration. Other requirements may include:
- A master's degree in education or social science, or specialized training or certification
- For jobs in provincial education ministries, several years of experience as a school teacher and a teacher's certificate
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Adult Education
- Psychology (Arts)
- Psychology (Science)
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Choosing and using training, instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Teaching others how to do something.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,580Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 70 | 2.0% |
| Kootenay | 65 | 1.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,270 | 63.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 70 | 2.0% |
| Northeast | 40 | 1.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 280 | 7.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 785 | 21.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,570Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | -0.1% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.3% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,000 | 1.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.2% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 150 | 1.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 340 | 1.2% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Educational Services | 1,120 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 110 |
| Public Administration | 110 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 90 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 70 |
Insights from Industry
Job openings in the coming years will result from new job creation and the need to replace retiring workers.
Most job openings will likely be found in consulting firms, professional associations, research institutes, educational institutions and non-government organizations. Industry sources expect more work opportunities to be either part time or contractual, with self-employment becoming more common.
There may be regional differences in demand for workers in this occupation because of difficulties with recruitment and retention in rural areas. Industry sources also report that employers have difficulty filling some senior-level positions because of a shortage of experienced workers.
Job prospects are best for those with advanced degrees.
Resources
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B.C. Ministry of Educationwww.gov.bc.ca/bced
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British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA)bcpsea.bc.ca
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Make a Future: Careers in BC Educationwww.makeafuture.ca
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Teacher Regulation Branch – B.C. Ministry of Educationteacherregulation.gov.bc.ca
