woman reviewing a document while seated at a desk with a laptop in front of her

Education policy researchers, consultants and program officers

(NOC 41405)
Annual Earnings
$79,253
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
University Degree
Job Openings
(2024-2034)
1,570

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

Curriculum developer
Curriculum planner
Education consultant
Education outreach program coordinator
Education policy officer
Education policy supervisor
Education program coordinator
Education program officer
Education researcher
Special education coordinator

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.

Annual Earnings

$79,253

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$51.10/hr
Median$38.00/hr
Low$23.14/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2024 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,580

% Employed Full Time

50%
Source: 2021 Census

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.

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:

Social
Social

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)
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

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!

Learning Strategies

Choosing and using training, instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

81%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

78%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

78%

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

3,580
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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%
Source: 2021 Census

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)

1,570
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)

Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

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

IndustryJob Openings (2024-2034)
Educational Services1,120
Health Care and Social Assistance110
Public Administration110
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services90
Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services70
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

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