Building Careers in Public Service: Workshop Insights

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On February 10, 2026, Scott Duff (Director of Rural Policy and Economic Development, Ontario Ministry of Rural Affairs) led a workshop in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph. Intended to engage with graduate students, alumni and industry professionals, Duff shared insights on the realities of working in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and pathways to establishing a career.

During the workshop, Duff highlighted factors influencing the OPS, and the role of the Ministry of Rural Affairs within the province. Emphasizing regional and collaborative approaches to rural development, the newly formed ministry assists municipalities, not-for-profits (e.g. economic development organizations), local services boards and Indigenous communities or organizations in enhancing sustainability.

The MRA was established to promote prosperity across all regions in the province supporting business development, connecting communities with resources and other tools to curate a vibrant Ontario. The MRA guides the implementation of economic development strategies including the Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy, and delivers rural economic development programs and initiatives. The MRA pairs leading cross-government policy with programs and liaisons as a one-window provincial lead on rural affairs.

Additionally, the workshop provided clarity on the types of job postings you can find on the OPS careers portal and introduced pathways for students to apply for the various permanent, contract, co-op, and summer job positions. Duff outlined the resume content and scoring process and gave context on the pre-interview discussions and typical interview format. Students were later given the opportunity to ask questions about gaining skills to build a career in the OPS and tips on securing an interview.

Overall, Duff provided an informative and engaging session connecting alumni, grad students and industry professionals to career pathways in the OPS and MRA. For more information on upcoming workshops at SEDRD and news surrounding rural affairs visit,

This article was written by Lucas Berek, a researcher at the University of Guelph in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.