Manager - Issues Management - Calgary Region

Role Responsibilities

The Issues Management Manager plays a key role in ensuring timely responses regarding a variety of enquiries and requests. The position provides critical information, assistance, and support to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister and Minister Offices for Children and Family Services. This position acts as liaison and ensures effective flow of information between operations and the various levels of the Ministry. In this role, the Manager is expected to build and maintain positive and effective working relationships throughout the Ministry and with key stakeholders.   

Excellent communication (written and verbal), coordination, organization, and interpersonal skills are required to support the Assistant Deputy Minister Office (ADMO) in responding to enquiries related to Ministry business. The ability to collaborate, assess and prioritize issues, research and coordinate supporting information, and facilitate appropriate action will contribute to the success of the Ministry. In this role you will work collaboratively with Calgary Region leadership to ensure a thorough understanding of an issue and to translate that information into a clear correspondence to the various Ministerial Offices.
 
As an integral member of the Regional Management Team, the Issues Management Manager will have excellent political acumen and be able to anticipate and identify strategically relevant issues and ensure the Region is positioned to manage and respond effectively and efficiently to such scenarios. The position also ensures the timely flow of information between operations and the Ministry to ensure information on sensitive and emerging issues is comprehensive and accurate.

 

Role Responsibilities Cont'd

 Main responsibilities include: 

• Issues and Relationship Management - manages and oversees multiple requests to respond to urgent, ongoing, and emerging issues, briefings, and action requests to help facilitate the flow of information between operations and the ADMO. This occurs through close connectivity and relationship with counterparts in the ADMO. 
• Management, Planning and Support – manages and oversees the completion of background briefings for Regional program areas such as contracts and service delivery, thus ensuring fulsome information is provided regarding objectives, goals, and operations of the Division.  
• Communication and Information Management - Effectively manages communication and information requirements between Regional operations and the ADMO. 
• Supervision - Supervises and assigns work to the Issues Advisor
• Writing/Editing Correspondence - Drafts and vets written correspondence to respond to Ministerial Offices requests.

To be successful, the candidate will be expected to:

• Have a sound understanding of the Child Intervention Delivery Division’s mandate, priorities, business, goals, strategies, relevant policies, legislation, regulations, and organizational structure.
• Adherence to Minister and Deputy Minister correspondence guidelines.
• Prioritize and manage several correspondence deadlines.
• Work with site staff/management to obtain information and present the information in a professional, clear, and concise summary for various levels of Government. Respond in a timely manner to further queries/clarification.
• Become familiar and proficient with Child Intervention workflow, IT systems, and processes.
• For awareness, as the Manager you will be exposed to highly confidential and sensitive  information. Children and Family Services works with vulnerable children and families, responding to situations involving child abuse. In your role you will be required to read material and summarize information as it pertains to child abuse, which can be very difficult information to read and write about

APS Comptencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.
 

This link will assist you with understanding competencies https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf

•    Agility - Demonstrated ability to manage and adapt to change. Ability to support leadership through change management within an operating environment. 
•    Drive for Results - Leadership skills, including demonstrated ability and comfort with decision making responsibilities, coaching and teaching, and the ability to inspire and build confidence in others. 
•    Develop Self and Others - Proven ability to foster partnerships and to achieve organizational goals within an organization. 
•    Build Collaborative Environments - Strong track record in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
•    Develop Networks - Ability to foster a climate of cooperation amongst, and build solid relationships with public agencies, government, committees and other partners. 
•    Systems Thinking - Effective leadership abilities combined with a strong commitment to operating within a team environment and the ability to motivate and inspire other to achieve common goals. 
•    Creative Problem Solving - ability to assess options and implications, engage different perspectives and create strategic solutions for communications
 

Qualifications

A university degree in related field (Communications, Journalism, English, Business Administration, Public Administration, Technical Writing, Academic Writing, Political Science) plus a minimum of four years of supervisory is required. 

Following equivalencies may be considered:

Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education. 

Assets:

•    Experience in preparing written and oral communication for senior and executive management.
•    Experience with Issues Management.
•    Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written).
•    Ability to be agile and adept in high pressure and fast-paced environments with short deadlines.
•    Ability to simultaneously manage a range of issues of varying scale and urgency.
•    Excellent political acumen.
•    Experience working with community partners and stakeholders, including Albertans. 
•    Experience in researching, analysis, and synthesizing information. 
•    Experience with researching, composing, tracking, and editing briefing notes and other correspondence.   
•    Experience with Action Request Tracking System (ARTS). 
•    Experience working in an executive office and experience working in Government. 
•    Experience in Government policy and legislation. 
•    Experience in a leadership role.
•    Experience in providing supervision.
•    Planning, organizing, time management skills. 
•    Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships with senior executives and staff of government departments. 
•    Demonstrated ability to promote teamwork, collaboration, and partnership at all levels.
•    Knowledge of the Ministry of Children and Family Services, its policies, and legislations. 
•    Understanding of Child Intervention legislation, policy and practice.
•    Understand government’s decision-making process and/or budget and planning cycles.  
•    Proficiency in Microsoft packages (Word, Outlook, Teams) and IT skills.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards

Notes

Hours of Work:

• The hours of work are Monday to Friday, 36.25 hours per week. 

Travel:

• The candidate must be willing to travel within the Calgary Region as necessary. 
• You carry a valid Class 5 Driver’s License and access to a reliable vehicle. Appropriate insurance is required. 

Application Requirements:

As part of the application process, you are required to:

• Complete all pre-screen questions.
• Provide a cover letter outlining why you are applying to this role and how your experience relates to the qualifications is required. 
• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 - June  25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs shifts/week).
• Final candidates will be required to undergo a pre-employments including academic check, security screenings and reference checks. 
• Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

What the Government of Alberta has to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• On the job training.
• Leadership and mentorship programs