Policy Advisor - Continuing Care

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Policy, Standards and Quality, you will play a key role in advancing provincial priorities, developing evidence-based policy solutions, and supporting initiatives that strengthen quality, safety, and resident outcomes across continuing care homes and continuing care more broadly.

The job responsibilities include:

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of continuing care policies, programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Conduct research, jurisdictional and environmental scans, and data analysis to critically analyze the information to identify trends, emerging issues, best practices and recommendations to inform directions or decisions.
• Integrate continuing care home practice and operational perspectives into developments and take a systems- and future-based approach to planning.
• Prepare briefing notes, reports, presentations, correspondence, and strategic advice for senior leadership and government decision-makers.
• Manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery of grants, policy, program, legislative, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with health system partners, continuing care operators, government ministries, and stakeholder organizations.
• Monitor system performance, quality indicators, and outcomes to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and inform future policy development.
• Provide strategic advice and support on sensitive issues, and respond to a wide variety of stakeholders, including the public.
• Lead or support stakeholder engagement and consultation activities, translating feedback into actionable policy and program recommendations.
• Promote innovative, sustainable solutions that enhance continuing care quality, resident outcomes, and system performance for Albertans.
• Develop coherent, logically presented materials in a timely manner, often under short timelines and with competing priorities.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on this position

APS Competencies

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.

• Systems Thinking – Takes a strategic, long-term approach to planning, anticipating risks, opportunities, and impacts while aligning solutions with organizational priorities and fostering cross-sector collaboration.
• Agility – Leads and supports change by assessing risks, adapting to evolving priorities, communicating impacts, and developing effective strategies to achieve results in complex environments.
• Drive for Results – Demonstrates accountability for outcomes, monitors performance, makes informed decisions, and delivers results that support government priorities and benefit Albertans.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards
University graduation in health, health administration or social science, plus 2 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: 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.

The following experience is required:

• Experience in, and strong knowledge of, facility-based continuing care practice or operations in Alberta.
• Experience in similar settings outside of Alberta maybe considered.
• Knowledge of continuing care best practices, dementia care models, and quality improvement methodologies.
• Experience in policy analysis and policy development.
• Experience in and knowledge of Alberta's health and continuing care systems.
• Demonstrated ability to accurately research and analyze information, as well as clearly and concisely identify and communicate the issues, key considerations and background information verbally and in writing. 

The following experience is considered as assets:

• Experience in other parts of the continuing care sector, including within supportive living accommodations or home and community care.
• Project management experience.
• Experience with performance measurement, quality monitoring, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Experience conducting literature reviews, jurisdictional scans, and evidence-informed research.
   

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

Notes

Hours of work are 08:15 AM to 04:30 PM, Monday to Friday. This is a full-time permanent position, working 36.25 hours per week.

Location: Alberta Government Services Building, 710 - 4 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 0K3 or ATB Place North, 10025 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 1S6.

As part of the selection process, candidates may be required to complete a written assignment.

Final candidates may be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC). 

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.

A cover letter outlining how your experience relates to the qualifications of this role is required. In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:
      1) How your professional and/or academic background relates to this role, including your direct and transferable expertise and skills.
      2) Reason(s) for interest in this role.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance