Policy and Program Consultant

Role Responsibilities

Are you ready to be the spark behind innovative policies and programs that protect human rights and power Alberta’s social, cultural, economic, and political inclusion? If you answered “yes,” read on!

You will play a key role in developing policies, programs, and initiatives that increase awareness of human rights and strengthen capacity to prevent discrimination, promote human rights, and encourage full participation in the cultural, social, economic and political life of Alberta.

As Policy and Program Consultant, you will engage with organizations, communities, and sectors to develop effective strategies that increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. You will work to remove barriers and reduce hate, racism, and discrimination for historically marginalized and vulnerable people and groups. You will collaborate with all sectors to implement individual, organizational, community, and systemic change. This position is provincial in scope and works with different communities - both geographic and communities of interest - across Alberta.

This position will also support the Commission’s Indigenous Human Rights Strategy. Firsthand experience working for and with Indigenous people and communities; a deep understanding of Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, and being; and community-based experience and skills are an asset. Using your proactive and well-developed relationship-building and program management skills, you will:

• Examine current issues and trends, research best practices, and use data and information to develop evidence-based policies, policy responses and positions, programs, and initiatives.
• Lead research, engagement, and evaluation projects that help inform policy and program development, including internal Commission policies, programs, and services.
• Develop and maintain a network of relationships with stakeholders to identify needs and emerging issues, as well as influence the implementation of human rights strategies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to implement projects and initiatives that raise awareness, realign services, build public policy, create discrimination-free environments, and strengthen community action to address human rights and discrimination, including systemic discrimination.
• Consult with individuals, communities, and organizations throughout Alberta to strengthen their capacity and ability to address human rights issues in their communities and organizations.
• Advise Commission management to assist with developing and implementing human rights policies and programs, address systemic discrimination, and issues management.

This position requires travel and ocassionally working evenings and weekends.

Please click on this link to view the job description for 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.

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

• Systems Thinking: You consider how your access and privacy decisions impact not only the client ministry but the broader Government of Alberta, ensuring consistency and alignment with cross-ministry priorities. You recognize the interdependencies between legislation, policy, and public interest, applying this lens to develop sound, strategic recommendations.
• Build Collaborative Environments: You lead and contribute to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes. You will partner with diverse internal and external stakeholders with the opportunity to mentor and coach junior staff to provide consistent, effective and efficient access to information services.
• Develop Networks: You proactively build networks, connecting, and building trusted relationships with different stakeholders. Strong human relations skills such as diplomacy, political astuteness, conflict resolution, proactive problem-solving, negotiating, influencing, and sensitivity are desired skills to interact with stakeholders.
• Creative Problem-Solving: You have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions. You will seek clarity and, constructively challenge the process to eliminate barriers to encourage creativity and innovation. Strong critical-thinking skills will provide benefits to successfully identifying alternative solutions.
• Agility: You adapt quickly to shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and emerging challenges while maintaining accuracy and compliance. You remain composed and solutions-focused in high-pressure situations, responding effectively to unexpected or complex access issues.

Qualifications

Required

A university degree in a relevant discipline (social sciences, public policy, social work, community development, public administration, or a related field), supplemented by 4 years of progressive related experience in human rights, anti-racism, diversity, equity, multiculturalism, and/or women’s issues.

Well-developed knowledge of one or more of the stakeholder and issue areas engaged in human rights, diversity, equity, and multiculturalism (i.e., women, persons with disabilities, the 2SLGBTQ+ community, religious groups, Indigenous people, racialized persons, immigrants and refugees, or social justice groups) is required.

Equivalencies may be considered as follows:

• Two Year Diploma and a minimum of six (6) years related experience.
• One Year Certificate and a minimum of seven (7) years related experience.
• No education (High School Diploma) and a minimum of eight (8) years experience.

Cover Letter: Please provide a cover letter detailing how your skills, knowledge, and experience align with the requirements of the position. Application without cover letter will be automatically disqualified.

Assets

• First-hand, lived expierence as an Indigenous person and/or with Indigenous issues and initiatives.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement prevention strategies, including policy and program development.
• Project management experience.
• Ability to build relationships, partnerships, and coalitions, including the ability to influence and facilitate change.
• Well-developed and effective communication (verbal, non-verbal and written) skills.
• Experience implementing large systemic initiatives, including associated policy and legislative changes.

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

The competition will be used to one fill (1) permanent Policy and Program Consultant position.

A written assessment may be a part of the recruitment process for this role.

The successful candidate will be required to work in Edmonton, scheduled Monday to Friday, 7.25 hours per day for a total of 36.25 hours per week.

Location:.Edmonton

A Remote or Hybrid work arrangement is not offered.

Final candidates may be required to undergo a security screening. 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.

Please ensure your resume highlights how your previous work experience is related to the qualifications and requirements for this position. Resumes should clearly state the employment dates on your resume with the month and the year.

What We Offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.