Senior Policy Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Forest Initiatives and Policy Section, the Senior Policy Advisor provides leadership to Forestry Division in the policy development process consistent with Government processes and standards. It also provides divisional policy process, strategic foresight, and systems thinking expertise. The position actively collaborates with departmental legislative planners, and other policy development specialists. The position is a key contact between the department’s Corporate Strategic Services (Legislative Services) Branch, and policy analysts in other branches, divisions, and ministries. It aids in ensuring alignment of forest policy development with wider departmental and government-wide policy initiatives, and with Government of Alberta policy standards.

Your key responsibilities include:
•    Policy research: Provide information, analysis, and advice that helps inform the design, control, implementation, and evaluation of forest policies that support government goals. 
•    Policy Design: Develop recommendations and options to identify alternate courses of action and implications for forest policies in each component of the adaptive policy cycle.
•    Policy Control: coordinate and integrate information on forest policy tools to support and align with formal planning and decision making.
•    Policy Evaluation: Develop and maintain policy-related information for the division and provide updates on the status and effectiveness of the forest policy controls in Alberta.
•    Policy Education/Communication: Develop key messages to communicate the policy options for forest policy in Albertaso individuals understand policy issues, intent, concepts, and context. Provide specific messages to clarify and correct any misinformation about intent, policy content, or potential consequences of proposed policy options.
•    Policy Capacity: Enhance policy capacity in the division.
•    Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, rightsholders, and government groups, which are initiated, supported, maintained, fostered, and enhanced.

Please click on this link to view the job description.

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: Takes a long-term view towards  the organisation’s objectives and how to achieve them. Takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities. Anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives. Works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values. Works with others to identify areas for collaboration.

Build Collaborative Environments: Collaborates across functional areas and proactively addresses conflict. Encourages broad thinking on projects and works to eliminate barriers to progress. Facilitates communication and collaboration. Anticipates and reduces conflict at the outset. Credits others to get talent recognized. Promotes collaboration and commitment. 

Creative Problem Solving: Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues. Engages perspective to seek root causes. Finds ways to improve complex systems. Employs resources from other areas to solve problems. Engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks.

Agility: Identifies and manages required changes and the associated risks. Identifies alternative approaches and supports others to do the same. Proactively explains impact of changes. Anticipates and addresses the emotions of others. Anticipates obstacles and stays focused on goals. Makes decisions and takes action in uncertain situations, and creates a backup plan.

Drive for Results: Takes and delegates responsibility for outcomes. Uses a variety of resources to monitor own performance standards. Acknowledges even indirect responsibility. Commits to what is good for Albertans even if not immediately accepted. Reaches goals consistent with APS direction.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: 
University graduation (4 year degree) in a related field such as public policy, public administration,  social sciences,  business, or natural resources; plus 4 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.

Assets
•    Experience planning and leading projects.
•    Excellent communication and organization skills.
•    Experience working in policy systems is necessary. 

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

This is a permanent, full-time role with the standard work hours of 7.25 hours per day and 36.25 per week, Monday to Friday. 

Travel within the area and throughout the province may be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and other external stakeholders. 

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.

Application Information:
•    In your application, please a include cover letter detailing your interest, and role related experience.
•    In your resume include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, 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-hour shifts/week).
•    Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.

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 GoA has to 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 as well as leadership and mentorship programs.