Senior Policy Analyst

Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic, curious, and driven policy professional who thrives in complex environments and wants your work to make a real impact on Albertans? If so, this role offers an opportunity to work at the centre of high‑profile, sensitive, and meaningful policy initiatives within Mental Health and Addiction.

This Senior Policy Analyst position is within the Compassionate Intervention Legislation and Policy team. Reporting within the Legislation and Policy Unit, the successful candidate will be responsible for complex, sensitive, and high-impact policy work, including:

• Leading and supporting the development and implementation of policy and legislation.
• Conducting in-depth policy analysis and aligning research, policy, program, and ministry initiatives.
• Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to advance Ministerial and ministry priorities.
• Drafting briefing materials, correspondence, reports, and other policy-related documents.
• Designing, implementing, and managing projects.
• Supporting program-related grant, budgeting, or forecasting activities.
• Contributing to day-to-day branch and ministry operations on behalf of the Legislation and Policy Unit.
• Addressing diverse, complex, and politically sensitive issues.
• Providing strategic advice to senior management by considering research evidence, stakeholder input, and social and economic impacts over the short and long term.

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.

• 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 change and the associated risks: Identifies alternative approaches and supports others to do the same. Proactively explains impact of changes. Anticipates and mitigates 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 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.
• Develop Networks: Leverages relationships to build input and perspective: Looks broadly to engage stakeholders. Open to perspectives towards long-term goals. Actively seeks input into change initiatives. Maintains stakeholder relationships.
• 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 and gets talent recognized. Promotes collaboration and commitment.

Qualifications

University degree in a related field such as social sciences, public health, policy studies, humanities, public administration, or a related discipline. Minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience in policy development, project management, and/or research. Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

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.
  
  

Related Experience:

• Experience leading or contributing to the development, review, or implementation of public policy, including research, jurisdictional scans, options analysis, and recommendations.
• Experience drafting briefing notes, issue notes, correspondence, or reports for senior leaders, executives, or decision‑makers.
• Experience working with internal and external stakeholders to support policy, legislative, or program initiatives, including incorporating diverse perspectives.
• Experience coordinating or supporting projects or initiatives with multiple deliverables, timelines, and competing priorities.
  
  

Assets:

• Experience supporting legislation development, regulatory processes, or submissions to Cabinet or Cabinet Policy Committees.
• Knowledge of or experience related to mental health, addiction, recovery‑oriented systems, or complex social policy environments.
• Experience using tools such as Microsoft Excel to support budgeting, forecasting, or financial tracking for programs or initiatives.
• Experience managing complex or sensitive stakeholder relationships in a politically or publicly visible environment.
  
  

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: 36.25 hours per week (full time) from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This is a permanent, full-time position.

Work Location: Edmonton or Calgary Offices

A cover letter outlining how your qualifications and experience align with the role is required and will be used to assess written communication skills.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

Selected candidates may be required to complete a written assignment as part of the assessment process.

Final candidates will 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.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• 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.