Teacher Discipline- Professional Assurance Officer

Role Responsibilities

The Alberta Teaching Profession Commission oversees professional disciplinary matters for all Alberta-certificated teachers and teacher leaders in-line with best practices used in comparable provinces and other regulated professions. The Commission protects students and enhances accountability and transparency for teacher and teacher leader conduct and competency disciplinary matters.

Reporting to the Manager, Professional Assurance, this position addresses complaints of alleged unprofessional conduct and professional incompetence against Alberta-certificated teachers and teacher leaders in accordance with the Education Act, the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders, and through the application and interpretation of legislation, regulations, standards, practices and processes. The position prepares recommendations for the Commissioner on the appropriate course of action regarding complaints in accordance with legislation, established procedures and precedence. The position is responsible for conducting preliminary inquiries, assessing completed investigation reports, drafting decisions for consideration by the Commissioner, representing the Commissioner at hearings and appeals and preparing consent resolution agreements. The incumbent will be involved in other projects and initiatives, and have additional responsibilities as operationally required. 

As a Professional Assurance Officer, the incumbent is required to demonstrate a high degree of discretion, neutrality and confidentiality. The incumbent is required to manage a large caseload, navigate complex and nuanced issues, and work within strict guidelines and timelines. The Professional Assurance Officer has a high degree of autonomy in managing their day-to-day activities, but will receive ongoing feedback to ensure legislative, legal and procedural compliance of their work. The Commissioner for the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission is the decision maker on all files.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Assess complaints, completed investigation reports and completed dispute resolution/mediation reports in relation to alleged teacher or teacher leader unprofessional conduct or professional incompetence.
• Provide technical advice and prepare draft decisions for consideration for the Manager, Director and Commissioner based on legislation, policy, standards, processes and protocols. Advice must ensure all legislative and procedural requirements have been met, and consider caselaw and precedent. 
• Conduct preliminary inquiries into complaints referred to the Commission, including analyzing complaints, drafting allegation statements, verifying information and gathering additional information relevant to the decision making process. 
• Under the direction of the Manager, Director, and/or legal counsel, prosecute/present cases of alleged unprofessional conduct and/or professional incompetence involving teacher and teacher leaders to hearing or appeal committees (as appointed by the Chair of the Professional Conduct and Competency General Panel.) 
• As a member of the team, positively contribute to the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission's success by promoting, developing and implementing best practices and strategies to effect and support teacher and teacher leader conduct and competency in Alberta's education system.

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.

Critical Competencies:

• Drive for Results – The Professional Assurance Officer must have exceptional organizational skills to set goals, prioritize work, and follow through on tasks in meeting strict deadlines and operational requirements. 
• Develop Self and Others – The Professional Assurance Officer collaborates with team members and models a commitment to life-long learning. 
• Creative Problem Solving – Highly developed critical thinking, problem solving, relationship building and communication skills, are used by the Professional Assurance Officer to objectively define complex and diverse problems, and develop appropriate recommendations. The Professional Assurance Office will align their work with best practices in addressing professional discipline matters involving Alberta certificated teachers and teacher leaders.
• Agility – The Professional Assurance Officer must anticipate, assess and adapt to changing priorities. As a senior level professional, the Professional Assurance Officer will demonstrate the ability to seek out opportunities for innovation and creative problem solving and support the Commissioner through the implementation of operational initiatives.  The position requires a high degree of flexibility and ability to implement feedback. 

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field (Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, etc.), plus a minimum of 4 years of related experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for on basis.

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 position requires experience and advanced knowledge and thorough understanding of: 

• Administrative law, natural justice and regulated professions. 
• Advanced analytical skills to define complex and diverse problems, and develop appropriate actions for consideration.
• Working within operational policy/procedures and organizational guidelines to produce work that is clear, consistent, and credible. 
• Applying complex legislation, case precedence and legal advice, including court rulings, to determine impact and prepare reasoned recommendations.
• Caseload, task and time management; exceptional ability to manage high volumes of time sensitive work.

The following are considered assets to the position:

• Experience within Alberta’s education system. 
• Experience in human resource management.
• Experience working with regulated professions, conduct and competency oversight and/or regulatory compliance. 
• Experience/knowledge working within quasi-judicial processes.
• Experience working within a digital case management environment including advanced skill working with Microsoft 365 suite of applications, SharePoint online and use of case management software.

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 full-time permanent position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Working location is 8th floor, Petwin Tower, 10707 – 100 Avenue NW, Edmonton.

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter that outlines in detail their experiences and how that experience relates specifically to the qualifications for this position. Applications without a cover letter or appropriate resume will not be considered.

In your resume, please 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 hrs shifts/week). The final candidate may be required to undergo a security screening.

Interviews will be conducted in-person in Edmonton, Alberta and will include a written assessment.

This competition will be used to develop a certified candidate list for future vacancies with the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission and may be used to fill future vacancies across the Government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.

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 has 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
•  Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs