Assessing Specialist

Role Responsibilities

You will perform all work in accordance with relevant Government and Ministry legislation, policies, and guidelines. In addition, this position will provide flexible and responsive analytical capacity for the department, in collaboration with business and program areas across the division and Ministry.

Reporting to the Assessing Supervisor, this position is responsible for the delivery of the Alberta Student Aid program, which includes federal and provincial student loans, grants, awards, and student disability supports.  Funding for students is determined based on individual need, with eligibility assessed according to federal and provincial legislation, program policies, criteria, and guidelines. The Assessing Specialist leverages expert program knowledge to interpret applicable legislation, regulations, and policies; conduct detailed reviews and calculations; and research and validate multiple sources of information. These steps ensure the program’s financial integrity and that funding approvals comply with all provincial and federal eligibility requirements.

The role of the Assessing Specialist performs the following roles and responsibilities:

• Review and assess full-time and part-time applications for post-secondary students to determine eligibility for federal and provincial post-secondary student financial assistance.
• Apply thorough and advanced working knowledge of federal and provincial legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines.
• Determine eligibility of funding across multiple factors for student aid funding.
• Review, analyze and complete Level 1 Request for Reconsiderations (RFR) to  ensure that financial assistance decisions are determined correctly, including assessment of historical information contained in Program IT systems as well as any supporting documentation submitted by the student.
• Identify and review files under the Quality Assurance (QA) review process to determine misleading, inconsistent, or potentially fraudulent information, provided intentionally or unintentionally to ensure the right amount of funding is provided to the right students at the right time in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations, policies and program guidelines.
• Prepare QA review summary, draft communication letters to applicants, and make recommendations for management approval that ensure decisions are consistent with relevant policies, guidelines and overall GOA vision.

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 - Consider the impact of strategies and changes on the work of clients, stakeholders, and team members and support organization vision and goals through strategic planning of tasks and considering relationships between different work approaches and their impact on different programs, divisions and ministries.

Creative Problem Solving - Facilitate the creation of a work environment for generating and finding newer ideas to solve existing and potential problems.

Agility - Possess an ability to create an adaptable environment and overcome barriers through proactive and flexible approach to work.

Drive for Results - Focus on the process and aims to work collaboratively with others to meet and exceed departmental goals and expectations.

Qualifications

Requirement:

Two-year diploma in a related field; no experience required; 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:

• Bachelors degree with 2 to 4 years of relevant experience would be an asset.
• Knowledge of educational funding assistance programs and policies administered on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, including related criteria, guidelines, processes and procedures (i.e. Canada Student Loan Policy and Procedures Manual; Operational Policy and Procedures Manual; etc.)
• Thorough working knowledge and ability to apply relevant legislation, program policy and related procedure and guidelines.
• Knowledge of Division and Branch priorities, directions, operational requirements, organizational structure, mandates and issues.
• Knowledge of applicable information systems (i.e. SFS, PAPRS) used in the assessment and processing of post-secondary funding assistance.
• Efficient with Microsoft products (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, SharePoint, etc.)

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 one (1), Permanent full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This position is based in Edmonton. We require you to attach a Cover Letter with your application explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.

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.
•    Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.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.