Business Planning Analyst

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager of Strategic Planning & Reporting, the Business Planning Analyst provides advice and process expertise to divisions/areas across the ministry to support the ministry’s strategic planning and reporting process, including business plan development, operational planning, performance measurement, annual report development, enterprise risk management, environmental scanning, Executive Team planning, and associated business planning and reporting mechanisms required by the ministry’s leadership team, Treasury Board and Finance, and the Office of the Auditor General.
 

Key responsibilities of the Strategic Planning and Reporting Advisor include:

• Support the development of frameworks, guidelines, project management plans, and templates for use in the ministry's strategic planning and reporting processes.
• Conduct research on an as needed basis to explore best practices relating to business planning, annual reporting, operational planning, performance measurement, enterprise risk management, and environmental scanning, including what is being done in other government ministries and other provincial jurisdictions.
• Work with ministry staff on the development, review, and reporting of meaningful performance metrics for the business plan and annual report.
• Ensure the performance metrics in the ministry business plan and annual report meet requirements and best practices established by Treasury Board and Finance, and the Office of the Auditor General.
• Support the development of an environment scanning process for the ministry, including identifying opportunities where strategic scanning would add value for decision-makers (Minister, Deputy Minister, Executive Team, or Executive Directors). 
• Support the development of the ministry's annual report, working with the ministry's Business Planning Committee and other ministry staff, providing guidance, and engaging with staff to ensure information meets general disclosure principles and the government's annual reporting standards and timelines, as established by Treasury Board and Finance.
   

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 – Considers the whole system and recognizes the linkages within the planning and reporting processes, and the impacts of each decision on the boarder system. Sets goals within the context of long-term outcomes and broad perspectives. This is particularly important in developing documents such as the strategic and business plans, where knowledge of how our desired outcomes, objectives, actions, challenges and opportunities intersect is important.
• Agility – Proactively seeks out new opportunities for improvements, takes initiative and is resourceful in coordinating the resources needed, adapts to unforeseen circumstances, and displays a positive attitude toward the work and teammates.
• Drive for Results – Actively set goals and work collaboratively to anticipate potential issues. Supports team members to ensure that goals and objectives are collectively achieved. Knows what outcomes are important and maximizes resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organizations, while maintaining accountability.
• Develop Networks – Proactively builds networks, establishes credibility and builds trust with different stakeholders. Seeks to understand the perspectives in collaborating with stakeholders and, utilizes network to articulate and achieve ministry outcomes.

Qualifications

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


University graduation in a related field (such as Business, Public Administration, Economics or Project Management) plus four 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.
   

Knowledge:

• GoA planning and reporting processes and accountability frameworks, including business and strategic planning, operational planning, performance measurement, environmental scanning, and enterprise risk management.
• Strategic business and operational planning, and performance measurement theories, principles, methodologies, and techniques.
• Enterprise risk management concepts and techniques, including identification, analysis, mitigation, and reporting of risks.
• Research methodologies, techniques and procedures, research approaches (primary and secondary), including the application of qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis.
• Project management concepts, principles and techniques.
• Sound knowledge of data collection, methodologies, evaluation and reporting activities.
   

Skills:

• Strategic thinking and innovative problem solving.
• Adaptability and flexibility to adjust priorities and schedules for self as needed to meet the needs of each initiative.
• Experience in strategic and business planning, operational planning, performance measurement and evaluation, enterprise risk management, and environmental scanning.
• Well-developed project management and direction skills.
• Interpersonal, consultation, and consensus-building skills.
• Well-developed quantitative and qualitative research techniques, analytical skills and effective presentation of data. 
• Verbal and written communication for non-technical audiences, with strong attention to detail and accuracy being of paramount importance, including ability to develop clear and compelling documents in support of recommendations, articulate complex issues and implications, and present information in a variety of formats to a variety of audiences.
• Organizational and time management skills to effectively meet deadlines.
• Ability to adapt and respond effectively and accurately in a fast paced and changing environment.
• Software tools used to carry out job responsibilities (i.e. Microsoft Office applications including M365, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database programs).
   

Notes

This position may be used to fill future vacancies across the Government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.
 

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 36.25 hours per week.
 

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.
 

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.
 

Optional: Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.
 

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/about-the-alberta-public-service
•    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.