Contract & Procurement Specialist

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, the Contract & Business Analysis Specialist is responsible for planning, procuring, managing and evaluating agreements and operations that support the delivery of programs and services.

The position leads or supports procurement, contract and grant management, service planning, business analysis and continuous improvement activities within the Branch and Division. The position works with program areas, service providers and other stakeholders to identify business and service needs, clarify underlying issues, analyze current-state processes and service delivery models, and develop evidence-based recommendations. This includes gathering and validating requirements, analyzing program, financial and operational information, assessing service gaps and risks, and defining desired outcomes and performance measures for contracts, grants, procurements and service improvement initiatives.

The position applies knowledge of social programs, client and community needs, legislation, policy, procurement practices, contract administration and business-analysis methods to ensure that agreements and service delivery approaches are effective, compliant and responsive to the needs of Albertans. The position works independently with a high level of autonomy and requires strong analytical, facilitation, negotiation, consultation, communication and relationship-management skills. The position builds and maintains collaborative relationships with ministry staff, service providers and other stakeholders. Through these relationships, the position identifies emerging issues, insights, evaluates options, supports evidence-informed decisions and facilitates the implementation and ongoing improvement of services, processes and agreements.

Key responsibilities include managing contracts and grants, monitoring performance and compliance, analyzing financial and operational information, identifying risks and opportunities for improvement, and implementing corrective actions where required. The position also leads or supports procurement processes, develops business cases and service strategies, facilitates consultations and working groups, and translates stakeholder needs into clear deliverables, performance measures and agreement requirements. Through research, environmental scanning and continuous improvement initiatives, the role helps ensure services remain effective, responsive and aligned with ministry priorities and client needs.

The Job Description is provided for further details on 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.

Systems Thinking - Takes a long-term view towards organization’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 and gets talent recognized
• Promotes collaboration and commitment

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

Creative Problem Solving - Works in open teams to share ideas and process issues:

• Uses wide range of techniques to break down problems
• Allows others to think creatively and voice ideas
• Brings the right people together to solve issues
• Identifies new solutions for the organization

Qualifications

University degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, or equivalent experience in a related field with a minimum of 4 years progressively responsible related experience in delivery of services that support Albertans in their continuum towards employment or other social service sector.

Assets:

• Performance measurement development and reporting experience
• Project management experience leading projects
• Experience with drafting briefings and reports in the public sector
• Experience with stakeholder engagement

Skills, Abilities and other assets:

• Experience engaging with the public and stakeholders is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience leading or working in cross-disciplinary teams.
• Experience with writing a range of materials and working with project planning and reporting documents is an asset.
• Knowledge and experience with database design, administration and reporting, including experience with reporting tools like PowerBI.
• Knowledge and experience with process design and automation, including experience with tools such as Microsoft Visio and PowerAutomate.
• Knowledge and experience with survey design, applied statistics and data collection and analysis.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly – Monday to Friday

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

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 we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.