Director, Independent Schools and Home Education

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Director, Field Services, the Director leads a team in supporting the department, Minister of Education and Childcare,  a large number of Kindergarten to Grade 12 independent (private) school authorities, home education parents, and associate boards and independent schools that supervise home education across the province.

Within the context of legislation, regulations and policies, the Director provides direction and develops capacity within their team to promote innovation and system effectiveness, while ensuring compliance on accountability/assurance requirements for independent school authorities. The position facilitates a multitude of strategic relationships - internally and externally with Heads of School and stakeholders such as the Association of Independent Schools and home education associations, on behalf of the department and government on a broad range of educational matters.

The Director applies significant and in-depth knowledge of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system to provide strategic advice to senior ministry officials and the Minister. Astute to multiple dynamics of the complex education system, the Director identifies and proactively influences trends to positively impact the system.

Role Responsibilities Continued

The position actions responsibilities as outlined below:

• Contributes significantly to the department's mandate to provide standards and program implementation direction and supports to independent schools and home education associate boards.
• Leads team collaboration with several department areas to develop annual school authority planning and reporting requirements, based on the Education Act.
• Directs and guides the annual evaluation and approval by Field Services Managers of independent school authority 3-Year Education Plans and Annual Education Results Reports.
• Ensures monitoring processes align with other branches, sectors, and divisions within department.
• Supports the monitoring by Field Services Managers of independent schools and provides recommendations to the Minister, based on the Education Act and the Private Schools Regulation.
• Directs and guides the review by Field Services Managers of annual private school operating plans as per the Private Schools Regulation.
• Provides strategic advice through briefings and Action Requests.
• Reviews and recommends changes to legislation, provincial policy, funding, regulations, and standards as required.
• Collaborates with other department areas to support communication with school authorities and stakeholder organizations.
• Ensure alignment of branch work to the Business Plan and government priorities.
• Lead, coach and mentor a team of Field Service Managers in effective management of staff and stakeholder relations.
• Provide issues management to support the operational and business plan delivery.
• Provide overall management of branch human and financial resources including planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Provides authentic opportunities for staff members to shape and engage with their work assignments.
• Leads succession planning within the branch and within the sector in collaboration with Director colleagues and Executive Director.

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 - Considers 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.
• Drive for Results - Plans for and delivers results, from concrete deliverables to process improvements, managing resources effectively and ensuring attention to detail.
• Develop Networks - Develops and sustains a network of relationships across the division and with other GOA ministries on issues and work with other branches to develop effective communication channels to enhance and maximize the effectiveness of interactions.
• Creative Problem Solving - Facilitates the creation of a work environment for generating and finding newer ideas to solve existing and potential problems.

Qualifications

The position requires a valid Alberta Teaching Certificate.

• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation) with the ability to write quickly and for different audiences and to handle a variety of correspondences including, emails and briefing notes for senior leadership.
• Knowledge of overall operations of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system, including the management of school authorities and schools.

Depending on the statutory or unique requirements of the position, specific qualifications may apply.

Must have:

• A related Master's Degree is a strong asset.
• Previous supervisory level experience of at least three years leading a team.
• Political acumen to navigate through sensitive and complex scenarios with objectivity.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentation) with ability to write quickly and for different audiences to handle a variety of correspondences, emails, briefing notes for senior leadership. Knowledge of overall operations of the Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system, including the management of school authorities and schools.
• Knowledge of related regulation and policy procedures relevant to the Ministry of Education and Childcare.
• Demonstrated experience in adopting strategic, creative, innovative and proactive approaches to analyzing and solving problems.
• Knowledge of government strategic priorities and policy directions, and ministry business plan goals.

Assets:

• Strategic, creative, innovative and proactive approach to  analyzing and solving problems.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including ability to build relationships and networks, achieve consensus and influence others.
• Proficient in facilitation, mediation and consensus building skills in complex and conflicting circumstances involving multiple people or organizations.
• Ability to lead on a broad range of topics, e.g., supports for refugee students, home education, anti-racism strategies.
• Knowledge and skill in applying research and enterprise level performance measurement and evaluation frameworks.

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.

The final candidate for this position will be asked to undergo pre-employment checks (including a criminal record check). 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.
• 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.
• 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.