Director, Operating Programs and Special Initiatives

Role Responsibilities

About the Role

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven leader to join our team as Director, Operating Programs and Special Initiatives within the Grants and Education Property Tax Branch. This role is pivotal in managing significant provincial funding programs that support municipalities across Alberta. The Director will lead a team of management and professional staff to ensure the effective administration of competitive and operating grant programs and special initiatives that provide key supports to local governments.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Implementation and Delivery
     •    Oversee the delivery of competitive funding programs to support municipal infrastructure, services, and regional capacity building.
     •    Lead teams to implement and administer programs such as the Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) and Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) Operating program.
     •    Lead the development and administration of special grants to local governments.
     •    Support the development and implementation of new or modified grant programs, ensuring compliance with policies, timelines, and resource allocation.
     •    Provide input on grant IT system development and program evaluations, and identify strategies to streamline processes and enhance client service.
     •    Lead the intake and administration of municipal sector agreements under the Provincial Priorities Act.

2. Grant Compliance and Payments
     •    Develop and enforce policies and procedures to ensure compliance with conditional grant agreements and government accountability frameworks.
     •    Ensure adherence to legislation and process requirements for all grant programs.
     •    Approve payments for the programs under the Director’s accountability.

3. Strategic Leadership and Integrated Approaches
     •    Offer strategic perspectives on grant delivery, processes, and accountability functions to senior leadership and cross-ministry initiatives.
     •    Represent the ministry on committees addressing grant program development, legislation, and intergovernmental coordination.
     •    Build and maintain strategic relationships with other department staff involved in administering operating grant programs, stakeholders, provincial and federal departments, and local
          governments to support regional coordination and financial health.
     •    Lead a team to develop a client service strategy for the branch.

4. Corporate Information and Support
     •    Lead program forecasting and provide strategic advice on multi-year budgets and funding commitments.
     •    Collaborate with Communications and Corporate Services to ensure accurate and timely financial and program information is shared.

5. Advisory and Issue Management
     •    Deliver timely, high-quality advice on funding programs, special initiatives, and emerging issues to senior leadership and stakeholders.
     •    Support new program development and administration across departments.

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 - Takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them. Must consider how different factors affect market and property values, how these
      factors were considered and implemented by municipal assessors and how they interact and influence property values over time.
•    Agility - Identifies and manages required change and the associated risks. Adjusts project timelines and deliverables in response to new executive requests
•    Creative Problem Solving - Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues
•    Drive For Results - Consider complex factors and aligns solutions with broader organization mission
•    Build Collaborative Environments - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes

Qualifications

•    University Degree in a related field such as Public Administration, Economics, Political Science, Social Science, or Business plus 7 years of experience.

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:
•    Management and leadership of professional staff.
•    Program management and delivery, including program and policy development.
•    Experience reviewing and/or implementing programs, legislation, and regulations.
•    Proven ability to liaise with stakeholders, senior management, and political representatives.

Skills & Competencies
•    Supervisory and leadership skills.
•    Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
•    Project and time management expertise.
•    Organizational and budgeting skills.
•    Research and analytical capabilities.
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•    Consultation and facilitation experience.
•    Interpersonal, mediation, and negotiation skills.

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

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter along with their resume. Only applications with a cover letter will be reviewed.

Other examples of information that could be included:

•    Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.
•    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.)

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 have 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.
•    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.