Director, Policy Coordination

Role Responsibilities

The Director, Policy Coordination leads and manages a multi-disciplinary team of legislative, regulatory and policy specialists, and geographic science professionals in the Strategic and Integrated Services Division, within the Corporate Planning and Governance branch. This position has a critical role in leading policy coordination, and the development of integrated policy and planning options. A significant responsibility of this position is to shape and communicate the ministry's strategic policy direction and supporting informed decision making at senior leadership levels within the department, and at the Ministerial and cabinet levels.

Visionary leadership, collaboration, and strong interpersonal skills are essential in this role. The incumbent must develop strong working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels and within all areas of the Ministry, cross-ministry (other departments, legal services, Executive Council's Policy Coordination Office, and Legislative Counsel Office) to meet the requirements of the position.

Responsibilities include:
•    Enhancing policy capacity within the Ministry, supporting policy integration within the Ministry, and informed decision making at the senior leadership, Ministerial and cabinet levels. 
•    Providing leadership in the development of a comprehensive policy agenda which is aligned with the Ministry's legislative and strategic plans and supporting Executive as packages are brought forward for cabinet committee. 
•    Providing leadership for a high-performing and motivated, multi-disciplinary team of professionals. 
•    Supporting or leading other branch, division, department or Government of Alberta priorities, as required.

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.

How Competencies will apply to this role:

Build Collaborative Environments: Builds consultative and collaborative working relationships and partnerships in the ministry and across government to develop and advance coordinated policy options. 

Drive for Results: Provides strategic advice to the Minister, DM, Executive Team, and ministry staff and must forecast potential challenges with implementation and negotiates major issues in advance.

Systems Thinking: Able to see both the big picture and details, understanding the whole system and recognize linkages between the two. Must be able to evaluate broad reaching impacts and use this knowledge to inform progress. In-depth knowledge of the structure, operation and decision making processes in the department and government.

Develop Self and Others: Must have an ability to create, support, and sustain a work environment that enables staff to achieve results and build skill capacities for the future.

Agility: Must be able to adapt quickly to the changing landscape and priorities, foster agility in others, create processes and opportunities that encourage proactive and flexible practices across the ministry, inter-ministry and with external stakeholders. 

Qualifications

Required: 
•    A university degree (Masters preferred) in natural science, business, social science, or other related fields.
•    Minimum of 6 years extensive related experience in policy development and government decision making.

Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis. 
  
Assets:
•    Experience with Environment and Protected Area’s policy and legislation, and other relevant government legislation (e.g., Government Organization Act).
•    Experience leading and coordinating complex projects and processes and leading teams. Experience in environmental regulatory and non-regulatory approaches, performance measurements and reporting, and systems evaluation related to environmental and human health protection.

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 competition is for 1 permanent position, located in Edmonton. 
•    Monday – Friday, 7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

Any costs associated with obtaining 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 has to offer to prospective employees.
•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages- working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Pension plans: 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/alberta-public-service-human-resource-directives.
•    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 agreements.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.