Director, Private Career Colleges

Role Responsibilities

Are you looking to advance your career in a Senior Leadership Role? Do you have experience working with Licensing authorities and other regulatory frameworks in a middle management role? Are you skilled in applying the principles of administrative law? If your answer is “Yes”, then the Private Career Colleges and Compliance Branch may be looking for you.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Private Career Colleges and Compliance, the Director, Private Career Colleges oversees a licensing team and a compliance team to ensure the fair and effective administration of the private vocational training program. This includes the collection of fees, maintenance of licensee security requirements, institution reporting and analysis, application adjudication, student complaint investigation, compliance and risk monitoring, and the inspection program. The position maintains positive working relationships with senior and executive stakeholders, including private career college owner/operators, other branches and divisions within Advanced Education, other Ministries within government and industry groups such as Alberta Association of Career Colleges (AACC).

The roles and responsibilities of this role are as below:

• Approves and maintains procedures that ensure all decisions with respect to the licence application process adhere to the requirements of the Private Vocational Training Act and Regulation and the principles of administrative law.
• Attends to any authorities delegated by the statutory director under the Act (Director, Private Vocational Training), for example, to issue or refuse to issue a licence.
• Oversees the development and delivery of stakeholder education regarding the vocational training licence system in Alberta (e.g. website, information bulletins, annual general meetings, presentations).
• Collects and manages financial securities for all institutions with licensed programs with a total value in excess of $90,000,000.
• Presents licensing decisions to the statutory director for approval, as required.
• Provides briefings to the ministry's executive team regarding licensing and compliance activity.
• Approves and maintains procedures that ensure all decisions with respect to compliance adhere to the regulatory requirements and the principles of administrative law.

Role Responsibilities (Continued)

• Oversees the collection and preparation of documents for court and coordinates with legal counsel.
• Works with community stakeholders to identify and lead strategies to ensure that students are informed and educated about opportunities in the private career training system and aware of their rights and responsibilities.
• Liaise with regulators in other provinces and direct research and  jurisdictional scanning to shape the direction of the private career college system in Alberta.
• Participate in ministry and cross-ministry committees regarding post-secondary education, labour market, funding, skills development and other related initiatives with respect to private institutions offering licensed career training.
• Coach and mentor unit staff, fostering a collaborative culture that is nimble and embraces innovation.
• Demonstrate and model core values: integrity, accountability, excellence and respect.
• Facilitate and encourage staff development, creating opportunities for growth.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviours that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an indepth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

• Systems Thinking - Considers the high level 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.
  
  
• Creative Problem Solving - Facilitates the creation of a work environment for generating and finding newer ideas to solve existing and potential problems; works across the branch and department to consolidate resources and efforts related to unit business; proactively engages stakeholders to resolve issues to mitigate their escalation.
  
  
• Agility - Possesses the ability to create an adaptable environment and overcome barriers through a proactive and flexible approach to work.
  
  
• 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, decision making and reporting across senior and executive leadership teams.
  
  
• Building Collaborative Work Environments - Leads cross functional collaboration and initiates strategic communication systems to anticipate and address potential conflict and builds an atmosphere of genuine trust and teamwork. Works in collaboration with senior leadership and colleagues to understand and maintain work relationships to ensure the achievement of outcomes.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf  

Qualifications

University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by six years progressively responsible experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one-for-one basis.

Must have:

• At least a minimum of six years of experience including several years of experience in a supervisory or management role.
• Process knowledge and skills pertaining to regulatory frameworks governing the issuance of professional certification, permits or licences.
• Strong understanding of the powers and administrative functions under a licensing regulatory framework.
• Experience working with principles of Administrative Justice.

Assets:

• Experience working in a Public Sector organization like Federal Government, Provincial Government or Municipality would be a strong asset.
• Working knowledge of the post-secondary education sector (public and private) in Alberta and across Canada.
• Understanding of the relevant legislation and the authority of a statutory director or registrar, and the ability to implement the diverse practices required of the role.
• Understanding of the environment in which private businesses operate licensed career training programs and how private career training fits into the post-secondary education system.
• Strong human relations and problem-solving skills to balance the consumer protection needs of students and the business needs of private institutions.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship building skills to liaise with program providers and relay difficult decisions regarding licensed programs.
• Ability to manage conflict and work under pressure.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to communicate with a wide variety of audiences.
• Project and operational planning skills and experience.
• Holistic and system-level thinking to plan and lead provincial modernization efforts.
• Financial management acumen.
• Political acumen and sensitivity to read and navigate sensitive situations.

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. 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.

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
• 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