Director, Victims Services

Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for supporting victims of crime and enhancing community safety? The Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, Victim Services to lead the delivery and continuous improvement of programs that provide critical support to victims of violent crime across the province.

As Director, you will be responsible for the oversight of the Victims of Crime Assistance Program (VAP), which offers direct services to eligible victims, helping them navigate the criminal justice system and recover from the immediate impacts of crime. You will also lead the ongoing implementation and evaluation of the Regional Governance Model for police-based and community-based victim services programs.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership:
•Lead the delivery of victim services across Alberta, ensuring alignment with legislative frameworks, best practices, and recommendations from the MLA Review.
•Manage and ensure effective administration of an annual budget of $35 million. 
•Oversee funding, contracts, and service agreements with victim service providers.
•Monitor and evaluate program performance, applying evidence-based practices and strategies for continuous improvement.
•Lead business planning and report on progress through government systems.
•Represent the division on ministry and cross-ministry committees to align with government priorities.

Legislative & Policy Advisory:
•Provide expert advice and recommendations to executive leadership on victim services legislation, policy, and funding.
•Interpret and apply federal and provincial legislative and policy directives, including the Victims of Crime and Public Safety Act and the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. 
•Lead the development and refinement of operational policies and strategic initiatives. 
•Monitor legal developments and advise on impacts to victims and related programs.
•Collaborate on cross-ministry and intergovernmental efforts impacting victims service delivery.

Team Leadership & Development:
•Lead a team of approximately 30 professionals across diverse functions, including front-line service delivery, grant management, research, policy, and training.
•Foster a high-performing, values-driven culture with a focus on innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
•Support staff development and build organizational capacity to meet evolving service needs.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:
•Build and maintain strategic relationships with victim services organizations and law enforcement agencies to ensure ongoing awareness of system needs and gaps.
•Engage with municipal, provincial and federal stakeholders to advance shared goals.
•Promote public awareness and education initiatives related to victim services.
•Represent the department in consultations and collaborative initiatives with external partners.

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.

•Drive for Results: Anticipates barriers and works with colleagues and stakeholders to remove obstacles before they become a problem.

•Develops Networks: Supports and links both internal and external stakeholders to ensure program needs are met in an evolving environment with competing priorities.

•Build Collaborative Networks: Works with partners to deliver victims services across Alberta. Addresses conflict and confusion quickly to minimize impact. Creates a shared vision and drive to deliver results.

•Creative Problem Solving: Coordinates work between stakeholders in a complex system of services and ensures that entities work together to deliver a unified service. Encourages team members to bring ideas forward to maximize outcomes for Albertans.

•Systems Thinking: Fosters a strategic and integrated approach to program delivery to ensure there is consistency across Alberta and alignment with government priorities and stakeholder expectations. 

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:
University graduation (4 years) in a related field, such as Public Administration, Business Administration, Social Sciences or other related area, supplemented by seven (7) years progressively responsible experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Required:
•Progressive leadership experience, ideally within the public service, justice, or social services sectors, with strong project management and organizational leadership skills and the ability to manage a number of complex issues while delivering results. 
•Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic partnerships with stakeholders.
•Knowledge of the criminal justice system and associated legislation, acts, regulations and government policies, including the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, Victims of Crime and Public Safety Act, Claire's Law, and Protecting Survivors of Human Trafficking, Police Act, Protection Against Family Violence Act; Child, Government Accountability Act; and Government Organization Act
•Understanding and experience with government processes related to the development and approval of legislation, regulations, policies, and programs.
•Knowledge of the stakeholder community, including community agencies, non-government organizations, enforcement agencies, Indigenous communities and organizations, the public, and relevant organizations, committees, and advisory groups.

Assets:
•Graduate-level education is an asset.
•Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
•Expertise in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
•Experience in budget development, procurement, and grant and contract management.
•Demonstrated negotiation, consultation, mediation and facilitations 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

•Location: John E Brownlee Building, Edmonton, Alberta
•Hours of work: 7.25 hours per day/ 36.25 hours per week
•Monday to Friday (8:15 am to 4:30 pm)

Other Application Information:
•Please include a cover letter outlining how your education and skills align with the role.
•Final candidates may be required to undergo a written test demonstrating writing skills and abilities pre or post interviews.
•This position may require final candidates to undergo a security clearance.
•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
•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