Directors, Capital Programs and Stakeholder Relations

Role Responsibilities

The Ministry of Education and Childcare is looking for two dynamic leaders to join its Capital Planning Sector: 

•    Director, Capital Programs
•    Director, Stakeholder Relations.

Alberta Education, with technical input from Alberta Infrastructure, reviews submissions from school boards for new building and building renovation projects to determine priorities for capital funding decisions as part of the Alberta Government's capital plan.  In addition to developing the provincial school capital plan, Alberta Education develops policies and procedures for the effective planning  of the school facilities capital program, the maintenance and renewal program, the lease support program, and the modular classroom program.

Capital Planning is an integral part of the Financial Services and Capital Planning Division, providing leadership to school boards, francophone authorities and Charter school societies to provide new facilities and upgrade supported capital infrastructure.  Capital Planning representatives are also accountable for the development of the scope of work for capital approvals and work with Alberta Infrastructure representatives to ensure that approved capital projects are managed and implemented in accordance with government policy and appropriate standards and guidelines are followed.

Director, Capital Programs

The Capital Programs Branch is a critical part of the Capital Planning sector, working with school jurisdictions, francophone authorities and Charter school societies to provide, preserve and upgrade supported capital infrastructure. The branch works closely with school jurisdictions, Alberta Infrastructure, Treasury Board and Finance, as well as other stakeholders to develop long-term integrated capital plans and projects, ensure capital project requests are in line with the educational plans of school boards and to ensure capital funding issues are addressed consistently. 
The Director of Capital Programs leads the review and approval of all major school capital projects and their submission to Treasury Board and Finance, the pre-planning and site readiness programs, and the minor capital programs including the maintenance and renewal program, the modular classroom program, and the leasing program. 

Job Responsibilities 
•    Responsible to lead a team of professionals in the analysis and review of all major school capital projects requested by school jurisdictions and the submission of the recommended major capital requests to Treasury Board.
•    Responsible for leading the sector's management of the school capital  pre-planning program and the site readiness requirements for current and prospective capital projects.
•    Responsible to lead a team of professionals for other capital programs, including the infrastructure maintenance and renewal program, the capital maintenance and renewal program, the modular classroom program, and the leasing program. 
•    Leads the development of briefings and other documents in response to requests from the Deputy Minister and Executive Team, request environmental scans, review research, provide summaries, create speaking and briefing notes as well as reports, business cases, correspondence, presentations, and other communications materials as required.

Role Responsibilities Continued

Director, Stakeholder Relations

The Stakeholder Relations Branch is accountable for being the main point of contact for day-to-day communications between external stakeholders and the Ministry on all matters related to Capital Planning.  Stakeholders include but are not limited to School Jurisdictions, Municipalities, and other ministries.  The branch is expected to act as a first point of contact to stakeholders and will work to build strong relationships and networks across them.  This includes triaging emergent School Jurisdiction inquiries, leading design reviews, and managing general stakeholder relations. 

This Director Stakeholder Relations leads a team responsible for providing a comprehensive range of capital planning and project support services, technical and professional consultation, and negotiations with clients and stakeholders.  This includes investigating and addressing concerns/issues related to school infrastructure across the province, supporting real property governance such as dispositions of property, and ensuring capital projects remain in line with approved functional scopes.

Job Responsibilities 

•    Develops close working relationships with key management staff at school jurisdictions and related associations across the province.  Proactively works with stakeholders to identify and mitigate capital related issues and concerns.  This could be in relation to specific buildings/site, emergent and/or emergency capital issues, projects, or broader capital related initiatives.
•    Supports School Jurisdictions in the development of their capital plans, in advance of their submission to Education and Childcare, and the delivery of capital projects once approved.  This includes negotiation and collaborating with key school board personnel, Infrastructure and other critical stakeholders through project scoping and delivery, value management sessions and/or other stakeholder engagement.  
•    Responsible for the investigation and management of real property files including the review of available sites for potential educational use. 

Both positions are expected to:

•    Manage the development of strategies and responses to requests, typically of a high profile, politically sensitive, and/or sector-wide nature, through analysis of subject matter information, political environment, and interpretation of relevant historical context.
•    Lead the development of briefings and other documents in response to requests from the Deputy Minister and Executive Team, request environmental scans, review research, provide summaries, create speaking and briefing notes as well as reports, business cases, correspondence, presentations, and other communications materials as required. 
•    Establish and maintain effective working relationships with sector, Ministry and government representatives as well as other stakeholders to ensure the sector is managing issues appropriately, with senior representatives and officials being aware of emerging and critical issues and having appropriate input and briefings to make decisions

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: 
•    Works to remove barriers to outcomes, sticking to principles, forecasts and proactively addresses project challenges, removes barriers to collaboration and achievement of outcomes, upholds principles and confronts problems directly and considers complex factors and aligns solutions with broader organization mission.

Agility: 
•    Proactively incorporates change into processes, creates opportunities for improvement, is aware of and adapts to changing priorities, remains objective under pressure and supports others to manage their emotions, proactively explains impact of change on roles, and integrates change in existing work and readily adapts plans and practices.

Develop Networks:
•    Makes working with a wide range of parties an imperative, creates impactful relationships with the right people, ensures needs of varying groups are represented, goes beyond to meet stakeholder needs and ensures all needs are heard and understood.

Systems Thinking: 
•    Integrates broader context into planning, plans for how current situation is affected by broader trends, integrates issues, political environment and risks when considering possible actions, supports organization vision and goals through strategy and addresses behaviours that challenge progress.

Qualifications

Required:

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

Assets:

•    Experience with capital planning priorities and processes for the provincial education system, and associated issues/challenges.
•    Knowledge of current and emerging issues associated with designing, building, financing, and maintaining schools, along with associated trends and issues.
•    Experience in the management of projects and program development initiatives.
•    Extensive experience supervising and mentoring staff, including commitment to team building, coaching, and developing staff capacity.
•    Advanced interpersonal and relationship management skills to collaborate and negotiate with diverse clients, partners, and stakeholders having varied and occasionally conflicting perspectives, requirements, and priorities.
•    Project Management Professional  (PMP) Certification or other related accreditation would be considered as an asset.
•    Accreditation or membership with relevant industry organizations is an asset (AAA, APEGA, etc.)
•    In depth knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, Ministerial Orders, policies, and guidelines (e.g. Education Act; Borrowing Regulation; Disposition of Property Regulation; Municipal Government Act; Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Infrastructure; School Capital Manual; 20-Year Strategic Capital Plan; Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Real Property Governance Act), as well as other legislation of other departments that impact sector operations.

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

A cover letter must accompany your application and how your experience aligns with the behavioral competencies of the role you are applying for. This cover letter may be used to assess your communication abilities.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 15, 2020 - June 25, 2024: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary. This competition may be used to fill future roles at the same or lower classifications.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening. All costs associated with the recruitment process including documentation fees and travel expenses are the candidate’s responsibility. If documentation is requested from an applicant, out-of-province applicants can obtain the documents requested from the province they reside in.

What we offer:

•    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