Human Resources, Portfolio Director

Role Responsibilities

Make your mark on the Alberta Public Service. 

We’re seeking experienced HR Portfolio Directors to provide strategic HR leadership and deliver high-quality services to the the departments of:
•    Environment and Protected Areas 
•    Treasury Board and Finance, and the Public Service Commission 

Reporting to the Executive Director, Client Service Delivery, you will be a trusted advisor, HR innovator, and primary resource to two Deputy Ministers and their Executive Teams for strategic HR advice and delivery of departmental HR services. 

You will provide leadership and direction to a team of HR professionals responsible for delivery of employee relations, occupational health, safety and wellness, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, HR program implementation, and general HR consultative services.  

As HR Director, you will play a critical role in supporting departmental clients in navigating and liaising with other HR service centres to ensure a holistic ‘one HR’ integrated approach. 

Your exceptional client service orientation, political acumen, leadership, ability to build strong relationships, and business partnerships, will be key to your success.

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 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 – The HR Portfolio Director is the principal advisor to the assigned department Executive team(s) on related HR matters. To be successful, the HR Portfolio Director must synchronize policy and overarching initiatives while integrating and aligning business plan goals from various divisions to support the execution of ministry strategy and the achievement of target outcomes. The HR Portfolio Director needs to consider broader Alberta Public Service (APS) impacts and PSC priorities when providing advice to a client ministry.  
Creative Problem Solving – The HR Portfolio Director Identifies and supports complex issues and problems brought to the attention of client Executive Teams that require further HR support and analysis for resolution. This role requires considerable analytical, interpretive and evaluative thinking to synthesize a diversity of information and to anticipate the impact of senior leadership’s actions and initiatives. The ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions while bringing the right people together to solve complex problems and find solutions is critical. 
Drive for Results – The HR Portfolio Director must understand department objectives on strategic and operational matters. This role is accountable for results, but must influence to achieve those results, as most HR service provision will be managed by other groups within the PSC. The HR Portfolio Director needs to remove barriers to collaboration and achievement of outcomes; forecast potential challenges and negotiate major issues in advance. 
Agility – The HR Portfolio Director must take a proactive leadership role to anticipate, assess and readily adapt to changing priorities and effectively respond to and resolve program issues and concerns. While maintaining an awareness of changing priorities, the incumbent must proactively shift strategic focus and activities as appropriate.
Build Collaborative Environments – Leading a team of professional staff, the HR Portfolio Director must be a strong communicator and set up processes or structures to facilitate meaningful communication. The incumbent is expected to bring people together, facilitate meaningful dialogue and motivate others to achieve results.
Develop Networks – To be successful, the HR Portfolio Director will proactively build networks with peers and executives in the PSC, ministry clients, jurisdictional contacts and other experts in their field. The incumbent will build relationships by connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
Develop Self and Others – The HR Portfolio Director will train and coach staff, while ensuring career development paths, job satisfaction and engagement for staff are managed. The position shares learning experiences and creates plans to apply learning across the group, brings people together to examine successes and create solutions; encourages broad and systems thinking, and leverages strengths.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements for this role are:
University graduation in business, HR Management or other related field, supplemented by seven years of progressively responsible strategic HR experience and significant leadership experience.  

                            
The position requires well developed skills in leadership, communication and political acumen. The position operates with a high degree of independence, discretion, decision making, and influence, and requires comprehensive knowledge of HR principles and practices. 

Assets include: 
•    Providing strategic advice to senior leaders, including C-suite positions, Deputy Ministers, and Assistant Deputy Ministers. 
•    Experience leading the resolution of employee/labour relations in a unionized environment and strategic workforce planning initiatives.  
•    A sound understanding of related legislation and governance frameworks such as the Public Service Act, Public Service Employee Relations Act, Public Service Employment Regulation, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and Collective Bargaining Agreements.
•    Experience in the Public Sector. 

Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

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: This positions works in downtown Edmonton, Alberta. 

Hours of work: 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday - 8:15am to 4:30pm

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.