Issues Advisor

Role Responsibilities

The Issues Advisor (IA) is responsible for the ongoing operational facilitation of branch correspondence, issues management and support for the daily operations of the Executive Director's Office (EDO) within the Child Care Administration Branch, Child Care Delivery (CCD) Division. The EDO is a dynamic, results-oriented office that requires the IA to perform at an exceptional standard.   
The IA plays a critical role in ensuring the ED, Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM), Deputy Minister (DM) and Minister receive timely and accurate briefings on current and emerging issues, and that issues are effectively communicated and contain input from all affected program areas. 
The incumbent works independently to research, draft, coordinate and process issues-based Action Requests (ARs) and other requests for information from the ADM, DM's and Minister's office or intended for the Minister.  This position anticipates issues and identifies solutions related to those issues, requiring a comprehensive knowledge of childcare delivery and (including childcare and policy related to early childhood development) grant management.

The incumbent ensures briefings/ARs/presentations/data pulls succinctly identify issues, meet quality standards and align with the government and ministry's policy or position, and develops systems to continuously improve the quality and timelines processes by the EDO. 

The IA assesses emergent issues, determines their nature and priority, research and coordinates supporting information and development of action plans, takes appropriate action to ensure issues are dealt with in a timely, accurate and coordinated manner within the EDO and Division.  

The incumbent gathers new information and applies knowledge of childcare delivery, grant management and relevant legislation and practice to analyze issues and resolve problems to ensure decisions are made that best meet the Division and ministry needs.

Responsibilities include:

1. Issues Management - Issues relevant to the branch, ADM and the Division are identified and appropriately addressed   through the coordination of a diverse range of resources and activities.
2. Leads Branch and Cross-division facilitation - Establishes effective relationships with the branches and divisions in the ministry, and service delivery regions to contribute to cohesive and coordinated childcare program delivery, including ensuring branch input into policy and transformation initiatives and partner input into branch programs, processes and products.
3. Coordination of Branch Products - Manages the production of briefings, reports, action plans and requests that identify issues, meet quality standards, and align with the government's and ministry's policy or position, ensuring effective processes and timely results. This involves developing plans to deliver on complex requests or products producing/drafting materials, ensuring relevant partner input is incorporated, navigating conflicting information as well as editing and/or re-packaging materials prepared by staff.

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.

Key competencies for this role:

• Drive for Results - As a representative of the Executive Director, works in close collaboration with Branch leadership, partner branches and divisions to ensure the Branch has the tools and systems in place to achieve goals and priorities.  

• Systems Thinking - To effectively identify issues in planning and program implementation that could impact the Branch in achieving both long- and short-term strategies. Work closely with Branch leadership and partners to identify linkages and approaches to align with and implement other branch and ministry systems. initiatives and priorities.

• Develop Networks - Builds and leverages networks and collaborative relationships within, the branch, across ministries, departments, teams to facilitate the effective implementation and delivery of programs and priorities.

• Creative Problem Solving - Operates with a high degree of independence, supporting staff and coordinating activities to address issues within resource constraints and organizational processes and policies. Identifies and resolves issues that arise during the implementation of projects and programs to ensure continuity and efficiency.

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 Public Administration, Communications, Social Sciences, Business Administration or a related field plus four years of progressively responsible related experience or equivalent as described below.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience is considered on the basis of one year of education for one year of experience or one year of experience for one year of education.

Knowledge:
· Strong working knowledge of government/division initiatives, protocols, strategic direction and priorities.
· Extensive knowledge of other government programs, particularly those providing supports services to children and families.
· Government/ministry protocol for responding to correspondence (often complex issues) that Involves or has been widely distributed throughout government.

Skills:
· Strong Critical thinking with the ability to work independently and make sound decisions and use good judgment.
· Exceptional oral and written correspondence skills in order to communicate effectively with diverse audiences on complex issues.
· Excellent proofreading and editorial skills.
· Adaptability and the ability to work in an environment with changing priorities, and short timelines.
· Exceptional time-management and organizational skills, and the ability to take on multiple projects, prioritize tasks/issues with varying scale and urgency, communicate information and produce quality results in short timelines.
· Political sensitivity and ability to maintain a neutral and objective approach to dealing with controversial, politically charged issues.
· Client focus, knowing “who the client is” and maintaining a clear focus on client needs in an environment of multiple stakeholders and often conflicting interests.
· Strong conceptual and analytical skills; highly developed critical thinking skills, problems solving and judgment.
· Ability to break down complex situations into manageable parts in a systematic way.
. Ability to develop and implement plans.
· Ability to synthesize, analyze and clarify complex ideas and material, and formulate them into clear, plain language.
· Ability to present ideas and concepts in a manner that outlines and emphasizes the benefit to audience.
· Strategic thinking, with ability to look at the longer-term view in order to anticipate how future developments and trends may impact division.
· Excellent collaborative, relationship-building skills, with an ability to work well in a team environment and with personnel at different levels of an organization.
. Ability to implement change and influence without authority.
· Ability to meet client needs and respond to concerns escalated through direct client communication with the MO/DMO through return phone calls and written correspondence.
· High degree of proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), including ability to work efficiently and effectively with various software including desktop publishing (Adobe), SharePoint design etc., as well as Internet research are required.

The below statement must be included in job ad:
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

There is one (1) permanent full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This position is based in Edmonton.

A cover letter is required. In your cover letter, please provide information that clearly demonstrates how your qualifications meet the advertised requirements for this position.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a written assessment prior to interviews.

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.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.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.
  •    Leadership and mentorship programs.