Manager, Access Policy

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about leading the vision of a coherent and reliable access-to-information framework through expert policy stewardship, strategic oversight, and collaboration across government and public-sector partners. If yes, please read on!

The position offers a unique opportunity to provide strategic and coordinated leadership for building policy capacity for the Access to Information and King’s Printer branch. Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will be responsible for leading and providing direction on the enhancement, development and maintenance of policy instruments (e.g., legislation, policy, standards, directives, strategies, frameworks, and supporting guidance) pertaining Access to Information Act, (ATI Act).

Other key responsibilities for the role include but not limited to:

• Managing a team by providing leadership, coaching, and mentoring to support continual improvement and capacity development, creating an organizational culture that embraces innovation and best practices while effectively managing financial resources.
• Communicating and providing strategic options and comprehensive advice pertaining to policy instruments, and recommendations on issues, opportunities, and challenges related to access to information within the Government of Alberta.
• Managing and conducting stakeholder consultations to determine stakeholder needs and inputs into provincial policies and strategies.
• Supporting departments with guidance on the implementation of the Proactive Disclosure Policy, managing the continuous improvement of the GoA's access management framework, and associated policy instruments pertaining to access to information.
• Providing strategic leadership and oversight in researching and developing high-level materials, including briefings, key messages, draft policy, strategic documents, and reports.  Knowing the process to raise policy through recommendations to executive approvals.  
• Collaborating with leadership to ensure timely, accurate responses to organizational priorities, communications requests, and legislative requirements from Alberta’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
  
  

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.

• Systems Thinking: You consider how your access and privacy decisions impact not only the client ministry but the broader Government of Alberta, ensuring consistency and alignment with cross-ministry priorities. You recognize the interdependencies between legislation, policy, and public interest, applying this lens to develop sound, strategic recommendations.
• Build Collaborative Environments: You lead and contribute to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.   You will partner with diverse internal and external stakeholders with the opportunity to mentor and coach junior staff to provide consistent, effective and efficient access to information services.
• Develop Networks: You proactively build networks, connecting, and building trusted relationships with different stakeholders. Strong human relations skills such as diplomacy, political astuteness, conflict resolution, proactive problem-solving, negotiating, influencing, and sensitivity are desired skills to interact with stakeholders.
• Creative Problem-Solving: You have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions. You will seek clarity and, constructively challenge the process to eliminate barriers to encourage creativity and innovation. Strong critical-thinking skills will provide benefits to successfully identifying alternative solutions.
• Agility: You adapt quickly to shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and emerging challenges while maintaining accuracy and compliance. You remain composed and solutions-focused in high-pressure situations, responding effectively to unexpected or complex access issues.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree (4 year program) in a related field ( for example, Information Access and Protection of Privacy, Library and Information Studies, Information Management, Business Administration, Communications, Political Science, Arts and Humanities, Policy, Law);
• Plus a minimum of 4 years of progressively responsible experience in policy analysis, information access or other related field.
  
  

The following equivalencies may be considered:

• Two Year related diploma with a minimum six years of related experience.
• One year of related certificate with a minimum of seven years of related experience.
• No formal education with eight years of related experience.
  
  

The following are required for this role:

• Minimum of two years of supervisory experience is required.
• Extensive knowledge of the legislation (Acts and Regulations), programs, policies, practices, and precedents governing information access; Government Organization Act, Access to Information Act, the repealed Freedom of Information and Protection Act, Financial Administration Act, Public Service Act, Government Accountability Act, and the Records Management Regulation.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, including planning, resources management, risk analysis, program controls, process monitoring, and reporting.

The following will be considered assets:

• Master of Public Policy or related degree.
• Experience with the public policy development process, including issue identification, research, analysis, decision making, consultation, and implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including: Clear and concise writing ability, strong listening skills, public speaking and presentation skills, and diplomacy and professionalism.
• Experience drafting briefing notes.
  
  

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

The competition will be used to one fill (1) permanent Manager, Access Policy role.

The successful candidate will be required to work in Edmonton, scheduled Monday to Friday, 7.25 hours per day for a total of 36.25 hours per week.

A Remote or Hybrid work arrangement is not offered.

Recruitment Process:

• Candidates may be required to participate in a written assessment designed to evaluate their skills, knowledge, and experience.
• Cover Letter: Please provide a cover letter detailing how your skills, knowledge, and experience align with the requirements of the position. Application without cover letter will be automatically disqualified.
• Final candidates may 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.

Please ensure your resume highlights how your previous work experience is related to the qualifications and requirements for this position. Resumes should clearly state the employment dates on your resume with the month and the year.

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.
• 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.