Manager, Internal Trade Policy

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Internal Trade Policy, the Manager, Internal Trade Policy is responsible for coordinating the GoA's response to internal trade issues and initiatives. This is done by ensuring Alberta has effectively analyzed internal trade policy issues; coordinated interdepartmentally and inter-governmentally to ensure a shared understanding of these issues; promoted Alberta's position on matters pertaining to trade agreements, trade negotiations, and other internal trade initiatives; and advised senior government officials so that Alberta's interests are reflected in senior-level decision making and FPT engagement. This work contributes to an open, efficient, and stable domestic market for long-term job creation, economic growth, and stability within Alberta and Canada.

The Manager, Internal Trade Policy role is focused on ensuring Alberta's internal trade policy objectives are met and priorities of the government are represented and advanced within Canada. This role oversees economic and policy analysis of internal trade issues. The Manager engages in the coordination and assessment of policies or initiatives implemented by other GOA departments that have implications under domestic trade agreements or initiatives. The role involves liaising with federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as GOA departments, to ensure Alberta's objectives are identified and pursued in a coordinated manner. This position requires a candidate with a background related to trade policy and strong networking and communication skills.

This position is responsible for providing guidance and leadership to team members, including direct reports, and for working with other managers and directors in the branch on the development of Alberta positions related to internal trade issues. This involves:

• Ensuring timely and effective in-house analysis of internal trade policy issues.
• Coordinating unit engagement in and follow-up from interdepartmental and intergovernmental meetings.
• Ensuring branch and division leadership are appropriately briefed on internal trade policy issues.
• Exchanging information and advice with relevant departments and stakeholders to inform a clear and consistent Alberta position on internal trade issues.
• Providing support and engagement to facilitate Alberta's participation in the ongoing discussion and negotiation of internal trade issues within Canada, with a focus on ensuring that Alberta's trade policy priorities and interests are effectively incorporated into the outcomes.
• Providing support and engagement to ensure the effective implementation of trade commitments agreed to by Alberta and the defense of Alberta's trading practices and interests. 

Role Responsibilities (continued)

Responsibilities include:

Internal Trade Unit Management: Lead and coordinate internal trade policy analysis, intergovernmental engagement, and knowledge-sharing to advance Alberta’s priorities and support a more open and efficient Canadian market.

Advice to Senior Leadership: Provide timely, high-quality briefing materials, policy advice, and coordination support to senior officials and the Minister on internal trade issues and engagements.

Policy & Strategy Development: Advance Alberta’s internal trade strategy through cross-government collaboration, ensuring alignment with domestic trade agreements and addressing emerging policy issues.

Negotiations & Market Access: Represent Alberta in internal trade negotiations, build consensus across jurisdictions, and support initiatives that expand market access for businesses and workers.

Dispute Management: Coordinate and advise on internal trade disputes, including prevention, response, and collaboration with ministries and legal counsel to protect Alberta’s interests.

This role requires extensive problem solving, systems thinking, relationship development and the ability to represent Alberta's interests in cross-ministry and FPT committees.

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 - This position is expected to regularly manage and coordinate multiple initiatives, as well as understand and mitigate risks to deliver both short-term and long-term goals.

Develop Self and Others - This position will play a key role in developing skills and core competencies of the team in the advancement of key branch and organizational goals. This position will lead team members to develop aspirational personal career plans.

Agility - This position works in grey policy areas; situations and obstacles encountered are often nebulous, without a clear path to resolution.

Develop Networks - This position must develop and maintain strong cross departmental and external linkages (e.g., with provincial counterparts, federal technical officials, and other stakeholders) to ensure effective information exchange, collaboration, and policy development.

Qualifications

University graduation in Public Administration, Business, Political Science, Economics, Trade Policy, Public Policy, Law or other related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Skills required for this role:

• Knowledge of key trade policy concepts and agreements.
• Knowledge of Alberta's trade policy objectives and an ability to align work activities with those objectives.
• Familiarity with intergovernmental issues.
• Broad understanding of policy and legislation, trends and issues relative to internal trade.
• Experience in managing complex negotiations and finding consensus among diverse positions.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships within the division, across government, and with stakeholders.
• Experience in facilitating effective reciprocal dialogue and information exchange with clients and stakeholders.
• Record of demonstrating political judgment and an ability to craft policy and messaging that is in line with government priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to confront and resolve disagreement and conflict in a professional manner.
• Experience with negotiating innovative solutions to complex and diverse issues.
• Exceptional verbal, written, listening and interpersonal skills, including the creation and communication of policy and policy recommendations. 
• Experience in government processes and advancing files.
• Experience in managing and building a team with a commitment to create, support, and sustain an environment that enables staff to achieve results and develop and build organizational capacity for the future.
• Ability to anticipate and respond quickly to client needs.

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

We are recruiting one temporary (2 years) full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Work location is Edmonton.

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 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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.