Manager, Official Languages in Education Program (OLEP)

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Intergovernmental Relations Branch, the Manager, OLEP incumbent provides strategic direction and advice on Alberta Education's official languages in education programs (OLEP), while managing three pan-Canadian and one provincial program in Alberta and managing approximately $16 million federal dollars Alberta receives annually. The position is also responsible for working closely with ministries across the Government of Alberta, provincial education partners, the federal, provincial and territorial governments, as well as the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) Secretariat to continuously evaluate and improve OLEP in Alberta. The incumbent works closely with provincial education stakeholders to provide and clarify information to ensure transparent communication and clear direction on Education positions and policies related to the official languages in education programs in Alberta.

Responsibilities:

1) Building and maintaining trusting relationships with federal-provincial/territorial government staff and provincial educational partners to foster innovative solutions that address issues and gaps in the provision of francophone education and French second-language instruction in Alberta.

2) Managing the three pan-Canadian official language programs (Odyssey, Explore, Destination Clic).

• Represent Alberta in pan-Canadian committees to continuously enhance and promote the programs.
• Develop policies for each program.
• Promote the programs across Alberta, while working with students, parents, teachers, and post secondary institutions to encourage participation.
• Administer the programs in Alberta and work with stakeholders to troubleshoot any issues that arise.
• Manage federal funding provided to Alberta through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) Secretariat to support these programs.
• Provide report backs to the CMEC Secretariat to identify how federal funding was expended in Alberta.

3) Managing the Individual Teacher Bursary program

• Assist in the development of policies related to the program for Alberta teachers and communicate these policies in a clear and consistent manner to provincial educational partners.
• Promote the program to Alberta certified teachers.
• Ensure all applicants meet provincial criteria for reimbursement.

Role Responsibilities Continued

4) Managing annual (regular) and complementary (application-based) federal funding

• Work with Education provincial partners through the OLEP Provincial Advisory Committee (PAC) to develop policies for the use of federal funding (regular).
• Work directly with provincial education partners and PAC to develop Alberta applications to meet federal criteria in the annual calls for proposals from the federal government related to 1) infrastructure for francophone minority-language education; 2) francophone and French language teacher recruitment and retention; and 3) complementary projects.

5) Supporting negotiations with the federal government on the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction and Canada-Alberta Agreement for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction

• Identify intergovernmental principles for inclusion in intergovernmental agreements.
• Identify scenarios for appropriate distribution of federal funding to provinces and territories.
• Represent Alberta on federal-provincial/territorial and provincial/territorial committees related to negotiations of the protocol.

6) Directly supervise four staff members

• Manage their day-to-day activities, professional development, and applicable work-related issues.

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.

• Drive for Results - Takes and delegates responsibility for outcomes: Uses variety of resources to monitor own performance standards. Acknowledges even indirect responsibilities. Commits to what is good for Albertans even if not immediately accepted. Reaches goals consistent with APS direction.
• System Thinking - Takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them: Takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities. Anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives. Works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values. Works with others to identify areas for collaboration.
• Creative Problem Solving - Focuses on continuous improvement and increasing breadth of insight: Asks questions to understand a problem. Looks for new ways to improve results and activities. Explores different work methods and what made projects successful; shares learning Collects breadth of data and perspectives to make choices.
• Build Collaborative Environments - Involves a wide group of stakeholders when working on outcomes: Involves stakeholders and shares resources. Positively resolves conflict through coaching and facilitated discussion. Uses enthusiasm to motivate and guide others. Acknowledges and works with diverse perspectives for achieving outcomes.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field (Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, etc.), plus a minimum of 4 years of related experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for on basis.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education

Other requirements for the role:

• Fluency in both verbal and written English and French is mandatory.
• Experience with the Official Languages in Education Programs (OLEP)

Assets:

• Prior experience in leading and managing teams.
• Knowledge and experience with the education system.
• Strong research and analytical abilities, problem-solving and organizational skills and attention to detail.

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

This is a temporary full-time  position till Jun 2026, working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday based out of Edmonton.

• Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo a written assessment.
• Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.
• Parking is not provided for this position.
• Employee annual professional fees/dues are not covered for this position.

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.

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter that outlines in detail their experiences and how that experience relates specifically to the requirements for this position. Applications without an appropriate cover letter or appropriate resume will not be considered.

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.
• 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.