Manager, Policy and Programs

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Regional Economic Development Policy, this position is responsible to provide leadership to develop policies, strategies, and initiatives focused on supporting and growing Alberta's economic regions. This work is critical to inform Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration (JETI) on regional economic development issues, collaboration best practices, related risk factors, economic development opportunities, and ultimately informs strategic decision-making and program/policy development.

The Manager will be required to lead and support various policy projects and may need to lead strategic relations with other divisions, provincial and federal departments, economic development stakeholders and communities to develop, advance and communicate economic development policies. This position provides senior-level policy advice and recommendations to executive leadership focused on key policy initiatives that support regional economic development and inform economic strategy and program development.

The responsibilities of this position encompass:

• Providing project management leadership and oversight on policy and analysis-related projects and key Ministry priority deliverables, such as strategies and reports.
• Leads and supports research, jurisdictional and environmental scanning, strategic policy and program analysis, issue and option identification, and evaluation.
• Supporting the Director and Executive Team in achieving the mandate and goals of the Unit/Branch.
• Build collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• Provide and support leadership, mentorship, and employee development within the unit.

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.

To effectively fulfill the responsibilities of the Lead Investigator role, the following competencies are essential:

• Agility: The ideal candidate will possess the ability to balance a number of complex, concurrent projects while producing a high quality of work within tight time constraints. They will possess the skills to identify options and implement realistic contingency plans; readily steps in to help others on the team; is nimble and open to changes; takes advantage of opportunities to improve program development and implementation processes.
  
  
• Build Collaborative Environments: The ideal candidate will engage others to think broadly about impacts of projects and bring different perspectives together. Build trust with and ensure communication is ongoing by setting up processes or structures that facilitate communication and encourage collaboration between divisions and senior leaders to share information and ensure that there is alignment between the Ministry's business plan and core businesses, goals and strategies.

APS Competencies - continued

• Creative Problem Solving: Helps manage the team's research projects that support economic development policy priorities, which are multi-faceted and may not have precedents and is able to use planning skills, analytical and creative thinking to arrive at innovative solutions.
  
  
• Develop Networks: Builds relationships by following through on commitments, demonstrating integrity and respect for others; informs key stakeholders of relevant information in a timely manner; seeks and applies the perspectives and needs of colleagues and stakeholders.
  
  
• Drive for Results: Sets and accomplishes goals and priorities; factors in complexity of issues and aligns plans based on government direction; removes barriers to collaboration; provides informed advice.
  
  
• Develop Self and Others: Manages a team and provides effective guidance, support and professional development. Must provide timely and constructive feedback to ensure strong performance and leverage strengths when assigning roles.
  
  
• Systems Thinking: Considers inter-relationships among initiatives and relations to department priority and expected project outcomes; integrates emerging trends; considers implications of different options, maintain an awareness of broad objectives and priorities of the departments to ensure alignment and integration of planning and reporting and setting a strategic direction.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards

• University graduation in business, public policy, or economic development or in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by four years related experience.; or equivalent as described below;
  
  

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

For application consideration, you must attach a cover letter explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.

The following knowledge, skills or experiences are considered as assets:

• Extensive experience in policy development and strategic planning and issue evaluation skills and experience.
• Understanding of the strategic directions and priorities, as well as the processes, of the department, government and other key stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of government policy development processes.
• Extensive experience in effectively supervising, managing, coaching and developing teams to successfully achieve their objectives.
• Strong interest-based negotiation and consultation with internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Superior experience and abilities in collaboration and consensus-seeking processes.
• Ability to advocate for branch interests while respectfully balancing perspectives of other stakeholders.
• Strong consultation and facilitation skills including the ability to develop solutions and recommendations for issues involving a variety of requirements, implications, and perspectives.
• Strong writing skills to identify issues and prepare correspondence, reports, training manuals, briefing notes, memos, and letters.
• Possess superior project management knowledge and experience.
  
  

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 permanent full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This position is located in Edmonton, Alberta.

Candidates are required to submit resume and cover letter that succinctly demonstrate their qualifications against the job requirements, including education, experience, and relevant competencies. It’s important for applicants to ensure their resume and cover letter clearly articulate how their past work experiences align with the role’s qualifications and needs.

Resumes must include precise employment dates (month and year) to assist in assessing written communication skills and attention to detail.

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo an academic check, references, may need to provide a suitable security screening and may be asked to complete a written exercise and/or assessment.

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 Government of Alberta 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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.