Manager, Seniors Policy & Planning

Role Responsibilities

Seniors Branch is looking for a strategic and collaborative leader who can translate research and evidence into clear policy direction that supports the evolving needs of seniors in Alberta. This role plays a key part in shaping long-term priorities and ensuring alignment across government initiatives and stakeholders.

Reporting to the Director, this position develops coordinated policy, strategic frameworks, and options to support sustainable approaches to meeting the needs of seniors in Alberta. The role also leads strategic planning activities within the Seniors Services Division, ensuring alignment with ministry priorities.

Our Seniors Policy & Planning Manager leads the Seniors Policy and Planning team in research, policy analysis, and strategic planning related to seniors and aging populations. The role provides leadership across government, collaborating with ministries and stakeholders to integrate seniors’ issues into policies and initiatives, while supporting divisional planning and reporting.

In this role, you will lead policy and planning initiatives through research, analysis, and development of strategic frameworks. You will collaborate with partners across government and the community to support policy implementation and ensure alignment with broader priorities for seniors in Alberta.

As the Manager, you will action the following tasks as a part of your role:
      •    Planning and managing the Seniors Services Division’s strategic policy agenda in alignment with ministry priorities.
      •    Supporting federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) engagement on seniors’ issues by coordinating intergovernmental initiatives, advancing Alberta’s priorities in national discussions, monitoring emerging policy and legislative developments, preparing briefing materials and strategic advice for senior leadership, and fostering collaboration with federal, provincial and territorial partners to improve outcomes for seniors.
      •    Informing senior leadership (Directors, ADM, DM, and Minister) on key trends impacting seniors and implications for programs and services.
      •    Leading discussions to identify long-term strategic policy priorities and develop ministry-wide agendas.
      •    Translating research findings into strategic policy options, briefing materials, and executive-level recommendations.
      •    Consulting with internal divisions, other ministries, and stakeholders to gather intelligence on policy directions and opportunities.
      •    Overseeing the development of thought papers, environmental scans, and briefing materials to support executive decision-making.
      •    Facilitating consensus-building across government and external partners to advance strategic policy directions.
      •    Leading research agenda development, including identifying data gaps, setting priorities, and overseeing analysis and reporting. 

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate:
      •    Strong political acumen and judgment to navigate sensitive and complex policy environments.
      •    Strong conceptual thinking and the ability to translate complex issues into clear, strategic policy direction.
      •    Excellent communication skills to engage effectively with diverse internal and external audiences.
      •    Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills to work across ministries, stakeholders, and government partners.
      •    Proven negotiation and influencing skills to build consensus and align differing perspectives.
      •    Strong organizational and project management skills to manage multiple priorities and deliverables effectively.

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.

       •    Agility - Must be able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience, and work effectively in changing environments.
       •    Systems Thinking - Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals. Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
       •    Build Collaborative Environment - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
       •    Develop Self and Others - A commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of yourself and others.

Qualifications

Required:

      •    University graduation (4 years) in a field related to the position such as Public Administration, Public Health, Gerontology, Social Sciences, etc., supplemented by four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in the areas such as Intergovernmental Relations, Social Policy Development, Seniors Services, Program Evaluation, etc.
      •    Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.
      •    A cover letter is required along with your application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:
                o    How your professional and/or academic background relates to this role, including your direct and transferable expertise and skills,
                o    Your leadership experience,
                o    Reason(s) for interest in this role, and
                o    A brief reflection on what effective management means to you and how this informs your leadership approach.

Assets:

       •    Experience with strategic policy agenda.
       •    Experience working on federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) initiatives and intergovernmental relations.
       •    Experience in seniors policy or aging strategy development.
       •    Experience preparing briefing notes and executive policy documents.
       •    Experience with cross-ministry or intergovernmental collaboration.
       •    Experience conducting social research and policy analysis.

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

Hours of work: Monday - Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25/week)

Positions Currently available: One (1) permanent position is available.
This job posting might be used to fill similar opportunities in the future as well.

Location: This opportunity is located at 44 Capital Boulevard Building, 10044 - 108 Street, Edmonton.

Final candidates will be asked 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.
•    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.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.