Manager, Strategic Coordination

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Regional Economic Development Policy, the Manager is responsible for leading and managing economic development policies, strategies, and initiatives focused on supporting and growing Alberta's economic regions. This work is critical to inform GoA on regional economic development issues, collaboration best practices, related risk factors, economic development opportunities, and ultimately informs strategic decision-making and program/policy development.

As Manager, you are responsible for building and maintaining collaborative relationships with a wide diversity of stakeholders. This includes representing the interests of the department in engagements with external audiences, and on interdepartmental and cross-ministry teams. In this role you will be responsible to maintain an awareness of the broad outcomes and priorities of the department to ensure issues are addressed in a coordinated and consistent manner. This requires extensive problem solving, agility, systems thinking, decision-making, analytical, evaluative, creative thinking and relationship building skills, and a drive for results. The successful incumbent must be able to take the initiative and proactively identify issues and develop recommended options for their resolution and carrying policy recommendation to completion.

In your role as a Manager, Strategic Coordination you will be responsible for:
 

• Providing project management leadership and oversight on policy and analysis-related projects and key Ministry priority deliverables, such as strategies and reports.
• Leading a team of policy professional in the provision of research, jurisdictional and environmental scanning, strategic policy and program analysis, issue and option identification, and evaluation.
• Providing input and recommendations relating to issues, opportunities, and challenges associated with regional economic development policies, programs, and functions.
• Participating in cross-ministry committees, teams, and working groups, providing regional economic development perspectives and expertise to ensure thoroughness and consistency in policy and program development.
• Engaging and building collaborative relationships with senior representatives both within the Ministry and cross-ministry on regional economic development issues.
• Leading, coaching and mentoring others to achieve business plan goals.

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.
 

In this role, you will contribute to our team by demonstrating the following behavioral competencies:
 

• 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.
   
• 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

University graduation in business, public policy, or economic development or in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by four years related experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Requirements:
 

• Experience in policy review, analysis and development, strategic planning and issue evaluation.
• Sound knowledge in project planning and management.
• Experience presenting complex issues through a variety of written and verbal communication forms (for example: developing options analysis, reports and/or executive briefing notes; presentations to diverse audiences and/or leadership).
• Experience with developing briefing packages, conducting research, preparing reports, conducting and presenting analysis.
• Understanding of the strategic directions and priorities, as well as the processes, of the department, government, and other key stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written), effective interpersonal and management skills, strategic planning skills, networking skills, and proven skills in problem solving, decision making, negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Experience leading efforts among diverse teams in developing strategies, analyses or policy and program development. 

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

• Knowledge of economic development concepts, processes, and practices, and of public and not-profit sector programs applicable to economic development and how they apply and can benefit Alberta.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of government policy development processes, strategic planning and preparing materials for decision.
• Capacity to provide original analysis and creative thought in the development of strategic options and policy recommendations.
• Well-developed organizational, prioritization and time management skills and able to meet tight timelines.
• Strong consultation and facilitation skills including previous experience in working with diverse stakeholders and Indigenous communities.
• Strong skills in interpersonal relations and the ability to establish and maintain senior level relationships.
• Extensive experience in effectively supervising, managing, coaching and developing teams to successfully achieve their objectives. 
• Strong ability to work with, and provide advice to, other ministries, including the ability to work on a variety of cross-ministry/ intergovernmental initiatives.
• Previous experience and abilities in collaboration and consensus-seeking processes.

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 competition is for a position based in Edmonton, offering a work schedule of Monday to Friday, totaling 36.25 hours per week.
 

Candidates are required to submit a resume and cover letter that succinctly demonstrates 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. 
 

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
 

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

As part of the interview, short listed applicants may perform a written exercise and/or assignment.
 

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo an academic check, references, provide a suitable security screening.
 

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies across the government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.
 

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 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
• 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