Manager, Strategic Policy

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Strategic Policy and Engagement, the Strategic Policy Manager provides leadership and direction to a team of Policy professionals. As the Manager of Strategic Policy, you will be responsible for the provision of strategic advice and analysis, technical analysis and interpretation, and issues management related to key government initiatives for the department of Justice. You will utilize your team resources effectively to develop, research, analyze and provide strategic advice and policy alternatives for priority policy initiatives. 

Issues are identified by elected officials, senior department staff, program staff and other internal and external stakeholders. Senior department representatives and elected officials will rely on you for consultation, advice and information related to complex policy, program and planning issues with broad implications.

Some of your main responsibilities include:

• Providing information, analysis and advice ensuring policy development is supported by appropriate research, analysis and presentation.
• Utilizing your project management skills to ensure efficient and effective project plans are in place for strategic policy initiatives.
• Providing content development as policy development is supported by appropriate presentation of content tailored to the intended audience.
• Providing leadership and accountability ensuring strategic priorities are identified, planned, and advanced through government's decision-making process in a timeline manner through appropriate analysis, consultation, and political consideration.
• Providing proactive issues management for policy development.
  
  

As the perfect candidate for this position, you will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. You will have strong knowledge and experience with policy and legislative processes in the Government of Alberta. You will have strong organization, time management and problem-solving skills, and will apply project management approaches to plan and coordinate the team’s work.

You will exhibit leadership skills, supporting your team in managing and working through unique and complex issues, providing guidance and assistance along the way. With your director’s support, you will be expected to mentor the members of your team to achieve results and to apply collaborative and integrated approaches to achieve the Ministry’s goals. Your ability to think critically and from a systems perspective, participate in high profile initiatives, manage change, and achieve positive results, while ensuring the most efficient and effective outcomes, are what is needed for this role.

If this sounds like an environment you would thrive in, we encourage you to apply!

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: Success in this position will require the Manager to anticipate reactions from stakeholders and develop strategies to mitigate negative reactions and leverage positive ones.
• Creative Problem Solving: Success in this position will require the Manager to solve complex problems in an ambiguous environment.
• Agility: Requires the Manager to anticipate obstacles and make decisions in uncertain situations.
• Drive for Results: Success in this role will require the Manager to take a project management approach to policy development.
• Develops Networks: The Manager will need to actively seek input from program staff, finance, legal services and communications to prepare memorandums to cabinet and other briefing/decision-making materials.
• Build Collaborate Environments: The Manager is required to work closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders. It will be important for the manager to build and maintain collaborative environments because the same stakeholders will be engaged on many projects over time.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement

• University degree in a related discipline (such as social sciences, public or business administration, law or other).
• 4 years minimum related policy experience.
  
  

Assets: 

• Experience in policy development.
• Experience leading professional staff.
• Experience developing and writing briefing materials for executive-level decision makers.
• Project management and coordination experience.
• Experience with research methodologies and data analysis.
  
  

The following equivalencies may be considered:

• A related Masters plus a minimum of 2 years related experience.
• A related two-year diploma plus a minimum of 6 years related experience.
• A related one-year certificate plus a minimum of 7 years related experience.
• No post-secondary education plus a minimum of 8 years related 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

• Full-time permanent position located in Edmonton (Oxbridge Place). 
• Hours of work: 7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week (Monday – Friday).
• The successful candidate 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.
• 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.