Manager, Trade Capacity

Role Responsibilities

Trade is crucial to Alberta’s economy. In 2025 Alberta exported goods valued at $177 billion CAD to a total of 196 countries globally, an increase of 91.6 per cent over the past 10 years. Alberta has more than 6100 exporting businesses, with many more looking to grow and enter new markets.

The Trade Capacity Manager leads and supports government initiatives focused on Alberta's trade capacity and growth. This includes leading capacity building initiatives that serve Alberta’s companies and exporters such as Trade Accelerator Program and the new program Level Up that is being developed for initial public launch in 2026, and supporting initiatives including trade missions, grant programs, international delegations, domestic events and more. 
 
The Manager leads the Trade division's promotional, engagement and capacity-building initiatives to support Alberta companies in understanding and accessing export programs and services. The role manages and oversees the development and execution of marketing and outreach tools, including web content, print materials, fact sheets and Trade Navigator newsletter and more. This work helps strengthen awareness of the ministry’s trade offerings and supports Alberta companies and organizations through clear and accessible information. 
 
The Manager leads and supports engagement with Alberta companies to identify needs and deliver capacity-building programming. This includes working with teams on existing and new initiatives to help companies grow their exports and international presence. The role collaborates closely with government colleagues to ensure trade initiatives are responsive to company needs and contribute to Alberta’s economic resilience and growth.

The Manager is responsible for leading cross‑ministry and external engagement with key ecosystem partners to develop and deliver priority initiatives. This includes coordinating promotional activities, program development, grant administration and outreach with Calgary Economic Development, Edmonton Global, industry associations, chambers and more.

The Manager provides strategic leadership and project management for priority trade initiatives for the ministry. Strong relationships and guidance for supervising the Trade Capacity team is essential for successful project delivery and staff development. The role requires strong problem-solving, decision-making, relationship management, communication, and team and project leadership skills.

Please click on the link to view the job description.

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.

Competencies for this position include:

• Agility - This position must demonstrate agility in responding to shifting priorities, emerging issues and rapid turnaround requests related to marketing, web content and trade capacity.
  
  
• Build Collaborative Environments - Advanced interpersonal leadership and communication skills are required to manage and collaboratively deliver marketing, promotional and trade capacity initiatives on behalf of the department.
  
  
• Creative Problem Solving - The position is responsible for independently leading multiple marketing, promotional and internal trade capacity initiatives that are complex and may not have established precedents.
  
  
• Develop Self and Others - The Manager supports growth of direct reports by coaching, providing development opportunities and creating personal career plans.
  
  
• Systems Thinking - In developing marketing, promotional and trade capacity initiatives, this position must consider the broader provincial, national and international trade context and how it affects Alberta’s priorities across different time horizons.

Qualifications

University graduation in Public Administration, Business, Commerce, International Relations, Marketing or a related field and a minimum of 4 years of related experience are essential, as well as excellent written and verbal skills.

Equivalencies may be considered as listed below:

• Directly related education or experience is considered on the basis of one year of education for one year of experience or one year of experience for one year of education.
  
  

Preference will be given to those who have:

• Knowledge of Alberta’s trade priorities, strategies and international positioning.
• Experience developing and managing marketing materials, promotional tools and related processes.
• Broad experience preparing and providing analysis, reports, briefings and presentations for senior leadership and cross-ministry audiences.
• Strong project management knowledge and experience, with the ability to lead their team and multiple initiatives simultaneously under tight timelines.
• Ability to lead efforts among internal and external teams to develop and deliver marketing initiatives and capacity‑building programs.
• Strong leadership, relationship building and stakeholder engagement experience.
• Knowledge of Alberta’s business environment, sector strengths and trade ecosystem and their impact on Alberta’s economy and trade.
• Practical knowledge of market research, environmental scanning and analysis of trends that inform trade initiatives.
• Ability to apply a big picture, systems-based approach to assess impacts, identify opportunities and make recommendations for programs and senior leaders.
• Ability to align initiatives with ministry and government priorities to support trade capacity and program delivery objectives.
• Strong people leadership skills including staff development and coaching.
  
  

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointments to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

There is one permanent full-time position working 36.25 hours Monday to Friday.

Work location is Calgary or Edmonton.

The final candidate for this position will undergo an academic and reference checks and provide a suitable security screening. We will accept Criminal Records Check (CRC) Sector check that have been completed within the last six months as per policy.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 – June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hours shifts/week). Resumes without start and end dates will not be considered for the position. 

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.
• Management Employee 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.