Manager, US Relations

Role Responsibilities

Shape Alberta’s Voice on the International Stage

Are you ready to lead strategic initiatives that strengthen Alberta’s relationship with the United States? As Manager, U.S. Relations, you will play a pivotal role in advancing Alberta’s priorities through policy leadership, stakeholder engagement, and cross-ministry collaboration. This is your opportunity to influence decisions that matter—connecting Alberta to key U.S. partners and driving impactful policy outcomes.

What You’ll Do:

In this role, you’ll be at the center of Alberta’s U.S. engagement strategy, leading initiatives that shape policy and strengthen relationships. Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead Strategic Policy Development: Drive the creation, implementation, and monitoring of complex policy initiatives that advance Alberta’s priorities in the United States.
• Analyze and Advise: Conduct in-depth policy analysis and environmental scanning to identify emerging issues and opportunities, providing actionable recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage High-Profile Projects: Oversee multi-phase projects from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with ministry objectives and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate Diplomatic Engagements: Plan and manage official missions, inbound delegations, and strategic events that showcase Alberta’s interests and foster collaboration with U.S. stakeholders.
• Build Strong Relationships: Develop and maintain trusted partnerships with elected officials, government offices, and key influencers across Alberta and the U.S.
• Facilitate Cross-Ministry Collaboration: Work closely with other ministries and government offices to ensure cohesive strategies and unified messaging.
• Communicate with Impact: Prepare and present briefings, reports, and recommendations to senior executives, ensuring clarity and strategic alignment.
• Navigate Complex Issues: Anticipate challenges, negotiate solutions, and implement mitigation strategies to keep projects on track and relationships strong.

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.

Key Competencies for Success

• Systems Thinking: You understand the bigger picture. You anticipate evolving political and policy environments, integrate broader trends into planning, and align strategies with organizational goals.
  
  
• Drive for Results: You deliver outcomes that matter. You forecast challenges, remove barriers, and stay focused on principles while ensuring projects meet strategic objectives.
  
  
• Develop Networks: You build strong, impactful relationships. You engage diverse stakeholders, represent varied interests, and go the extra mile to meet needs and foster collaboration.
  
  
• Creative Problem Solving: You find solutions where others see complexity. You dig deep to identify root causes, leverage resources, and encourage collaboration and innovation to address challenges.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, you bring a blend of policy expertise, strategic thinking, and relationship-building skills. Specifically, we’re looking for:

Education & Experience

• University degree in Public Relations, International Studies, Political Science, Economics, or a related field, and a minimum of 4+ years leading initiatives in complex government or intergovernmental environments.
  o    Please note: we will be considering equivalencies to meet the requirements for this position. For example:
  • a 2-year diploma in a related field, and 6+ years of related experience
  • 8+ years of related experience 
• Proven experience managing multi-phase projects involving diverse stakeholders and tight timelines.
  

Knowledge

• In-depth understanding of Alberta, Canadian, and U.S. government structures, political processes, and intergovernmental relations.
• Familiarity with Alberta’s economic landscape and advocacy priorities.
• Expertise in strategic planning across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.
  

Qualifications (Continued)

Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional communication skills—both written and verbal—with experience preparing reports, briefing materials, and presentations for senior executives.
• Highly developed relationship-building and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to identify issues, evaluate options, and develop actionable solutions.
• Advanced project management skills, including planning, governance, and risk mitigation.
• This role requires approximately 50% travel, including domestic and international trips to support strategic engagements and official missions.

Leadership

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, mentor staff, and guide projects to successful completion.
• Capacity to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments with diplomacy and tact.

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 posting is for one (1) permanent, full time position.

Hours of work: 36.25 hours/week

Location: Commerce Place Building, in Downtown Edmonton, Alberta. Up to 50% travel required.

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please also indicate whether your work experience was part-time or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Executive Director of Job Title (Full time)

Final candidates 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 has 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.