Manager French Assessment

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, French Assessment and Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), the Manager of French Assessment provides strategic leadership in the area of translation, development, coordination and deployment of French versions of Provincial Diploma Examinations, Provincial Achievement Tests and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments.
 

The role of the Manager, French Assessment is expected to:
 

• Lead and coordinate complex projects that ensure the French versions of Provincial Diploma Examinations, Provincial Achievement Tests, and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments are linguistically, psychometrically and culturally equivalent to English versions.
   
• Monitor and update the Director in all areas of the Master Schedule, which defines timelines and deadlines for all exam production right up until administration.
   
• Manage a team and oversee the development and implementation of French Diploma Exams, Provincial Achievement Tests, and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments on the new Digital Assessment Platform in Grade 6, 9 and 12.
   
• Build strong collaborative relationships with diverse internal and external education partners to lead the development of Diploma Exams, Provincial Achievement Tests, and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments for French Immersion and Francophone students.
   
• Supervisory responsibilities for 6 staff.
   

Responsibilities:
 

1) Manage the team responsible for the translation of English Diploma Exams, Provincial Achievement Tests, and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments.

• Ensures that French versions are linguistically, psychometrically and culturally equivalent to English versions.
• Provides expertise in French and English to translate all aspects of documents (print and digital audio, written, and digital) to a French equivalent, ensuring that language used is appropriate and terminology is subject specific and in accordance with approved French Programs of Study and textbooks.
• Manages and prioritizes the entire translation process from conception to the delivery of a final print-ready product or web posting.
• Represents Provincial Assessment Sector on Technical Review Committees (TRC) and/or Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) for Diploma Exams (Grade 12), Provincial Achievement Tests (Grades 6 and 9). These committees/working groups, comprised of teachers, validate the exams/tests prior to the final version, and recommend changes to those exams/tests. Makes final decisions on required changes through discussions and consultations.
• Contribute to the formulation of policies, developing programs and/or leading the administration of programs related to French Diploma Exam, Provincial Achievement Tests, and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments.

Role Responsibilities Continued

2) Provides leadership and ensures the Provincial Assessment Sector standards for all assessments and related material is consistent with departmental polices.

• Assists in the development, enhancement and implementation of French translation and editing processes in consultation with Senior Managers and Team Leaders, Examiners and Francophone and French Immersion teachers, including process documentation (e.g., glossaries, style guides, and terminology).
• Manages and Assists in the development of terminology banks in order to standardize translations to ensure consistency and accuracy in translation services.
• Advises the Director, French Assessment and CAEC, of issues related to translation services, and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Ensures timely translation, edits and signs of on numerous documents ─ 18 subjects across 3 grade levels (6, 9 and 12) and up to five administration sessions throughout each school year to Francophone and French Immersion students.  This volume and diversity of work yields the requirement for a document to be translated, reviewed, approved as accurate, and signed off approximately every week.
• Oversees the development of annual Diploma Exams, Provincial Achievement Tests, and Literacy/Numeracy Assessments in consultation with internal and external partners.
• Develops decision briefings, action request responses, consultation and action plans, and draft correspondence for decision for the Director, Executive Director, Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister and Minister in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Provides advice to the Director for issues that have implications for the branch, division, and Ministry.
   

3) Managing human resources related to issues within the team.

• Leading recruitment processes including reviewing worksite staffing needs, analyzing FTE and budget realities and completing staffing requests.
• Contributing to interviews, hiring, and classification decision.
• Leading and managing administrative mechanisms (e.g. meetings, terms of reference, work planning, decisions and evaluation).
• Defining and assigning work duties.
• Ensuring performance management processes such as Performance Excellence are in place.
• Promoting team members' personal growth to meet ongoing and changing needs and challenges.
• Handling employee relations issues and HR concerns in accordance with accepted HR practices including performance, staff professional conduct and code of ethics concerns.
   

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.
The link below will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/assets/documents/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf
 

Critical Competencies:
 

• Systems Thinking – Effective leadership abilities combined with a strong commitment to operating within a team environment and the ability to motivate and inspire other to achieve common goals.
• Drive for results – This position understands the goals of the new Canadian assessment program, takes initiative, maximizes resources, engages others, and looks for opportunities during challenging times.
• Agility – This position must recognize the changing landscape of education in Canada, anticipate changing priorities, and embrace the challenges presented by working with instructors from post-secondary institutions and other provinces. This position must also pro-actively incorporate change into processes if required.
• Develop Networks – This position must develop networks, establish credibility and build trust with post-secondary instructors as well as representatives from other provinces to ensure the new tests appropriately reflect the pan-Canadian context.
• Develop self and Others – Proven ability to foster partnerships and to achieve organizational goals within an organization.
• Build Collaborative Environments – This position requires strong consultation and communication to build and maintain a collaborative and cooperative environment with internal staff, representatives from other provinces, instructors involved with working groups and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

A recognized Bachelor of Education degree with a minimum of four years of progressively responsible management and/or leadership experience is required.

Fluency in reading, writing, speaking and understanding French.

Supervisory experience is required.
Professional teaching certificate is required issued in Alberta.

Requirements:

• The successful candidate must have teaching and leadership experience at the school, jurisdictional and/or provincial level.
• Knowledge, of K-12 French Education in Alberta, including minority K-12 francophone education.
• Valid Alberta Permanent Professional Certificate in teaching.

Assets:

• Experience with provincial assessments and current trends in assessment, instruction and curriculum and how they impact learners to communicate how this knowledge is applied in the development and construction of assessment instruments.
• Knowledge of government and department business plans, policies and regulations as they relate to assessment are also required.
• Experience in teaching French immersion or Francais.
• Interpersonal and relationship management.

Notes

This competition is for a permanent full-time position based in Edmonton, offering a work schedule of Monday to Friday, totaling 36.25 hours per week. This role is limited to only salaried employees currently within Ministry of Education.
 

Candidates are required submit a resumes and cover letter that succinctly demonstrate their qualifications against the job requirements, including education, experience, and relevant competencies. It is 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.
 

Resumes must include precise employment dates (month and year) to assist in assessing written communication skills and attention to detail.
**Please note applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
 

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo an academic check, references, provide a suitable security screening and may be asked to complete a written exercise and/or assessment.
 

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening. This competition may be used to fill future vacancies across the government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.
 

For more information on the Government of Alberta hiring process, view this link: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-hiring-process.aspx
 

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
• Pension plans: Management Employees Pension Plan MEPP - https://www.mepp.ca/page/mepp-home
• Leadership and mentorship programs.
• Professional learning and development.
• 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 agreements.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca