Municipal Collaboration Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Do you enjoy tackling conflict head on and using it to fuel effective conversations? Are you skilled in the art of fostering collaboration between individuals and groups? Do you possess a high degree of professionalism and sensitivity to deal with confidential negotiations and situations? Ready to be part of a strong team with a passion for supporting each other and Alberta municipalities? If so, this position on the Capacity Services team is for you!

Reporting to the Manager, Capacity Services, the Municipal Collaboration Advisor will work with a team of professionals mandated to help build the capacity of Alberta’s municipalities. The Advisor will provide dispute resolution advisory and facilitation services for matters such as intermunicipal dispute resolution; collaborative governance; education and training; interdepartmental collaboration; and regional service delivery.

We’re looking for a team member who brings their best and brings out the best in their colleagues, whether that be your content knowledge, technical skills, or sense of humour.

Your application must include a cover letter that answers the question “why do you want to work with us?”

Responsibilities:
The main responsibilities of this position include:

• Deliver the ministry's dispute resolution services to address intermunicipal and internal council/staff disputes and support collaborative initiatives.  This will involve advising, assessing, convening, coaching, and facilitating discussions between and within municipalities.
• Support municipalities in developing, reviewing, and adhering to legislated dispute resolution processes for mandated Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs).
• Facilitate inter-municipal negotiation, collaboration, and workplace conflict training to build the awareness, knowledge, capacity, and skills of municipal staff and elected officials to effectively collaborate and productively manage conflict within and between municipalities.
• Develop education materials to support stakeholder learning and training.
• Provide advice and recommendations on collaboration and dispute resolution techniques and options to senior management, municipal officials, municipal associations, and stakeholder groups.
• Support ministry and divisional initiatives requiring facilitation expertise.
• Provide advisory support to regional service entities for establishment and disestablishment (e.g. regional services commissions, municipal controlled corporations).

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 thoroughly understand the competencies required for this role and be ready to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

Systems Thinking: You foresee/anticipate outcomes and consider potential impacts across interconnected areas and will factor these insights into planning.

Agility: Skillfully identify and manage competing priorities within a highly politically sensitive environment.

Creative Problem Solving: Breaks down challenges, conduct thorough research and investigation and draw on your experiences to find effective solutions.

Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve shared outcomes.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf

Qualifications

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.

Qualifications:
Undergraduate degree in Arts, Public Administration, Humanities, Human Resources, Conflict Resolution or a related degree with a minimum of four years progressively responsible related experience OR Graduate degree in Arts, Public Administration, Humanities, Human Resources, Conflict Resolution or a related degree with minimum two years of progressively responsible related experience.

Equivalency:
Directly related education or experience may be considered on the basis of:
•    1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
•    1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Certification and/or training in conflict management, mediation, and/or dispute resolution.

Desired Skills:
-  Advanced oral and written communication 
-  Advanced facilitation, presentation, and workshop/professional development session design (virtual and in-person)
-  Design and creation of training and education resources
-  Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and appropriately deal with sensitive and confidential issues.
-  Conflict management (assessment / coaching / design)
-  Ability to function effectively under pressure and use tact, diplomacy and good judgment.
-  Ability to anticipate issues and take initiative to address them, and to act independently where appropriate.

Assets:
-  Certification in facilitation, adult education, and/or session/workshop design.
-  Experience in municipal government.
-  Experience in negotiation, mediation, and/or arbitration.
-  Membership in the ADR Institute of Alberta (ADRIA) and/or Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Canada (ADRIC)
-  Certification and/or training in conflict management

Notes

A cover letter is required. In your cover letter, please answer the question “why do you want to work with us?”  Applications without an accompanying cover letter will not be considered.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time.

This position is a permanent position with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday (8:15 am – 4:30 pm). The office is located in downtown Edmonton. There is the opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and/or modified work hours.

Pre-Employment Checks will be completed to assess the candidate’s suitability for a role. These checks may include (but are not limited to): references, criminal record check, academic verification, etc.

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a 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
Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.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