Operational Excellence Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Operational Excellence and Digital Transformation, the Operational Excellence Advisor functions as an internal consultant, leading the planning, evaluation, and implementation of business process improvements within the department. The role partners with business areas and project sponsors to identify key business drivers, requirements, and process improvement opportunities, and to design and implement future state processes that enhance service delivery and performance.

The position supports the design, delivery, and sustainment of operational excellence initiatives across the organization by leading projects from problem identification through implementation and review, with a strong focus on change management and adoption. Acting as a project lead and facilitator, the Advisor works closely with leaders and frontline teams to analyze current processes, challenge existing practices, and recommend innovative, practical improvements.

The Operational Excellence Advisor applies operational excellence principles, tools, and techniques—including process mapping, process redesign, and performance measurement—to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This includes guiding business areas in the development of meaningful process metrics, researching best practices, assessing outcomes, and supporting continuous improvement capability.

Drawing on practical experience delivering Lean Six Sigma–based improvement initiatives, the Advisor provides expert input into the ongoing development of the Operational Excellence and Digital Transformation program. The role also provides project management guidance and advisory support to Business Process and Automation Specialists within the team.

Role Responsibilities (continued)

Responsibilities include:

1. Lead and Deliver Operational Excellence: Utilizing Operational Excellence and Business Process Management expertise, the Advisor functions as an internal consultant and driver for business process improvement in the department by leading operational excellence workshops, kaizen events, process mapping sessions, and projects with internal clients. In consultation with the Manager, Operational Excellence and Digital Transformation and the project sponsor, develops and reviews project deliverables, strategies, work plans, schedule estimates, and implementation plans, and resolves or escalates more complex issues. Identifies and assesses opportunities and issues throughout the department for documenting existing processes, identifying potential improvements, and the development of new processes.
2. Digital Transformation: Works with technical experts (including Process Improvement and Automation Specialists) to identify and implement opportunities for robotic process automation (RPA) to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of business processes and programs.
3. Change Management: Incorporates change management principles into all projects and programs. Provides support from a process improvement perspective to ensure that changes can be translated from high-level business objectives into feasible and efficient business and operational processes.
4. Training and Facilitation: Develops, maintains, and delivers presentations, training, and workshops related to operational excellence, business process management, and other topics as required. Creates and delivers executive-level presentations and documents as required, including preparing briefings, reports, and presenting to Executive Team and senior departmental leadership.
5. Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborates with members of the Strategic Performance Branch on joint endeavors. Participates in various working committees for corporate initiatives (e.g., Data and Digital Community of Practice). Manages and provides coaching and mentorship to project stakeholders and team members when leading projects and department-wide initiatives. Demonstrating exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, builds consensus, influences others, and mediates conflict. Often working with stakeholders with non-technical knowledge, this role is responsible for synthesizing and communicating information to ensure common understanding among all.

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 - This position is required to interpret various policies and the implications they may have for the department. Must use judgment to determine long-term impacts and implications.

Develop Networks - This position is required to work across the department to encourage the uptake of policies, procedures, and processes. Must build relationships and be available to follow through and answer related questions. Must keep key stakeholders informed and up to date on any changes through training and other materials.

Creative Problem Solving - This position is required to build engagement with staff on projects and initiatives that may not be of interest or have high priority. Must consider and be aware of other needs, priorities, and objectives.

Agility - This position is expected to provide daily project management to various concurrent projects. Must use experience to handle any challenges and work alongside others to identify new ideas and solutions. Must exercise flexibility to complete ad hoc tasks as required. 

Qualifications

University graduation in Business, Social Sciences, or a related field combined with a minimum of four years of progressively responsible related experience in process improvement/operational excellence, preferably within a complex project portfolio, with responsibility for leading process improvement initiatives that work within tight deadlines and to a high-quality standard. Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification is required.

Equivalencies will be considered.

Assets:

• Training and/or certification in organizational change management (e.g. Change Management training from Prosci), project management (e.g. PMP), robotic process automation (RPA), and facilitation is desirable.
• Understanding of government strategic and policy directions and priorities as they relate to the Department; Department business plan, organizational structure and strategic priorities; knowledge of the businesses, services, and processes of the Department; and clients and stakeholders of the department is desirable.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, and training skills.
• Experience facilitating rapid improvement/Kaizen events. 
• Ability to conceptualize problems, integrate conceptual and practical problem solving, assess options and implications, and analyze and develop alternative solutions.
• Strong facilitation skills, with ability to lead project team members on specific process improvement activities, stimulating innovative ideas, and synthesizing learnings.
• Organizational and time management skills, including ability to prioritize and manage multiple activities and projects in an ambiguous, fast-paced, and rapidly evolving environment with multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present and articulate complex concepts in a clear and concise manner.
• The ability to work with minimal supervision.
  
  

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

There is one (1) full-time permanent position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Work location is Edmonton.

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.
• 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.