Policy Advisor

Role Responsibilities

• Coordinate strategic policy and initiatives to ensure mandate, goals, and directions are met
  • Identifies opportunities to integrate implementation priorities into policy initiatives.
  • Supports common approaches to advancing and tracking implementation initiatives.
  • Supports internal working groups tasked with implementing strategic direction set out in ministry strategies.
  • Identifies issues, trends, opportunities and challenges that may affect the ministry's ability to implement initiatives and recommends options to address.
     
• Leadership team discussions are supported and issues are identified and managed
  • Provide the Minister, senior decision makers and officials within the department with timely, relevant and accurate updates related to ministry priorities and interdepartmental collaborations.
  • Support in the development of agendas, trackers, briefing notes, presentations, and speaking notes to support internal and inter-departmental leadership discussions and decision making.
  • Anticipates issues that may arise and suggests strategies to mitigate.
  • Responds to issues that arise through the decision making process using appropriate mechanisms.
  • Contributes to the management of complex issues as they are identified.
  • Drafts correspondence to external stakeholders.
     
• Conduct policy analysis and other research to inform decision-making   
  • Researches and analyzes policy matters to inform working group discussions, leadership decisions, and minister-deputy minister meetings. 
  • Completes jurisdictional scanning of policy, legislation, programs, and other matters.
  • Drafts analysis, decision tables, briefings notes, slide decks, and speaking notes regarding policy options. 
     
• Maintain and enhance vertical and horizontal policy coordination
  • Supports regular coordination meetings with Executive Team, Deputy Minister’s Office, Minister's Office, and Policy Coordination Office.
  • Provides strategic advice to teams navigating policy decision making processes.
  • Facilitates discussions across policy and program areas in the ministry to enhance options development, decision making, and integration.
  • Contributes to facilitating the development of a culture of collaboration with teams across Advanced Education and with stakeholders across government.
  • Builds strong relationships across policy areas, program areas, and with senior leaders to support agenda alignment, clear communications, and trusted advice.
     
• Develop and coordinate Cabinet decision-making and initiative tracking products
  • Supports the completion, review, and submission of Cabinet packages.
  • Provides data and information for the development and maintenance of ministry planning and agenda setting documents.
  • Drafts updates and regular reporting on all Cabinet policy decisions.
  • Assists in maintaining the Initiative Tracking System.
  • Disseminates information regarding key upcoming decisions to relevant internal stakeholders.

​Please click on the link to review 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.

In this role, you will contribute to our team by demonstrating the following behavioral competencies:
 

• Agility:  Adjusts to rapid and frequent changes in direction. Completes high quality policy products in short time-frames based on changing expectations. Adapts quickly to new priorities.
   
• Develop networks : Maintains high-trust relationships with a number of internal stakeholders, understanding their needs while also providing relevant strategic advice. Understands and advances policy coordination as corporate services that supports all ministry staff on expectations of leadership and service requirements for policy staff.
   
• Creative Problem Solving: This position will be expected to solve problems through a thorough review of a wide variety of data sources, including offering options that evaluates the alternatives and considers the implications of proposed solutions.
   
• Drive for Results: Proactively keeps up-to-date on ministry activities related to initiative advancement and brings forward ideas for materials to support ongoing work as needs evolve. Identifies ways to continuously improve the Policy Coordination function as a corporate service that delivers on expectations of leadership and service requirements for policy staff.
   
• Systems Thinking: Provides strategic advice that links together GOA priorities, platform commitments, priority initiatives, and the department's agenda. Applies a variety of strategic lenses to decision support materials, including a corporate perspective, a challenge function, with political acuity, and analyzing issues from different perspective.

Qualifications

A university degree in Public Administration, Arts or related field is preferred, plus 2 years of progressive related experience. Directly related experience or education is considered as an equivalency on a one-for-one basis.

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education

Related experience must include:
 

• Writing briefings or reports for leadership in a government, professional, or other organizational setting.
• The policy development cycle and techniques for analyzing policy issues.
• Government decision-making processes related to policy approvals.
• Project planning and management techniques and principles.
• Synthesizing information from a wide-variety of sources into single, cohesive reports or presentations.
• Working in a team environment, both in-person and virtually.

Assets include:
 

• Written communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and precisely as appropriate for the audience.
• Organizational skills, including the ability to be agile, multi-task and prioritize multiple responsibilities to meet deadlines.
• Verbal communications skills, including the ability to present to groups and participate meaningfully in group discussions. 
• Experience working in government, post-secondary, or executive offices.
• Familiarity with:
  • Government strategic priorities and policy directions as they relate to the department's mandate and initiatives.
  • Government and department business plan goals, and strategic priorities and issues.
  • Department programs, policies, legislation and regulations, and business functions.
  • The adult learning system, including providers' roles and mandates, interests, accountability structures, and funding mechanisms.
  • Current issues related to the advanced education system in Alberta.
  • The client and stakeholder community impacted by the department's mandate and operations, including post-secondary institutions, industry groups, relevant committees, advisory groups, and senior representatives.
• Commitment to developing networks, client service, confidentiality, discretion, tact, and innovation.
• Systems thinking, analytical and research skills, and the ability to synthesize and interpret information from disparate sources.
• Conceptual, strategic, and critical thinking skills.
• The ability to recognize implications of emerging issues and creatively solve problems/develop options and recommendations for a response that is in support of business priorities and goals.
• Consultation/engagement and interpersonal skills and the ability to build collaborative environments.
• Political sensitivity and professional judgment.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This competition is for permanent full time position based in Edmonton, offering a work schedule of Monday to Friday, totaling 36.25 hours per week.

Candidates must submit a cover letter and resume that succinctly demonstrate their qualifications against the job requirements, including education, experience, and relevant competencies. Please note applications without a cover letter will not be considered. It's 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) details.

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.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies across the government of Alberta, at equal or 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.
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.