Policy Analyst

Role Responsibilities

Do you want your policy work to shape real change for Albertans and influence the future of addiction and mental health services? If you’re passionate about evidence‑informed policy and system‑level impact, this opportunity may be for you.  Reporting to the Manager, Policy and Programs Division, the Policy Analyst plays a key role in shaping and advancing provincial addiction and mental health policy, strategy, and system planning.

The position supports evidence-informed decision-making through foresight, research, analysis, and stakeholder engagement, and contributes to continuous improvement and innovation across Alberta’s addiction and mental health system.

Key responsibilities include:

• Planning and completing environmental scanning, foresight activities, research, and analysis to inform short-, medium-, and long-term policy and system priorities.
• Developing concise, high-quality briefings, reports, correspondence, and presentations for diverse audiences, including senior and executive leadership.
• Supporting the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of addiction and mental health policies, strategies, and initiatives.
• Coordinating and contributing to branch, division, and system-level planning and reporting activities, including performance measures and operational plans.
• Managing and monitoring grants and contracts to support innovation across the addiction and mental health system, ensuring compliance with funding agreements and reporting requirements.
• Building and sustaining strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including Recovery Alberta, other ministries, service providers, and federal and provincial partners.
• Representing the branch and ministry on cross-ministry committees, working groups, and stakeholder engagements.
• Providing secretariat and committee management support, including coordinating meetings, preparing agendas and supporting materials, and following up on action items.
• Supporting the implementation and ongoing monitoring of legislation, including the Mental Health Act, and providing operational and secretariat support to Alberta’s Mental Health Review Panels.
  
  

This role requires strong analytical, communication, project management, and relationship building skills, as well as the ability to work independently on complex and sometimes sensitive policy issues.

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.

• Agility: Asks questions, seeks clarification and assess how things will be different when change is introduced or anticipated.  Takes advantage of opportunities to change how work is completed to better anticipate obstacles and improve service.
• Drive for Results: Takes past experience into considerations when making plans and adjusts plans based on past learning.  Identifies and acts on opportunities to partner with other groups to achieve desired outcomes.
• Develop Networks: Identifies key stakeholder contact with whom a relationship must be established.  Maintains contacts with a range of colleagues, clients and stakeholders

Qualifications

University graduation in a Health or Human Services field plus 2 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

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. 
  
  

Required Related Experience

• Experience conducting policy analysis, research, or environmental scanning to support policy, program, or system level decisions.
• Experience preparing briefings, reports, correspondence, or presentations for management or senior leadership.
• Experience engaging with internal and/or external stakeholders to support policy development, planning, or implementation.
• Experience supporting the planning, implementation, or monitoring of policies, programs, initiatives, or projects in a complex organizational environment.
  
  

Assets 

• Experience related to addiction and mental health policy, programs, or legislation.
• Experience working within a public sector, health system, or other complex organizational environment.
• Experience supporting or managing grants, contracts, or funded initiatives, including monitoring and reporting.
• Experience providing committee or secretariat support, such as coordinating meetings, preparing agendas, or tracking action items.
  
  

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 is a permanent position from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm
• 36.25 hours per week (full-time) Monday to Friday
• Location: 10020 – 100 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 0N3

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

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 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.