Policy and Program Advisor

Role Responsibilities

The Residential Protection Program (RPP) helps ensure that Albertans can have confidence in the homes they are purchasing. The program works under the authority of the New Home Buyer Protection Act (NHBPA), which ensures that all new homes built in Alberta have new home warranty coverage and are built by a licenced builder.

The Program and Policy Advisor is accountable for providing analysis and project leadership for the Residential Protection Program. To be effective, the position must provide proactive analysis of program operations and all applicable legislation, as well as liaise with key stakeholders to identify emerging trends relevant to the program. This ensures the program is effectively managing consumer protection for new home buyers and licensing all residential builders in Alberta.

The Program and Policy Advisor for the Residential Protection Program will be responsible for:

• Taking a leadership role in analyzing and coordinating Alberta's new home buyer protections and builder licensing program, including interpreting, evaluating, and implementing the New Home Buyer Protection Act.
• Leading project work to ensure timely project completion, while also obtaining comprehensive input from subject matter experts and stakeholders, with a focus on improving daily operations and addressing identified stakeholder needs. Projects range from program policy development to developing educational and awareness resources for stakeholders to evaluation of program performance, and more.
• Managing and representing Residential Protection Program interests and priorities related to consumer protection and builder licensing in public forums, including facilitating input from advisory groups and liaising with stakeholders to ensure actionable feedback.
• Developing recommendations and solutions to address policy and legislation issues, facilitating policy discussions, and collaborating with program staff, other program areas, and internal/external stakeholders to improve program operations.

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 – Considers the whole system and recognizes the linkages within the planning and reporting processes, and the impacts of each decision on the boarder system. Sets goals within the context of long-term outcomes and broad perspectives. This is particularly important in developing documents such as the strategic and business plans, where knowledge of how our desired outcomes, objectives, actions, challenges and opportunities intersect is important.
• Agility – Proactively seeks out new opportunities for improvements, takes initiative and is resourceful in coordinating the resources needed, adapts to unforeseen circumstances, and displays a positive attitude toward the work and teammates.
• Drive for Results – Actively set goals and work collaboratively to anticipate potential issues. Supports team members to ensure that goals and objectives are collectively achieved. Knows what outcomes are important and maximizes resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organizations, while maintaining accountability.
• Develop Networks – Proactively builds networks, establishes credibility and builds trust with different stakeholders. Seeks to understand the perspectives in collaborating with stakeholders and utilizes network to articulate and achieve ministry outcomes.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards:  A university degree in a related field such as Arts, Public Administration, plus four years of related work experience in government or a field related to one of the above degrees.

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.

Assets:

• Understanding of government regulatory frameworks, compliance and enforcement programs.
• Solid understanding of the GOA policy cycle and decision-making process in government.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including the New Home Buyers Protection Act, Safety Codes Act, and Insurance Act.
• Understanding of consumer protection policies, home construction regulatory framework, residential construction and real estate trends, warranty and insurance.
• Experience in developing educational materials for stakeholders, program evaluation, and/or writing policies.
• Project management experience and/or designation.  

Skills:

• Strong networking, interpersonal, and analytical skills. This includes the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Ministry and staff, other government contacts, and external stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to identify and monitor politically sensitive issues/trends and develop responses or recommendations.
• Ability to maintain a strategic, and division-wide focus while delivering results at the program level.
• Function independently and contribute effectively to a team environment.

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 position is a permanent, full-time role with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday (8:15 am – 4:30 pm).
 
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, academic verification, etc.
 
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
 
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 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.