Priority Issues Coordinator

Role Responsibilities

We are excited to offer an opportunity that contributes to the effectiveness of government operations and policies in a dynamic environment. The Priority Issues Coordinator (PIC) plays a key role in providing accurate, timely, and strategic information to ensure informed decision-making within the branch.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the PIC will collaborate closely with branch leadership and the Assistant Deputy Minister's Office (ADMO) to manage critical and emerging issues from both an issues management and policy perspective.

The PIC serves as the primary liaison for the branch, ensuring situational awareness, effective communication, and coordination with both internal and external stakeholders. This role involves tracking issues, supporting operational planning, and contributing to strategic initiatives while maintaining strong relationships across various teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain systems for preparing and tracking timely, accurate and well-informed responses, while fostering collaboration among internal teams, government departments, and external stakeholders.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, presentations and recommendations for branch leadership.
• Ensure consistency and clarity in messaging across all communications.
• Continuously monitor and assess emerging issues, conduct environmental scans, provide strategic recommendations for resolution, and ensure timely escalation of risks, tracking progress on critical issues.
• Support policy research by analyzing legislation, regulations, mandate letters and reports to inform executive briefings.
• Build and sustain relationships across divisions to gather insights, develop informed responses, enhance branch efficiency and support data-driven decision-making.
• Coordinate strategic initiatives and contribute to operational planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Identify, prioritize, and address key risks and challenges, analyze performance metrics, manage workloads, and lead or assist in special projects that align with the Executive Director’s goals and the broader goals of the division.
• Includes other priority work to support the branch and division as assigned. Use strong communication, research, and operational planning skills to deliver effective solutions, demonstrating knowledge of government processes (including POPA) and strong problem-solving abilities while managing multiple priorities.

If you are a proactive, strategic thinker with a passion for public service, we encourage you to apply.

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.

How Competencies will apply to this role:

• Systems Thinking: This position applies a systems thinking approach by independently engaging internal and external stakeholders, assessing issues for urgency, impact, and influence, and connecting with the appropriate staff to ensure timely and coordinated support for branch leadership.
• Agility: The role demands the ability to respond quickly to changing priorities and directions, demonstrating agility to adjust course and maintain focus on outcomes in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Drive for Results: This position is responsible for delivering high-quality, well-informed, and integrated responses to urgent requests within tight timeframes, leveraging well-established systems and relationships to ensure effective and timely outcomes.
  Develop Networks: Success in this role relies on drawing input from subject matter experts and key contributors; therefore, building and maintaining strong, collaborative networks is essential to producing timely and high-quality responses.

Qualifications

Required:

• A university degree (4 years) in Arts, Science or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years directly related experience in aspects of a priority issues coordinator and policy - analysis, research, design, implementation, and evaluation.

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: 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrated through the successful engagement of diverse audiences and the ability to build lasting, productive relationships across various sectors.
• Advanced research, writing, and editing abilities, delivering high-quality, tailored content on time, consistently following English grammar rules, Canadian Press Style, and GoA writing guidelines.
• Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills with strong attention to detail, ensuring 100% accuracy in responses to issues and consistently meeting tight deadlines in high-pressure environments.
• Extensive experience in developing and applying strategic and operational plans, with proven success in using project management best practices and performance measurement tools to improve operational efficiency and outcomes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of government processes, including a solid understanding of POPA legislation, ministerial correspondence guidelines, the ARTS application, GoA internal policies, and environmental issues in Alberta, ensuring compliance and informed decision-making.

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

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours of work per week, Monday to Friday.

Please Note: This is full time permanent position, located in Edmonton.

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter with clear and concise specific examples that demonstrate how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements and competencies. Your cover letter will be used to assess your writing style.

In your resume include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience.

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.
• 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.