Program Specialist

Role Responsibilities

The Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as Program Specialist!

The Program Specialist is required to support a number of initiatives such as supporting the work of the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council (AARAC) , the Premier Council on Multiculturalism (PCM)  and the Alberta Black Advisory Council (ABAC); implementing the initiatives identified on the Alberta Anti-Racism Action Plan; managing programs such as the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant; establishing, maintaining and engaging with ethno-cultural organizations; conducting research and analyzing information on inclusion, diversity and multiculturalism to inform future initiatives, polices and programing.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Managing grant agreements with stakeholders delivering projects to address anti-racism and multiculturalism.
•    Ensure that funding utilization meets the intended purpose and is consistent with the terms of the conditional grant. 
•    Prepare terms of reference and calls for proposals, ensuring the procurement process is fair and transparent and complies with legislation, regulation and policy. 
•    Develop assessment and evaluation criteria and procedures, participate in review and assessment of proposals, and make recommendation for approved proposals for funding.

Establish and maintain innovative and meaningful partnerships between community organizations, private sector corporations and ministries across government to broaden the base of support for community actions and government initiatives.
•    Effectively represents JETI interests and priorities in cross-ministry priorities and interdepartmental initiatives, as well as in engagement with external partners 
•    Advances the interests and priorities of the department and the Alberta government by effectively representing these interests in department discussions, projects and committees. 
•    Establishes and maintains positive and effective working relationships with key stakeholders, for the purpose of gaining intelligence and advancing the department's Interests.

Support achievement of the Alberta Anti Racism Action Plan and other mandated goals. 
•    Design and deliver collaboration processes with ethno-cultural, faith-based, and new immigrant communities and organizations that support JETI strategic policy objectives and that result in better common understanding and improved relationships between stakeholders and between the GoA and stakeholders. 
•    Participate in collaborative engagement processes to ensure stakeholder concerns are meaningfully considered in strategic policy development.

Contribute to Unit, Division and Ministry corporate responsibilities and inclusive work culture. Activities: 
•    Complete ministerial Action requests and briefings as required such as event and minister briefings. 
•    Contribute to unit planning and related operational planning and reporting 
•    Supporting co-workers and new team members through information sharing and mentoring.

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.

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

Creative Problem-Solving: Ask questions to get a deeper understanding of issues, engage different perspectives, break problems down into manageable components, constructively challenge the way things have always been done, and create strategic solutions for challenges. Provide diverse alternatives and assessment of each alternative to the problem with an understanding of systemic impacts.

Drive for Results: Set and accomplish goals and priorities, factor in complexity of Issues and align plans based on government direction, remove barriers to collaboration, provide informed advice.

Develop Networks: Seek to understand the perspectives and needs of stakeholders, build relationships by following through on commitments, influence. Engage stakeholders in understanding needs and provide recommendations to senior leadership.

Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess and readily adapt to changing situations and issues, remain objective under pressure by making well-thought through decisions when there are competing and ambiguous priorities, champion a plan of action, quickly read a situation and gain an understanding of individual and environmental drivers.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:
•    University graduation degree in a related field plus 2 years progressively responsible related experience in policy analysis and development; or equivalent as described below. 
•    For application consideration, you must attach a cover letter explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.

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:
•    Sound knowledge in government processes including grant processes, regulatory process. 
•    Specialized knowledge, education or experience related to multiculturalism diversity, inclusion and racism issues, challenges and solutions. 
•    Experience leading teams or projects through the various components. 
•    In-depth knowledge of systems-thinking, the approaches and components to systems design models and understanding of complexity and system leverage points. 
•    Well-developed and effective communication, negotiation and facilitation skills. 
•    Strong writing skills to develop significant briefing materials, conduct research and analysis. 
•    Experience and ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including highly developed skills in community engagement. 
•    Intermediate Microsoft Excel Skills

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 full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 

This position can be located in Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time.

As part of the interview, short listed applicants may perform a written and Microsoft Excel assignment.

The final candidate may undergo pre-employment checks and reference checks.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate.

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.