Research and Policy Advisor or Business & Entrepreneurship Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Are you a dynamic, positive and driven individual with a passion for supporting small businesses and fostering economic growth? The Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade is looking for two roles: a Research and Policy Advisor, and a Business & Entrepreneurship Advisor who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and is eager to make a meaningful impact on our province's entrepreneurial landscape!

Research and Policy Advisor

Working closely with team members including the Manager and Director, the Research and Policy Advisor will be required to lead and support various research projects with competing priorities. The role will require a strong ability to perform jurisdictional, market, economic, and statistical research and analysis; and provide policy advice related to reducing barriers for entrepreneurs and SMEs, improve retention and strengthen the business support ecosystem in the province. They will also be responsible for coordinating engagement with technical contacts within the department, across ministries, and with key stakeholders for the purpose of developing policy responses on relevant issues. 
 

The responsibilities include:

• Conducts research and analysis to support developing strategies and policies that support Alberta's entrepreneurs and SMEs.
• Support in the development of research reports and briefing materials on complex, sensitive and confidential economic issues, policies, and programs for senior leadership.
• Support with responding to action requests for information around SMEs, entrepreneurship, and the Film and Television Tax Credit (FTTC) program, and prepare and present briefing materials on these topics.
• Leads and supports jurisdictional and environmental scanning to help inform the project planning and development related to enterprise and entrepreneurship.
• Identifying emerging issues and trends and their potential impacts on Alberta's policies and programs and researches and analyzes enterprise and entrepreneurship policies and practices in other jurisdictions.
• Conducts research and analysis to support the assessment and development of policy improvements to department legislation, including FTTC and Investing in a Diversified Alberta Economy Act (IDAEA).
• Represent the department's and Alberta's interests and priorities in all initiatives and provide input and information to meet the objectives of the branch and division by preparing briefing notes and making presentations as required. 
• Develop project charters, work plans, terms of reference, data standards and outcome measures to provide project support on initiatives.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

Role Responsibilities cont.

Business & Entrepreneurship Advisor
 

Reporting to the Manager, the Business & Entrepreneurship Advisor is responsible for supporting operations of the Biz Connect team and portal, inquiries and repository, information management for the Small Business team, especially stakeholders contacts, programs, services. The role will require managing small business resources and conducting research and program support to help the Small Business team stay current with issues and trends.

The responsibilities include:

• Promotes business supports, Small Business website, and Biz Connect to to stakeholders and small businesses in order to drive economic growth and job creation in Alberta.
• Provides support for running of Biz Connect team, inquiries by maintaining the Biz Connect tracker/database, statistics (ie., number of inquiries per quarter, types of inquiries received, etc.) and keeping on top of inquiry trends to present options and recommendations on any findings. 
• Leads Information management for the team for events, the pathfinding repository, grant information, small business materials, and other team information while maintaining information collected on programs, services and resources relevant to small business.
• Researchs, evaluates, and summarizes government programs, services, and resources to guide entrepreneurs in accessing relevant support.
• Provides support for grant management, including quarterly metrics, report deadlines, and payment processes.
• Engages with internal and external stakeholders to collect and share relevant information on small business resources that is timely.
• Engages with staff and project teams from other government areas to share information about small business needs and challenges to inform government policies and programs.
• Develops written responses for information requests and briefings. preparation of action requests and briefings for the Premier, Minister, Deputy Minister, and Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM).
• Represents the Small Business Supports team at stakeholder engagements, government events, and trade shows (requiring a valid Class 5 driver’s license).

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.

• Creative Problem Solving - Independently execute research projects that support economic policy priorities and support program and policy development 
• Drive for Results - Achieve goals by assessing the situation, developing an engagement plan, and seeking the best resolution while also proactively conducting research and environmental scanning at all levels when contributing to projects. 
• Agility - Adapt and refocus of rapidly changing and evolving industries and maintain flexibility to ensure continuous research to provide up to date information to stakeholders.
• Develop Networks- Collaborate with various stakeholder to gather feedback and information in a timely manner to contribute to policy and program development.
• Systems Thinking - Consider the larger international, national, and provincial policy context and how it affects Alberta economic policy interests, as well as the impact of current choices on future policy decisions.
   

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards 

• University graduation in Business, Public Policy, Economics or a related field ; no experience required; 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.

The successful candidate must have: 

• Thorough understanding of the policy development cycle and ability to effectively communicate policy analysis and recommendations (Policy Advisor role).
• Strong research and planning skills.
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis skills and an ability to apply research methods and analysis tools to identify issues, gaps and opportunities to address the issues. 
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral. 
• Project management and time management skills and the ability to manage multiple requests/competing priorities and meet tight timelines.
• Ability to prepare and provide options analysis, reports, briefings and presentations.
• Have relationship building and stakeholder engagement experience. 
• Ability to function well in a team-based environment that demands a high level of interpersonal skills. 
• Knowledge of business, industry, and economic drivers and trends and their impact on the Alberta economy.
• Knowledge on economic, statistical, cross-jurisdictional cost benefit analysis. 
• Understanding of economic development concepts and matters.
• Possess a big picture systemic approach to assess impacts and conclusions through research and analysis.
• Good time management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects. 
• Competency with the use of computers and Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Sharepoint and Teams.  

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

Additional Position Details:
 

• This job ad is recruiting for two separate, permanent roles.
• Working hours will be 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
• Applications must include a cover letter to be considered for either role. Please specify whether you are interested in applying for one of the roles or both in your cover letter.

Recruitment Process:

• 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.