Senior Advisor, Privacy

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about access and privacy law? Do you thrive in a complex and fast-paced environment where your work has an impact? Join the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction (MHA) as our next Senior Privacy Advisor, where your expertise will directly support the care and well-being of Albertans.

Under the guidance of the Access and Privacy Manager, you will play a central role in ensuring MHA’s compliance with Alberta's privacy and access legislation, including the Health Information Act (HIA), Protection of Privacy Act (POPA), and Access to Information Act (ATIA).

As a trusted advisor and policy champion, you’ll:

• Lead the development of Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and ensure high-quality submissions to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC).
• Manage access to information requests under ATIA, working collaboratively across departments to ensure timely and accurate responses.
• Guide the Ministry’s response to privacy incidents, evaluating risk and coordinating mitigation strategies.
• Develop and deliver privacy training to internal teams and external partners, promoting awareness of legislative obligations and best practices.
• Provide expert policy interpretation and compliance advice on a wide range of privacy and records management issues.

This is a unique opportunity to bring your experience and skills for privacy into a ministry that is transforming how mental health and addiction services are delivered in Alberta. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, policy makers, healthcare providers, and legal advisors — making privacy a foundational part of how services are built and trusted by Albertans.

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.

• System Thinking: Implementing a comprehensive privacy approach is achieved with the ability to interpret and understand the legislative context and broader privacy expectations of Albertans.
• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to anticipate, identify and analyze issues, and develop appropriate response options for decision makers. Works with teams to develop appropriate systems and processes.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Leverages skills and knowledge of others. Has  discretion and desire to support the work of others. Works to understand systems and processes by diverse teams, and works with teams to identify solutions.
• Drive for Results: Produces high quality, professional materials. Strict timelines are adhered to and roles and responsibilities are clear.

Qualifications

University graduation in Public Administration or related field and 4 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 experience:

• Research 
• Interpreting and applying access and privacy legislation. (HIA, POPA, ATIA)
• Conducting and writing Privacy Impact Assessments.
• Working with external and senior stakeholders.
• Managing complex and sensitive privacy matters with discretion and professionalism.
  
  

The following will be considered assets:

• Certification in information access and protection of privacy.
• Strong policy analysis and interpretation skills with a focus on the healthcare or public service sector.
  
  

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 per week

Location – Edmonton

This is a permanent full-time position

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.
•    Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.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.