Senior Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Innovation Strategy, the Senior Advisor’s role responsibilities include:

The responsibilities of this role include:

• Lead development of high‑quality policy advice on innovation, technology, and commercialization to support evidence‑based decisions by senior leadership.
• Design and advance policy and program options aligned with government priorities through collaboration with internal divisions, ministries, and external partners.
• Conduct environmental scanning and analysis of provincial, national, and international innovation trends, including emerging technologies, to inform sector strategies.
• Synthesize complex qualitative and quantitative information into clear, actionable recommendations, identifying risks, trade-offs, and policy implementation considerations.
• Prepare and coordinate Cabinet, Treasury Board, and ministerial materials, including briefing notes, submissions, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy and alignment with standards.
• Support implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of approved policies and initiatives, providing strategic advice and performance insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Participate in cross-ministry committees, teams, and working groups, providing technology and innovation sector perspectives and expertise to ensure thoroughness and consistency in policy and program development.

To be successful in this position, you must demonstrate:

• Demonstrated experience in innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, or public policy, with a strong background in policy or strategy development.
• In‑depth understanding of innovation and commercialization ecosystems, including public, non‑profit, provincial, and federal programs and their economic impact.
• Advanced research, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, integrating qualitative and quantitative data to inform policy and program decisions.
• Strong business acumen, including knowledge of venture capital, co‑investment models, and emerging technologies such as AI and quantum.
• Proficiency in data analysis, insights generation, and use of AI/NLP and generative AI tools to rapidly synthesize complex information.
• Excellent business writing skills, communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work independently, collaborate effectively, and adapt in fast‑paced environments.

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.

1. Systems Thinking: The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and inter-related environment. It is important to know that work done in one
   part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems Thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.

2. Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
3. Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
4. Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
5. Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University degree in innovation commercialization, entrepreneurship, business, public policy, public accountability, or a related field supplemented by at least four (4) years of progressively responsible experience.
• Experience with various Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience with artificial intelligence tools including Microsoft Co-Pilot.
• A cover letter clearly demonstrating relevant skills and competencies tailored to this position.

Equivalencies:

• A related two-year diploma and a minimum of six (6) years of related experience; or
• A related one-year certificate and a minimum of seven (7) years of related experience; or
• A minimum of eight (8) years of related experience.

Assets:

• Knowledge of Alberta’s technology and innovation ecosystem, including policy, program, and funding levers, and how they interact to support technology development, commercialization, and economic growth.
• Understanding of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) lifecycle, either at the SME level or within the SME support ecosystem.
• Knowledge of provincial, municipal, and federal legislation, policies, and programs/supports related to innovation and commercialization.

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

Term of Employment: Permanent, Full-time position      

Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly – Monday to Friday

Location: Commerce Place | 10155 102 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 4G8

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Additional Information:

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. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

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 has to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages- working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Pension plans:
  • 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.