Senior Learning & Development Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic learning expert passionate about shaping the future of child and family services?  Join us as a Senior Learning & Development Advisor, where you will lead the design, development and implementation of province-wide training initiatives that directly enhance the capabilities of Children and Family Services Staff and Caregivers. In this high-impact role, you'll architect learning pathways, guide competency-based training strategies, and influence ministry outcomes through expert consultation, project leadership, and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Manager, Region & Program Supports, this position operates with a high degree of autonomy and decision-making authority, serving as a subject matter expert in workplace learning. Key responsibilities include:

• Lead Instructional Design and Learning Development: Oversee all phases of instructional design, including research, consultation, development, delivery, and evaluation of provincial learning initiatives. Develop competency-based, role-specific learning content and pathways aligned with adult learning principles, legislative requirements, and ministry priorities.
• Conduct Learning Needs Analysis and Recommend Solutions: Assess training needs across various roles by analyzing data, evaluating staff competency requirements, and consulting with internal stakeholders. Recommend targeted learning strategies and innovative solutions—including technology-enabled training—to enhance workforce capacity and performance.
• Manage Projects and Contracts: Lead provincial learning and development projects from initiation through evaluation, including defining scope, identifying stakeholders, developing project charters, and managing timelines and resources. Administer multiple contracts simultaneously, ensuring procurement and vendor performance align with ministry standards and deliverables.
• Facilitate Stakeholder Engagement and Cross-Ministry Collaboration: Establish and maintain effective partnerships with internal teams, policy units, legal counsel, regional leaders, and external experts. Promote collaboration, represent divisional perspectives on committees, and incorporate diverse stakeholder input into training solutions and systemic initiatives.
• Support Implementation, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement: Direct province-wide training delivery, support and coach facilitators, and oversee the implementation of learning strategies. Monitor instructional quality, evaluate training effectiveness, and lead continuous improvement efforts to ensure alignment with ministry goals and measurable workforce outcomes.
  
  

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.

• Agility – Demonstrates a proactive approach to integrating change by identifying opportunities for improvement and adjusting practices in response to shifting priorities. Maintains objectivity and composure under pressure, supporting others through change by clearly communicating impacts and guiding emotional resilience. Effectively embeds change into existing processes and adapts plans to ensure continued alignment with organizational goals.
• Drive for Results – Demonstrates principled leadership by proactively identifying and addressing barriers to project success and collaboration. Aligns complex solutions with organizational goals, confronts challenges directly, and consistently upholds values to drive impactful outcomes.
• Systems Thinking – Demonstrates the ability to plan with a broad perspective by anticipating how current initiatives are influenced by wider trends, political dynamics, and emerging risks. Aligns strategies with organizational goals and vision while proactively addressing behaviors and barriers that may hinder progress.
• Creative Problem Solving – Demonstrates strong collaboration skills by fostering open team environments where ideas are shared freely, and challenges are addressed collectively. Brings together the right people to resolve issues, encourages creative thinking, and uses diverse problem-solving techniques to identify innovative solutions that benefit the organization.

Qualifications

Bachelors Degree (4 years) in a related field (Social Services, Education, Social Sciences, Human Resources) plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below. 

Equivalencies: Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of:

• One year of experience for one year of education; OR
• One year of education for one year of experience.
  
  

Preference would be given to those with Adult Learning (including membership/certificate with Adult Learning Organization), Workplace Learning, Organizational development, Project management, Change management background. Additionally, experience with eLearning development, innovative and interactive workshop development and instructional video development will be an asset.

Assets:

• Experience working with vulnerable population: Understanding of challenges faced by vulnerable groups (e.g., children, youth, families). Applies trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approaches to create safe and inclusive learning. Designs training aligned with frontline realities, policy, and duty of care, ensuring practical and empathetic outcomes.
• Strategic Instructional Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to lead the end-to-end development of learning initiatives, including needs assessment, design, delivery, and evaluation, aligned with adult learning principles and ministry priorities.
• Project and Contract Management: Proven experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects and learning portfolios, including budgeting, resource planning, and vendor contract oversight (e.g., RFPs, work orders, performance management).
• Advanced Stakeholder Engagement: Strong skills in consultation, collaboration, and relationship-building with internal and external partners (e.g., program areas, legal, academics, community experts) to drive inclusive and competency-based learning outcomes.
• Competency-Based Learning Implementation: Deep understanding of competency frameworks, with the ability to create and implement role-specific learning pathways that enhance frontline practice, meet legislative requirements, and support ministry-wide capacity building.
• Solution-Oriented Leadership: Skilled in anticipating barriers, applying change management strategies, and aligning innovative learning solutions with ministry goals—while upholding organizational principles and navigating complex system dynamics
• Technical: Microsoft Suite, SharePoint, online registrations system(s) and GoA systems (1GX, BERNIE, Opinio, Online Surplus Sales Information (OSSI) System etc.), Moodle, various virtual platforms (Zoom and Webex) and Azure virtual desktop.

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

There is one permanent position available.

Hours of Work: This position works Monday to Friday, 36.25-hours a week.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

The final candidate for this position will undergo appropriate pre-employment checks and provide suitable security screening. 

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.

Application Requirements:

• In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience.
• Complete all pre-screening questions.
• Candidates will require a clear Intervention Record Check to be considered for the role (if not currently in the Child Intervention Delivery Services Branch).
• Please be advised that your current supervisor and manager will be contacted as references.
  
  

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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.