Senior Policy Advisor

Role Responsibilities

The Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development unit advances specific policy initiatives to support entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Alberta, strengthens Alberta's business support ecosystem and leads the assessment and development of policy improvements to department legislation such as Alberta's Film and Television Tax Credit (FTTC).

The Senior 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 strategic and policy advice related to reducing barriers for entrepreneurs and SMEs, improve retention and strengthen the business support ecosystem in the Province. 

The incumbent is responsible for coordinating engagement with technical contacts within the department, across ministries, and with key stakeholders for the purpose of developing policy responses and program development on relevant issues. The Senior Policy Advisor also provides policy advice to program areas within the department responsible for supporting entrepreneurs, enterprises and business support activities.

Working closely with team members including the Managers and Directors in the branch, the Senior Policy Advisor leads and supports projects and prepares strategic internal and external communications. This requires extensive problem-solving, systems-thinking, decision-making, relationship development and business communication skills. 

The Senior Policy Advisor's technical, analytical and communication skills are essential to both the unit and the branch achieving their business plan goals in fostering solutions to address issues that enterprises, entrepreneurs and small businesses face, and promoting economic growth in Alberta.

The Senior Policy Advisor will be required to lead and support various projects with competing priorities. The Senior Policy Advisor’s responsibilities include:
 

• Support developing strategies, policies, programs and grants that support Alberta's entrepreneurs and SMEs. 
• Lead jurisdictional and environmental scanning to help inform the project planning and development related to enterprise and entrepreneurship. 
• Research, develop, maintain and monitor legislation, policy, processes and procedures to comply with government and department objectives, including work related to Alberta's FTTC.
• Represent the department's and Alberta's interests and priorities in all initiatives.
• Support project work to ensure timely project completion.  

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 – The position is expected to independently execute research projects that support economic policy priorities, which are multi-faceted and may not have precedents. Ongoing engagement within the Ministry is essential to provide strategic advice and share policy options.
   
• Drive for Results – In addition to completing discrete projects in a timely manner, the incumbent will be expected to proactively conduct research and environmental scanning to build awareness of industry trends and issues at the provincial, national, and international levels.
   
• Agility – This position works in a unit where direction can change quickly, so the incumbent needs to be able to adjust work focus and workload to adapt.
   
• Develop Networks – The incumbent needs to assist the unit with developing collaborative networks and maintain strong cross-departmental and external linkages to ensure effective information exchange, collaboration, and policy development.
   
• Systems Thinking – In developing policy responses, this position must 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

Bachelors degree in Business, Economics, Political Science or in a related field plus 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 knowledge, skills and experience:
 

• Minimum four years of policy development or policy analysis experience, working in progressively more complex roles.
• Knowledge of business, industry, and economic drivers and trends and their impact on the Alberta economy, businesses and entrepreneurship.
• Policy analysis skills. Thorough understanding of the policy development cycle and ability to effectively communicate policy analysis and recommendations. 
• Strong research, planning and execution skills.
• Quantitative and qualitative analysis skills. Ability to apply research methods and analysis tools to identify issues, gaps and opportunities to address the issues and make cross-jurisdictional comparisons. 
• Project management and time management skills. Ability to manage multiple requests/competing priorities and meet tight timelines.
• Broad experience preparing and providing options analysis, reports, briefings and presentations in generating creative solutions.
• Ability to lead efforts among diverse teams in developing sector strategies, analyses or policy and program development.
• Have strong relationship building and stakeholder engagement experience. 
• Have practical knowledge on economic, statistical, cross-jurisdictional cost benefit analysis. 
• Possess detailed understanding of economic development concepts and matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Possess a big picture systemic approach to assess impacts and conclusions through research and analysis.
• Ability to function well in a team-based environment that demands a high level of interpersonal skills. 
• 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.  
• Demonstrate the APS values and competencies.  

A cover letter is required. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.  

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

Work location is Commerce Place Building Edmonton.

A cover letter is required. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.  

Qualified candidates may be required to submit a written assignment.  

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. 

The Alberta Public Service is a great place to work! What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - About the Alberta Public Service | Alberta.ca

• 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