Senior Policy Analyst

Role Responsibilities

The Senior Policy Analyst plays an integral role in the Strategic Information, Research & Evaluation Unit, contributing to research, evaluation, and policy initiatives that inform ministry priorities. This position leads evaluation strategies, oversees research and evaluation-related grants, collaborates with key stakeholders, and supports data-driven policy decisions that impact Albertans.

Key responsibilities of the Senior Policy Analyst include: 

• Lead the development of plans and reports that capture progress across provincial mental health and addiction priorities.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to branch leaders to support planning, reporting, and process improvement.
• Facilitate timely access to accurate, concise information that informs senior leadership, policy, and program decisions.
• Develop and implement evaluation strategies to strengthen system accountability and service quality.
• Manage research and evaluation grants and ensure appropriate methodologies and timelines are in place.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across government and the mental health and addiction system.
  
  

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: Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues. Engages perspective to seek root causes, finds ways to improve complex systems, employs resources from other areas to solve problems and engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks.
  
  
• Agility: Identifies and manages required change and the associated risks. Identifies alternative approaches and supports others to do the same. Proactively explains impact of changes. Anticipates and mitigates emotions of others. Anticipates obstacles and stays focused on goals. Makes decisions and takes action in uncertain situations and creates a backup plan.
  
  
• System thinking: Takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them. Takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities. Anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives. Works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values. Works with others to identify areas for collaboration.
  
  
• Develop Self and Others: Plans according to career goals and regular development. Aligns personal goals with career goals. Leverages strengths, attempts stretch goals, provides feedback and openly discusses team performance. Values team diversity and supports personal development.

Qualifications

University degree in Public Policy or a health-related discipline plus four (4) years of progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalencies maybe considered with related/relevant education or experience based on:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.
  
  

Required Experience: 

• Experience rsearch and data analysis to support decision making.
• Experience developing and implementing evaluation frameworks or performance measures.
• Experience working with both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Experience preparing reports, briefings, and recommendations for senior leaders.
  
  

Assets:

• Experience designing, developing, and conducting evaluations of health programs.
• Experience in health system planning, performance measurement, and evaluation.
• Background working within addiction and/or mental health programs or services. 
• Proficiency in data analysis and visualization software such as SAS, R, or Python.

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 (full-time) 
• 8:15am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday 
  
  

Location: The successful candidate must reside in Edmonton and be able to work on-site at our Edmonton office.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, 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 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.
• 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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.