Senior Policy Analyst

Role Responsibilities

Shape the future of sport, physical activity, and recreation in Alberta.
We’re seeking a strategic policy leader who can turn complex issues into clear, evidence based solutions that drive real impact across the province.

As a Senior Policy Analyst, you will provide strategic leadership and expert policy advice that advances Alberta’s sport, physical activity, and recreation (SPAR) priorities. You will lead initiatives across the full policy life cycle — from research and development to implementation, evaluation, and performance measurement. Collaborating closely with partners across government and the broader SPAR sector, you will synthesize complex issues, support provincial and pan Canadian priorities, and deliver high quality, evidence based insights to senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead policy development and analysis across the full life cycle, including research, design, implementation, evaluation, and performance measurement.
• Provide strategic, evidence based advice to senior leadership on SPAR issues, trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research, environmental scans, and strategic analysis to inform policy options and long term planning.
• Develop performance measures, reporting frameworks, and evaluation tools to assess policy effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
• Prepare high quality briefing materials, reports, and public facing documents, synthesizing complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including other ministries, levels of government, and non governmental organizations, to advance shared priorities.
• Support provincial and pan Canadian SPAR initiatives, ensuring alignment with legislation, policy frameworks, and sector trends.
• Represent the department on committees, working groups, and stakeholder engagements, supporting effective communication and relationship building.
• Apply project, business, and strategic planning skills to guide initiatives and ensure successful 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.

• Systems Thinking: Considers interrelationships and emerging trends to attain goals.  Seeks insight on implications of different options. Analyzes long-term outcomes, focus on goals and values. Identifies unintended consequences.
• Creative Problem Solving: Focuses on continuous improvement and increasing breadth of insight. Asks questions to understand a problem.  Looks for new ways to improve results and activities.  Explores different work methods and what made projects successful, shares learning.  Collects a breadth of data and perspectives to make choices.
• Develop Networks: Works on maintaining close relations with all stakeholders.  Identifies key stakeholder relationships.  Has contact with a range of interested parties.  Actively incorporates needs of a broader group.  Influences others through communication techniques.
• Drive for Results: Works to exceed goals and partner with others to achieve objectives.  Plans based on experience.  Holds self and others responsible for results.  Partners with groups to achieve outcomes.  Aims to exceed expectations.

Qualifications

Required:

• University degree in Kinesiology, Sport, Recreation, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Science, Business  or related, PLUS 4 years related experience or equivalent as described.

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.

For Example: 

• Related 1 year certificate PLUS a minimum 7 year of experience
• Related 2-year diploma PLUS a minimum 6 years of experience
• Related minimum 8 years of experience 

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 

The successful candidate MUST also have: 

• Experience in policy analysis, development, evaluation, and performance measurement.
• Strong analytical, research, and critical thinking skills (qualitative and quantitative).
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex issues into clear briefing materials and public facing documents.
• Understanding of legislation and policy frameworks relevant to SPAR (e.g., Societies Act, FOIP, privacy, board/volunteer liability).
• Knowledge of public and private funding systems supporting recreation and physical activity.
• Strong communication, facilitation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint).
• Experience collaborating with cross functional or multi stakeholder groups.

Assets: 

• In depth knowledge of community, provincial, national, and international SPAR trends.
• Experience with pan Canadian SPAR initiatives or intergovernmental collaboration.
• Experience in business, strategic, policy, or project planning.
• Proficiency with AI enabled productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini) for research, drafting, and analysis.
• Experience representing an organization on committees or working groups.
• Knowledge of Government of Alberta policy development and approval processes.

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

Additional Position Details:

• Term of Employment: Permanent, Full-time position.
• Hours of Work: 7.25 hours daily / 36.25 weekly – Monday to Friday.
• Location: Edmonton 

Recruitment Process:

• Cover Letter: Please provide a cover letter outlining your skills, knowledge and experience as they relate to the role
• Written Assessments: Candidates may be required to complete a written assessment to further evaluate their skills, knowledge, and experience related to the role.
• 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/
• 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.