Senior Project Management Specialist-Edmonton

Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic project leader who thrives in complexity and wants to make a real difference in the lives of children and families?

Children and Family Services (CFS) is seeking two Senior Project Management Specialists to join our Portfolio and Project Management Office (PPMO). This is not your typical project management role — we’re looking for someone who can manage transformative initiatives that address deeply rooted social challenges, often in high-stakes and politically sensitive environments. 

Our projects aim to reimagine prevention and intervention service delivery, policy, and community partnerships, and improve outcomes for children and families. You will lead high-visibility projects and work alongside program and policy experts, community partners, and frontline leaders to co-create solutions where none currently exist. This role is ideal for professionals that thrive under pressure and have a blend of experience in non-technical and technical transformative project environments, such as non-profit, business process improvement, policy implementation, and organizational change. What You will do:

Manage Strategic, non-technical Projects
•    Lead the planning and management of high-impact initiatives, ensuring materials are accurate, timely, and aligned with government direction.
•    Develop excellent and fulsome project artifacts such as charters, plans, work breakdowns, schedules, critical paths, decision trackers, and reporting tools 
•    Ensure risks are proactively managed and mitigation strategies are established and implemented.

Navigate Ambiguity and Influence Change 
•    Drive change required to meet project outcomes through change assessments, plans, communication material, and provide supports.
•    Brief Executive Directors and Assistant Deputy Ministers on Ministry’s progress toward strategic goals while ensuring visibility and accountability across divisions. 
•    Apply strong analytical and consultative skills to manage risks, resolve issues, and guide decision-making in politically nuanced environments, with minimal
      supervision.

Build Capacity Across the Ministry 
•    Provide experience-based advice and leadership in best project management practices, tools, and methodologies for complex social projects/change initiatives.
•    Mentor, coach, and lead development opportunities for Ministry colleagues to build project and change management capacity across the Ministry.

Advance Organizational Project Management 
•    Contribute to continuous improvement and the advancement of project management maturity within CFS.
•    Develop and implement project and change management strategies and tools to support successful project outcomes. 

Contribute to the PPMO Team
•    Assist with operational needs such as procurement, onboarding, and internal engagement.
•    Represent the PMO with teams and leaders in the Ministry to champion best practices and deliver value. 

Role Cont'd

Who You Are
You’re a unicorn project manager — someone who:
•    Has led change in complex, non-technical environments (e.g., social services, public policy, community development).
•    Is comfortable working without a prescribed solution and can guide teams through uncertainty.
•    Understands the emotional and political weight of projects that affect vulnerable populations.
•    Can build trust and credibility with stakeholders from frontline workers to executive leaders.

If you are passionate about leading meaningful change and bringing a fresh perspective to public service project management, we encourage you to apply.

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.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

-    Build Collaborative Environments: Facilitates open and respectful conflict resolution.
-    Agility: Remains optimistic, calm and composed in stressful situations.
-    Systems Thinking: Sees impact of work on organization; anticipates change in own area based on activities in other areas.
-    Drive for Results: Holds self and others responsible for results.
-    Develop Self and Others: Reflects on performance to identify areas of improvement

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standard:

Requirements:

University graduation in a related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.
Candidates must have training and/or professional designation in Project Management.

 
Equivalencies: 
Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of one year of education or one year of education for one year of experience.

The following will be considered assets:

-    Experience or training in business or project analysis, change management, process development. 
-    Ability to articulate or visually depict complex concepts. 
-    Experience in public sector or community-based project environments.
-    Experience managing large volumes of complex information and providing recommendations.
-    Prior strategic planning and program development.
-    Strong technical skills with M365, SharePoint, and PM tools.
-    Knowledge and understanding of GoA and Ministry specific policies, guidelines, directives and acts/regulations.
-    Candidates must have training and/or professional designation in Project Management.


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 are Monday to Friday – 36.25 hours per week.

Position office is in downtown Edmonton. In-office work is required a minimum 3 days/week.

Application Requirements:

As part of the application process, you are required to:
•    Complete all pre-screen questions.
•    A cover letter outlining why you are applying to this role and how your experience relates to the qualifications is required.
•    Complete any applicable pre-employment documentation requirements.
•    Project Management-specific training and experience managing large, complex projects is required and must be demonstrated in resume. 

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.