Strategic Planning and Reporting Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic thinker who excels at turning complex information into clear, actionable insights?

The Ministry of Children & Family Services is seeking a highly motivated Strategic Planning & Reporting Advisor to play a central role in coordinating ministry-wide business planning, performance measurement, and public accountability processes—including Public Accounts and Deputy Minister commitments.

Reporting to the Manager of Strategic Planning & Reporting, this position plays a central role in providing expert guidance to divisions across the ministry, ensuring high-quality planning and reporting deliverables that demonstrate transparency, accuracy, and accountability. You will navigate diverse and often sensitive issues, build effective internal networks, and support data-driven decision-making through research, analysis, and project management.

If you’re motivated by meaningful collaboration and want to help shape programs that directly impact vulnerable Albertans, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a measurable difference. Key responsibilities include:

1. Lead Ministry Business Planning & Strategic Alignment: Coordinate the full ministry business planning cycle by collecting, consolidating, and analyzing inputs from divisions; develop the ministry’s strategic and
    business plans; and ensure alignment with GoA standards, accountability requirements, and government-wide priorities.
2. Drive Reporting, Performance Measurement & Public Accountability: Lead the development of major accountability documents—including the Annual Report—and coordinate timely reporting on progress toward
     priorities. Support the development of performance metrics to demonstrate program effectiveness and impact.
3. Facilitate Engagement & Strategic Conversations with Leadership: Organize and facilitate planning sessions with senior and executive leadership, transforming divisional goals into operational plans. Support staff
    engagement in planning processes through innovative approaches that connect ministry initiatives to outcomes for vulnerable Albertans.
4. Provide Expert Advice on Strategy, Planning, and Evaluation: Offer technical guidance on strategic planning, operational planning, performance measurement, and evaluation. Conduct complex analysis using
    research, trends, stakeholder feedback, and jurisdictional comparisons to support informed decision-making.
5. Build Strong Internal & External Collaboration Networks: Establish and maintain influential relationships across the ministry, Communications, Corporate Finance, Treasury Board & Finance, the Office of the Auditor
    General, and cross-government working groups to ensure consistency, transparency, and accuracy in planning and reporting materials.
6. Support Team Operations & Capacity Building: Provide day-to-day support to the Manager and team, including coaching colleagues, contributing to process improvements, sharing best practices, and representing the
    team on committees. Step in for the Manager as needed to ensure continuity of deliverables.

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 adaptability and initiative in a changing environment by proactively identifying opportunities to improve work processes, adjusting behavior to evolving circumstances, maintaining composure under
     pressure, seeking guidance when needed, and thinking creatively within established guidelines.
•    Drive for Results – Ability to demonstrate a results-driven approach by leveraging experience to plan effectively, holding self and others accountable, building partnerships to achieve shared outcomes, and consistently
     striving to exceed expectations.
•    Develop Networks - Demonstrates strong stakeholder engagement skills by identifying key relationships, maintaining active communication with a diverse range of interested parties, incorporating broader group needs,
     and effectively influencing outcomes through strategic communication techniques.
•    Systems Thinking - Demonstrates a strategic, long-term approach to achieving organizational objectives by anticipating outcomes, considering diverse stakeholder perspectives, aligning actions with APS values, and
      fostering collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field (Public Administration, Business Administration, Communication, Social Services) plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below. 

Equivalencies:
Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of:
•    1 year of experience for 1 year of education; or
•    1 year of education for 1 year of experience.

Assets:
•    Strong knowledge of strategic, business, and operational planning theories and practices, with hands-on experience in the GoA business planning cycle and annual reporting processes.
•    Skilled in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, applying sound methodologies, data analysis, and synthesizing findings into actionable recommendations for senior management.
•    Demonstrated understanding of project management principles and ability to manage complex projects across multiple priorities.
•    Culturally aware and sensitive to the needs of diverse client groups including children, youth, families, and Indigenous communities, ensuring inclusive and appropriate planning approaches.
•    Proficient in Microsoft 365 and related tools (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to support documentation, analysis, and communication tasks.

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

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Application Requirements:

•    Complete all pre-screening questions.
•    A cover letter outlining why you are applying to this role and how your experience relates to the qualifications is required.
•    In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 – June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative
     purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.
•    Candidates will require a clear Criminal Record Check and Intervention Record Check (if applicable) 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.

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. 

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.