Senior Policy Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager of Home and Community Care Policy, Standards, and Quality, the Senior Policy Advisor will work collaboratively with internal ALSS partners, other Government of Alberta (GoA) partners, ALA, service providers and facility operators and other key stakeholders to develop, oversee, analyze, and coordinate implementation of substantial high-level priority policies and projects with a focus on home and community care.

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you will advance provincial legislation and strategic policy for home and community care, supportive living, and palliative and end-of-life care. You will support high-priority initiatives arising from legislative reviews and system transformation efforts, providing analysis, coordinating cross-sector collaboration, and managing complex and emerging issues that impact clients, families, and providers.

This role requires independent judgment, the ability to balance long-term planning with timely response, and comfort working within evolving policy and political priorities.

The Senior Policy Advisor will also support, as a content expert, the implementation and outcomes for grants designed to enable continuing care policy, practice innovations and quality improvements.

Your responsibilities in this role will include, but will not be limited to:

• Developing, Reviewing, and Updating Policies and Legislation (Home and Community Care and Palliative Care)
  
  • Lead policy analysis and review activities, identifying emerging trends and developing evidence-based options to improve access and quality of home care.
  • Collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders to advance legislative, policy, and standards development, and provide recommendations to senior officials.
• Policy Implementation Support
  
  • Prepare briefings, reports, and recommendations to support executive decision-making and policy implementation.
  • Engage stakeholders, including Legislative and Legal Services and sector partners, to support coordinated implementation and evaluation efforts.
• Project Management
  
  • Lead and support strategic projects that advance home and community care, including palliative and end-of-life initiatives.
  • Coordinate working groups, prepare project materials, and contribute to evaluation and progress monitoring activities.
• Issues Management and Information Sharing
  
  • Prepare timely and accurate responses to action requests and inquiries related to continuing care.
  • Collaborate across ministries and develop informational materials to support awareness of home care and palliative care initiatives.

Role Responsibilities cont.

• Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement
  
  • Engage with stakeholders and the public to increase and improve awareness of the continuing care system and priority initiatives, departmental grant processes, as well as supporting stakeholders to develop grant proposals for HCC systems improvements and to prepare grant-related progress reports and final grant evaluation reports.
  • As required, participate on internal and external working groups (including cross-ministry teams, and stakeholder associations), to provide ongoing support on initiatives and projects.
    
    

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills across ministries, agencies, and sector partners,
• Political acuity and sound judgment in managing sensitive, complex issues,
• The ability to adapt quickly and balance competing priorities in a dynamic environment,
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity,
• Independence, initiative, and accountability in delivering results, and
• Clear, effective communication and the ability to manage expectations with diverse stakeholders.

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.

• Drive for Results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them. Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Develop Networks - Proactively builds networks, fosters connections, and establishes trust in relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Systems Thinking - Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals. Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
• Creative Problem Solving - Has the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

Requirements

• University graduation (4 years) in a related field such as Public Policy, Health Administration, Health Studies, Health Economics, Social Work, Social Sciences, Project Management, etc. plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience such as policy and program development, continuing care, social care, etc.; 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.

A cover letter is required along with your application. In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:

• How your professional and/or academic background relates to this role, including your direct and transferable expertise and skills,
• Your policy experience, and
• Reason(s) for interest in this role.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Assets:

• Experience developing and implementing health policy and/or legislation, preferably in home and community care or palliative and end-of-life care.
• Experience supporting legislative or regulatory change initiatives.
• Experience conducting research, jurisdictional scans, and evidence-informed policy analysis.
• Experience preparing briefing notes, decision documents, and materials for senior executives.
• Experience working with cross-client partners and external stakeholders on complex policy initiatives.

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

Position Additional Details: 

• Hours of work: Monday - Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25/week)
• Positions Currently available: One (1) permanent position is available.
• Location: This opportunity can be located either at ATB Place North, 10025 Jasper Ave., Edmonton, or at 710 4 Ave SW, Calgary.

Recruitment Process: 

• Final candidates will be asked to undergo a 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 has 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.