Contract & Procurement Specialist

Role Responsibilities

The Contract and Procurement Specialist (CPS) position reports to a Manager within the Employment Services Branch. The CPS is responsible for planning, procuring, managing, reporting on, and administering various types of agreements related to Career and Employment Information Services (CEIS). They draw on strong working knowledge across social programs, including service design, implementation, and delivery. Familiarity with associated legislative, policy, and practice frameworks is critical to plan for, procure, and monitor services that meet the needs of Ministry stakeholders. A thorough understanding of current Labour Market needs, paired with technical proficiency, is critical to effective contract and grant management.
The CPS works independently, with political acumen and autonomy, and has advanced negotiation, monitoring, and consultative skills. This role requires the development and maintenance of a strong network of collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including EFS delivery staff, service providers, and employers, to assess service needs, identify emerging issues, and ensure that services are in place to meet needs within the mandate of the Ministry, Division, and Branch.

As the Contract and Procurement Specialist your key objectives will be:

Planning and Analysis
•    Within the context of the ministry business plan and branch investment strategy, identifying trends and leveraging opportunities to procure, meaningful and quality services to meet the dynamic needs of clients, the labour market, and the Ministry.

Communication
•    Exceptional written and oral communication skills to effectively procure, monitor, evaluate service agreements, maintain relationship with key stakeholders and draft
briefings and position papers.
•    Excellent analytical skills to research or review literature and provide an accurate and
thorough analysis and recommendations for investment planning.
•    Ability to collate data and visualize information for investment planning including building budget models and completing forecasting activities.

Procurement Management
•    Effectively manage procurement activities throughout the agreement lifecycle by planning, administering, monitoring, and evaluating contracts and grants to ensure timely delivery, alignment with ministry policies, and compliance with applicable legislation, procurement requirements, and federal agreement obligations. 
•    Prioritize competing demands and operate effectively within tight timelines in a politically sensitive environment.

Relationship Management and Communication
•    Build and sustain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, including Indigenous Nations and organizations and groups representing marginalized communities. Leverage these relationships to identify emerging gaps and service needs and inform unit and branch priorities.

Reporting
•    Collaborate with program delivery staff, service providers, employers, and other stakeholders to monitor and manage contracts and grants, ensuring compliance with agreements and policy. 
•    Prepare reports on service utilization and performance to inform leadership decision-making and support recommendations regarding service effectiveness, continuation, or completion.

Role Responsibilities (continuation)

This competition will be used to fill several Contract and Procurement Specialist roles with general and specific areas of sub focus:
•    Prime Contracting (2 positions) – manages agreements under the Prime Contracting Framework, located in Edmonton (1) and Calgary (1), other locations may be considered.
•    Procurement and Resource Management – Employer Services (2 positions) – One position in each zone (Northern and Southern Alberta). These roles are key to building employer relationships, strengthening the delivery of Employer Services under CEIS, and supporting the development of employer co investment in labour market programming.
•    Procurement and Resource Management – Generalists (2 positions) – Located in Red Deer, with other South Zone locations considered.

All successful candidates will support the planning, procurement, management, and monitoring of contracted services that deliver meaningful outcomes for Albertans.
Contract and Procurement Specialists play a vital role in ensuring services are aligned with legislation, policy, program priorities, and regional needs. These positions require strong judgment, political acumen, effective relationship building skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a diverse stakeholder environment.

Please click on this link JR79416 Contract And Procurement Specialist JD 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 the broader service context, client needs, and interconnected impacts of contracting decisions.

Agility: Navigates shifting priorities, emerging issues, and dynamic service environments while maintaining effective stakeholder relationships.

Drive for Results: Prioritizes work, manages competing demands, and ensures procurement and monitoring activities meet required timelines and standards.

Building Collaborative Environments: Encourages cooperation across regions, programs, and service providers by fostering trust, open communication, and shared problem solving.

Creative Problem Solving: Analyzes complex issues, identifies root causes, and develops practical and innovative solutions to support service delivery and program outcomes.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standard: 
•    University graduation in a related field (Social Sciences, Social Work, Human Services, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics or related field .
•    Four years of progressively responsible related experience in writing, particularly in responding to Action Requests, writing briefing materials, planning, contract management/negotiations, consulting, program evaluation, financial administration, and working with community-based resources.

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.

Assets:
•    Demonstrated project management experience, including planning, negotiation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of service agreements.
•    Strong writing skills and the ability to consolidate information into summary formats.
•    Experience responding to Action Requests and drafting Briefing Notes.
•    Solid understanding of financial administration aspects including forecasting,
expenditure officer duties and accrual processes.
•    Proven experience with community-based resources and the ability to foster and maintain stakeholder relationships.
•    Strong understanding of policy integration within contracts and grants.
•    Understanding of and experience with the provision of labour market attachment, programming and assisting Albertans in their continuum towards sustained
employment.
•    Understanding of service procurement within the Government of Alberta.
•    Strong foundational knowledge of ALSS Career & Employment Information Service Policies.
•    Insight and understanding of external service provision and Federal reporting
requirements.
•    Extensive experience using Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, is required.
•    Familiarity with IT solutions, including web-based applications for client interaction tracking and contract or grant management.
•    Experience with navigating business processes in a public service environment.

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.
  
  This is not a remote work opportunity.
  
  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.
  •    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.
  
  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.
  
  Assessments and Testing
  As part of the selection process, candidates may be required to complete written assessments, job related testing, or other evaluation components.
  
  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.