Manager, Adoptions and Permanency

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director, Permanency, Records & Connections, the Manager, Adoption and Permanency Services oversees the daily operations and strategic direction of Alberta’s Adoption and Permanency unit. This position acts as a provincial expert on legislation and policy guiding legal permanency for children in Alberta and internationally. The role provides leadership to a multidisciplinary team, ensures consistent and effective program delivery, and contributes to system-wide improvements in child permanency outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Provincial Adoption and Permanency Programs: Oversee Alberta’s Government Legal Permanency, International Adoption and Private Adoption Programs, including licensing of private agencies, management of Alberta’s Electronic Matching System, ensuring alignment with legislation, policy, and Hague Convention requirements.
• Provide Strategic Expertise and Leadership: With an understanding of the broader environment and with strong systems awareness, advise senior leadership on legislation, policy, system improvements, and permanency strategies while guiding provincial initiatives and recruitment efforts to strengthen outcomes for children and youth.
• Enhance Practice, Policy, and Program Delivery: Conduct practice and policy reviews to identify improvements across adoption, permanency, legislation, and service delivery, and support delivery agents in interpreting and applying requirements.  
• Lead and Develop a Multidisciplinary Team: Supervise and coach staff in developing system awareness, manage performance and workload, and oversee operational planning, work plans, and resource allocation to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Strengthen Permanency Outcomes Across the System: Provide direction and advice to Child Intervention delivery teams to improve permanency outcomes and support consistent, effective approaches across the province.  
• Support Recruitment and Public Awareness Efforts: Identify and support recruitment campaigns and initiatives that raise awareness about the need for permanency homes across Alberta.

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.

• Creative Problem Solving: Uses diverse techniques to analyze complex issues and generate innovative solutions, encourages open idea sharing, and brings together the right people to resolve challenges.
• Agility: Adapts to shifting priorities, integrates change into work processes, and supports others through transitions. Proactively communicates the impacts of change and adjusts plans as needed.
• Drive for Results: Takes accountability for outcomes, aligns work with APS direction, and uses resources effectively to achieve results that best serve Albertans.
• Develop Networks: Builds strong and impactful relationships across internal and external partners, ensuring diverse perspectives are heard and stakeholder needs are understood and addressed.
• Develop Self and Others: Aligns personal development with career goals, seeks stretch opportunities, encourages team development, provides meaningful feedback, and values team diversity.
• Systems Thinking: Integrates issues, political environment and risks when considering possible actions.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standard:  A university degree in social work, social sciences/services or related field, supplemented by 4 years progressively responsible related experience

Equivalency:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; OR
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education. 

The following will be considered assets:

• Supervisory and/or managerial experience.
• Program services experience in policy, legislation, stakeholder engagement and project management.
• Experience supporting operational planning and decision-making within a multidisciplinary team, including interpreting legislation and responding to complex or emerging issues.
• Experience overseeing adoption program delivery, including Government legal permanency programs, International Adoption and Private Adoption.  
• Experience licensing, monitoring, or providing oversight to external service providers, such as private adoption agencies, to ensure compliance with legislation and standards.
• Experience reviewing and providing advice on adoption and permanency policy or legislation to support program improvements and decision making.
• Six years progressive experience in child intervention or related field at the HSW7 or equivalent level.
• A university degree in social work, social sciences/services or related field plus 6 years progressively responsible related experience; or a Masters degree in a related field plus 4 years related experience.
  
  

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: Monday to Friday – 36.25 hours per week.

Position will end on or before December 1, 2027

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.
• 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.
• A written assessment may be required in addition to a formal interview.
• Final candidates will be required 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 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.