Policy and Strategy Advisor

Role Responsibilities

The Ministry of Immigration and Multiculturalism has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as Policy and Strategic Advisor!

Reporting directly to the Director, Executive Operations, this position will provide strategic advice, policy, research and operational support of ministry-wide activities associated with key functions of the Deputy Minister's Office (DMO). This position will assist the DMO in ensuring strategies, plans, decisions and policy initiatives are coordinated and consistent with the strategic direction and goals of the department and Government of Alberta (GoA). 

Project and Policy Management:
 

• Provide support and coordination over projects as assigned by the DMO, including preliminary research and analysis.
• Prepares research, background information, presentation material and speaking notes for the DM as needed.
• Work with other GoA ministries and staff to coordinate projects with a lens for collaboration and unification of material. 
• Support planning and logistics associated with DMO events and necessary collaboration with the MO, as well as other GoA stakeholder department representatives. 
• Representing the DMO, support planning and development of Minister-led missions, meetings, and events, where necessary.  

Collaborate and support staff within the ministry to identify, prioritize, and track initiatives and ensure the department meets timelines and protocols for bringing legislation, regulations, and associated materials to government decision-making bodies. This includes drafting the following projects:
 

• Collaborating with ADMO staff on requests for edits from DMO to briefing notes and correspondence.
• Implement and regularly evaluate priority tracking initiatives through the administration of necessary web applications (including ARTS) and the Secure Document SharePoint site.
• Update, track and evaluate initiatives to ensure alignment with ministry-wide business plans. 
• Analyze and prepare qualitative and quantitative reporting based on priority tracking initiatives. 
• Provide oversight for deliverables relating to the departments business plan, operational plans, as well as Executive Team's strategic vision on behalf of the DMO, including sharing of information to departmental staff.
• Provide review of documents for the DM to ensure alignment with ministry and government priorities, right level of quality, and that they do not provide any risk to government.

Role Responsibilities - page 2

Internal Engagement Support:
 

• Collaborate with staff in all divisions to ensure workflow processes are effective and efficient.
• Participate in formal DMO/ADMO roundtable discussions and support shared problem-solving actions and solutions. 

Issues and Relationship Management: 
 

• Builds and maintains effective relationships and communication with the DMO, ADMOs, Executive Team and staff as key internal stakeholders to maintain strategic and operational awareness and identify priorities as they arise and support in the resolution of any issues or concerns. 
• Manages the process for briefings and special projects. 
• Escalates and briefs on emerging and critical issues to ensure the Director, Executive Operations and DM have appropriate input and timely briefings to make a decision.

DMO Initiatives and Activities: 
 

• Facilities and expedites the process for policy approval.
• Review, as need, ARs and briefing notes for political sensitivity, department messaging, ministry position, and consistency across divisions. 

 
Other:
 

• Coordinate issues management responses between the MO, DMO, and appropriate ADMOs to ensure appropriate and timely resolution. 
• As necessary, cover off for the Senior Manager, Coordination and Planning or other positions in the DMO (i.e. Manager of Ministerial Correspondence Unit).
• Other related duties as assigned.
   

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.

In this role, you will contribute to our team by demonstrating the following behavioral competencies:
 

• Systems Thinking – Takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them: takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities; anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives; works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values; works with others to identify areas for collaboration.
• Creative Problem Solving - Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues: Engages perspective to seek root causes; finds ways to improve complex systems; employs resources from other areas to solve problems; engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks.
• Drive for Results - Works to exceed goals and partner with others to achieve objectives: Plans based on past experience; holds self and others responsible for results; partners with groups to achieve outcomes; aims to exceed expectations.
• Agility - Works in a changing environment and takes initiative to change: Takes opportunities to improve work processes; anticipates and adjusts behaviour to change; remains optimistic, calm and composed in stressful situations; seeks advice and support to change appropriately; works creatively within guidelines.

Qualifications

Requirements:
 

• University graduation preferably in Arts, Public Administration or relate field plus 4 Years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.
• For your application to be considered, a cover letter explaining your qualifications and suitability for this role must be attached with your application.

Equivalency:

Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 
 

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience 
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education

The following knowledge or experiences are considered as assets:
 

• Knowledge of government policy, legislation, and regulatory framework. 
• In-depth knowledge of government structure, operations, decision-making processes, policy cycle, and legislative processes. 
• Strategic planning, analytic, conceptual and project management skills.
• Excellent research, critical thinking and policy analysis skills.
• Ability to exercise independent thinking and decision-making in applying skills in dealing with sensitive and complex issues and projects.
• Negotiation, consensus building, and conflict management skills.
• A demonstrated ability to collaborate strategically with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills for the preparation of materials.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking skills in order to effectively and simultaneously manage a number of initiatives while meeting tight timelines. 
• Flexibility to accommodate changing priorities, ability to function under pressure and use tact, diplomacy and good judgment.

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

This is a permanent, full-time position, working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
 

This position is located in Edmonton, Alberta.
 

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time.
 

As part of the interview, short listed applicants may perform a written assignment.
 

The final candidate may undergo pre-employment checks (security screening and academic verification) and reference checks.
 

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.
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.