Associate Director, Social Policy

 Job Information

Job Title: Associate Director, Social Policy
Job Requisition ID: 88241
Ministry: Executive Council
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Temporary (up to 2 years)
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: October 15, 2026
Classification: Manager Zone 2
Salary: ​$3,920.66 to $5,276.07 bi-weekly ($102,329–$137,705/year)

The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities. 

Executive Council works to ensure effective strategic planning and coordinated policy development and communications across government, engages Albertans and the broader global community, and promotes a vibrant and innovative public service.

International and Intergovernmental Relations (IIR) develops strategies to coordinate Alberta’s leadership and cooperation with other governments in Canada and around the world. This team develops intergovernmental strategies on issues of importance to Alberta and Canada, with its partners, clients and stakeholders, to address challenges and grow opportunities. They coordinate Alberta's leadership and participation within the Canadian federation in pursuit of a federal system that best serves the needs of Albertans and Canadians.

Role Responsibilities

Do you thrive working in a dynamic environment? Are you looking for opportunities to advance complex files while building relationships across the GoA and with federal, provincial, and territorial governments? Do you have a high tolerance for ambiguity and thrive in navigating the unknown? Are you interested in advancing Alberta’s intergovernmental priorities across government? If you say yes, consider joining our team!

The Intergovernmental Relations Division is made up of the Social Policy and Federal/Provincial Relations Branch with its portfolio of ministries with a social, health, education, and justice focus, and the Economic and Resource Policy Branch with its portfolio of ministries with an economic, environmental, and resource focus.

As an Associate Director, you will monitor political, program and service developments in the context of intergovernmental policy, provide strategic advice and policy analysis, disseminate information, and work with other Alberta government Ministries and the entire Intergovernmental Relations Division to deliver a coordinated and consistent approach to advancing Alberta’s intergovernmental agenda and priorities.

This role offers an opportunity for an individual with strong negotiation and leadership skills, a thorough understanding of the federal and provincial systems of government, and a strong background in public policy.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing intergovernmental liaison in support of the areas of strategic advice, policy analysis, and information analysis and dissemination.
• Supporting client departments with intergovernmental issues and negotiations, agreements, and federal-provincial-territorial meetings.
• Assisting with the coordination of Alberta’s participation in intergovernmental meetings and conferences, including Council of the Federation meetings, the Western Premiers’ Conference, First Ministers’ Meetings and Federal-Provincial-Territorial meetings.
• Participating in the Ministry’s business planning activities to develop policy recommendations and strategies with regard to intergovernmental policy and emerging issues.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Ability to lead in complex and rapidly changing environments.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders and advance Alberta’s interests.
• Sound judgement and strategic thinking with the ability to distill and synthesize complex information.
• Sound understanding of the relationship between policy, stakeholder engagement, and political environments.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on 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.

• Agility – Despite any challenges that arise and may hamper the ability of your team, you will continue to move your businesses forward in a way that ensures excellent customer service is always delivered.
• Drive for Results – You have a results-oriented and a heightened sense of urgency towards meeting and exceeding internally and externally set goals.
• Develop Networks - Communicates regularly with stakeholders, setting up opportunities for mutual sharing of information. Considers how changes might impact colleagues, clients, and stakeholders, and actively seeks their input and/or involvement regarding those changes. Gives service beyond stakeholders’ expectations by seeking information about underlying needs, providing insights, and recommending actions to address these needs.
• Creative Problem Solving - Being an effective problem solver you will be able to find new and creative solutions to both regular and unique situations that arise.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards 

• A university degree in Political Science, Business, Public Policy, Law, Social Science, or a related discipline supplemented by four (4) years of related experience; or equivalent as described below.
• Strong understanding of the relationship between policy, stakeholder engagement, and political environments.

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.

For application consideration, you must attach a cover letter outlining your qualification and suitability for this role. Please clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with this position.

Assets:

• Knowledge of and experience in the Canadian intergovernmental relations environment, including federal-provincial-territorial forums, and awareness of jurisdictional issues, emerging issues and current events impacting intergovernmental relations.
• In-depth knowledge of government structures, operations, and decision-making processes in the Alberta government and/or other governments within Canada.
• Proven experience in working with, and providing advice to, other Ministries, including the ability to work on a variety of cross-Ministry intergovernmental initiatives
• Experience in engagement and/or negotiating complex agreements.
• Experience supervising bargaining unit positions and leading teams.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

This posting is for one (1) temporary full-time position for up to 2 years.

Hour of Work: 36.25 hours/week, however, the incumbent may be required to work extended or irregular hours with minimal notice.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta.

Please note that this position requires full in‑office presence from Monday to Friday. Some travel within Canada will be required.

A cover letter that demonstrates how your education and work experience makes you the ideal candidate for the job is required.

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.
In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Please also indicate whether your work experience was part-time or full-time. For example: January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Executive Director of Job Title (Full time).
Final candidates may 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 we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

How To Apply

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply online. Please see Job Application Resources for more information.

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.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information.

It is also recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Annie Ostopowich at annie.ostopowich@gov.ab.ca.