Priority Issues Coordinator

Job Information
Job Title: Priority Issues Coordinator
Job Requisition ID: 88732
Ministry: Environment and Protected Areas
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 2, 2026

Classification: Program Services 3
Salary: $2,935.39 - $3,850.29 bi-weekly ($76,613 - $100,492/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.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is dedicated to safeguarding Albertas natural resource and ecosystems awhile balancing environmental and economic needs. We focus on wildlife conservation, managing protected areas, creating environmental policies, conducting research and engaging the public through educational initiatives. Our commitment is to sustainably, ensuring Alberta’s landscapes and resources are persevered and responsibly managed for future generations.

Please review Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas, to learn more and what it has to offer.

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Executive Advisor in the Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office, the Priority Issues Coordinator is a central liaison across the Water and Circular Economy Division. The position coordinates strategic issues, executive information flow, divisional decision-making processes and special projects and support the office, division, and department of Government of Alberta in other priorities and initiatives, as needed. 

In this role, you will: 

• Identify, assess, prioritize and escalate strategic and emerging issues, and provide timely briefings to the Assistant Deputy Minister and Executive Advisor. 
• Develop and maintain systems to track priority initiatives, action requests, commitments, risks and long-term issues across the division. 
• Coordinate accurate, timely and consistent responses to requests from the Minister’s Office, Deputy Minister’s Office, Communications and other internal partners. 
• Work with branch leadership, subject matter experts, Action Request Tracking System (ARTS) administrators and branch Priority Issues Coordinators to gather information, resolve issues and align divisional responses. 
• Prepare and coordinate high-quality briefings, correspondence, Cabinet documents, information packages and supporting materials for executive review and approval. 
• Maintain clear and consistent messaging in materials supporting the Ministerial Correspondence Unit and Communications. 
• Design and improve processes that support efficient workflow, high-quality information exchange and coordinated decision-making within the Assistant Deputy Minister’s Office. 
• Monitor major divisional initiatives and report on progress, risks, dependencies and emerging priorities. 
• Provide advice on prioritization, communication strategies, procedural requirements and alignment with Government of Alberta decision-making and approval pathways. 
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with sound judgment, while providing proactive strategic coordination, advice and executive support to ensure divisional priorities are aligned with ministry objectives and emerging issues are effectively managed.
• Working closely with the Executive Advisor, the Priority Issues Coordinator serves as a trusted resource to the Assistant Deputy Minister's Office, anticipating emerging issues, identifying risks and opportunities, and ensuring strategic priorities are effectively coordinated across the division. 
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to support executive decision-making and divisional priorities.
• Analyze and synthesize complex information from multiple sources to identify trends, risks, interdependencies and impacts across the division, ministry and broader Government of Alberta.
• Anticipate emerging issues and proactively engage branches and partners to develop coordinated responses and mitigation strategies.
• Support the Assistant Deputy Minister's Office by ensuring divisional activities align with ministry priorities, government direction and executive decision-making processes.

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.

Systems Thinking: Takes a holistic, long-term view of issues, anticipates impacts across the division and identifies interdependencies among programs and priorities. 

Agility: Identifies alternative approaches, adapts in complex or uncertain situations, anticipates obstacles and remains focused on outcomes. 

Build Collaborative Environments: Builds trusted relationships across the Deputy Minister’s Office, Communications and division branches, seeks diverse input and supports coordinated solutions.

Creative Problem Solving: Uses critical thinking, sound analysis and professional judgment to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities and recommend practical solutions.

Drive for Results: Takes initiative, proactively manages priorities and follows through to achieve outcomes in a fast-paced executive environment.

Qualifications

Required

University graduation in a related field, such as Political Science, Economics, Communications, Public Administration or Business, plus a minimum of two years of progressively responsible related experience.

Equivalencies will be considered on the basis of one year of directly related education for one year of directly related experience, or one year of directly related experience for one year of directly related education.
Additional requirements include:

• Related experience must include strategic issues management, executive briefing and correspondence development, analysis and synthesis of complex information, executive-level stakeholder engagement, providing advice and recommendations to senior leadership, and the preparation of high-quality decision materials.
  

Assets

• Demonstrated ability to exercise political acuity, sound judgment and discretion while supporting senior executive decision-making.
• Experience identifying emerging issues, assessing implications and recommending strategic options in a complex environment.
• Knowledge of Government of Alberta mandates, strategic direction, organizational structures, decision-making processes and approval pathways.
• Experience assessing issues, determining urgency, coordinating responses and recommending appropriate action.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing clear information for executive and operational audiences.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and manage multiple competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Experience supporting a senior executive office or working with ministerial, deputy minister or communications offices.

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

Notes

This position is a permanent, full-time role, with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday.

Travel within the area and throughout the province will be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and other external stakeholders.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

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.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• 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 Jane McEwen at Jane.McEwen@gov.ab.ca.