Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Student Services, the Manager, Assessing and Disability Support, leads front-line delivery activities of the Alberta Student Aid program, which includes federal and provincial student loans and grants, and student disability supports.

The Manager plans and leads team operations to achieve high standards for quality of delivery services to clients and effectiveness and efficiency in high volume operations in a consistently changing environment. This position also manages team operations through multiple business transformation initiatives and ongoing student funding program changes.

The Manager provides integrated reporting, consultation, and expertise to senior leadership on matters related to team operations to resolve issues and inform strategic planning and reporting. Collaboration with other units across the division is essential to integrate business changes. The incumbent also represents the division and/or ministry on Pan-Canadian working groups, cross-government projects, stakeholder committees, and shares related information throughout the Student Financial Services branch and the Private Career Colleges and Student Aid division.

The role of Manager actions the tasks as outlined below:

• Develop, and implement operational processes to align with program policy and increase accountability requirements as needed.
• Manage day-to-day operations to ensure that activities comply with established service delivery standards.
• Ensure operational processes and procedures are current and reflect changes to legislation, processes, or systems.
• Ensure correspondence forms and templates are updated and maintained.
• Review the student funding application package and Assessing Procedures manual for changes due to new policies or initiatives on an annual basis.
• Lead planning and implementation of projects related to program evolution, operational improvements, and business transformation, including risk assessment and change management planning.
• Identify options and make recommendations on how to implement program transformations (e.g., improved communication to students and staff).
• Ensure Quality Assurance-specific system enhancements and program metrics align with ministry business priorities and comply with federal and provincial regulation and policies.
• Monitor and review the tracking of reviews to ensure timelines are acceptable and the integrity and quality assurance of the processes are maintained.
• Collaborate with federal, provincial, and territorial government representatives to coordinate processes and communications for educational funding assistance programs (e.g., Canada Student Loans Program).
• Represent the team, branch, ministry, or government on related committees, working groups or project teams.

Role Responsibilities continued,

• Develop processes and priorities related to increased accountability requirements to ensure consistency on a national level.
• Maintain relationships within the Student Financial Assistance network with federal, provincial and territorial representatives and participate in cross jurisdictional scans on Student Financial Assistance programs policies and procedures.
• Manage the use of manual workarounds that may need to complete during the upgrade of technology systems, maintaining the expected service delivery timelines and service provision.
• Inform and advise the Director on emergent issues to ensure the success of the unit processes, frameworks and guidelines and recommend go-forward options.
• Provide advice and recommendations to the branch and division leaders to inform their decision-making and to shape responses.
• Synthesize and report on plans and results achieved by the unit operations to inform branch and division planning and reporting.

Please click on this supports 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.
 

• Systems Thinking- Considers program impact when approving operational process improvements; anticipates impacts and potential outcomes related to team functions.
• Agility- Agility- Possesses an ability to create an adaptable environment and overcome barriers through proactive and flexible approach to work.
• Develop Self and Others- Proven ability to foster partnerships and to achieve organizational goals within an organization by adopting a continuous.

Qualifications

University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by three years related experience. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Depending on the applicable statutory or unique requirements of the position, specific qualifications may apply.

Comprehensive knowledge of: 

• Relevant Government and Ministry business plan goals, mandates, and organizational structures.
• Alberta Student Aid business priorities, directions, operational requirements, and related issues.
• Educational funding assistance programs and policies administered on behalf of the federal and provincial governments, including related criteria, guidelines, processes, and procedures (e.g., Canada Student Loan Policy and Procedures Manual; Assessing Guidelines; and Loan Relief Program Guidelines).
• Applicable provincial and federal legislation relevant to Student Aid (i.e. Canada Student Financial Assistance Act; Student Financial Assistance Act and Regulations; Grants, Donations, and Loans Regulation).
• Applicable Ministry and Government policies, procedures, and information systems pertaining to assessing and processing student funding and disability supports and their interactions and impacts.
• Detailed federal and provincial assessing criteria, policies and procedures and information systems.
• Human and financial management policies, processes and procedures to manage team operations.
• Experience leading teams.

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 positions working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This position is based in Edmonton. We require you to attach a Cover Letter with application explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.    

The final candidate for this position will be asked to undergo pre-employment checks (including a criminal record check). 

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.

What we offer:

• 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.