Role Responsibilities

The Director, Diploma Programs, directs all phases of the development, marking, analyzing and reporting of Grade 12 mathematics, science and humanities diploma exams in schools throughout Alberta. 

The Director ensures all diploma examinations are developed to meet high technical standards so they can be used to certify the level of individual student achievement in selected grade 12 courses, ensure that provincewide standards of achievement are maintained, and to report individual and group results. 

This position ensures all examinations, field-tests and support documents appropriately reflect the curriculum and are prepared according to schedule and that established procedures for quality control and security are followed. The incumbent develops and implements communication plans to ensure that school authority personnel and parents understand and benefit from the Diploma Examination Program.

The incumbent leads the branch as the department implements a new online assessment platform, leading the change management process.

This position supports the branch, sector, divisions and department by collaborating with department staff to meet government and department Business Plan goals. 

The Director also leads the psychometricians and analysts, responsible for providing psychometric advice regarding the design, development, and enhancement of testing, marking, scoring, and results reporting for all provincial assessments multiple times a school year.

Responsibilities include:

1. Ensures all diploma examinations are developed to meet high technical standards so they can be used as valid and reliable credentials for students and to determine whether students are learning what they are expected to learn and to inform Albertans about how well students are achieving provincial standards.  
-Ensure exam forms within a subject are produced across time with an equivalent level of difficulty. 
-Collaborate with branch, sector, division and department management to develop guidelines, policies, and procedures related to the development of valid diploma examinations and reliable marking procedures that are valid and fair for all students. 
-Ensure that different diploma exams and field tests meet all aspects of sector standards.

2. Ensures all examinations, field-tests and support documents appropriately reflect the curriculum and are prepared and marked according to schedule and that established procedures for quality control and security are followed.
 - Collaborate with staff in other branches to determine the standards on which assessment will be based, build diploma exams that accurately reflect provincial standards, and ensure that the appropriate range of programs of study outcomes are included in assessments. Ensure managers are kept informed about assessment related issues and concerns that impact clients.
-Lead and coordinates teams for the construction of high-quality field tests in order to provide valid, reliable, and fair provincial assessments within established timelines.
-Build and maintain cooperative relationships and collaborate with superintendents and principals to ensure that teachers representing all school authorities are involved in the development, validation, standard setting and marking of provincial assessments. 

Role Responsibilities Continued

 3. Develops and implements communication plans to ensure that school authority personnel and parents understand and benefit from the Diploma Examination Program. 
 -Participate in developing effective communication plans and training strategies to help school authority personnel and department colleagues ensure that provincial standards are accurately reflected in the development of provincial assessments. 
 -Support and collaborate with stakeholders and partners through timely and effective responses to issues and concerns related to the development and reliable marking of provincial assessments. 
-Provide expertise to teachers, administrators, and school authority staff for the interpretation and use of provincial results, ensuring impartiality and fairness to all. 
-Provide and deliver strategies to school authorities for what to assess, how to develop, how to score, how to report and how to use the results to improve student learning.

4. Lead the psychometricians and analysts to ensure that the scoring and reporting for early years screening tools, provincial achievement tests, diploma examinations and Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC) follow the sector's established business rules and proper procedures and are completed on time without any error.  

5. Supports the branch, sector, divisions and department by collaborating with department staff and colleagues to meet government and department Business Plan goals. 
-Recruit and lead a diverse team of dedicated professionals and support staff who are highly skilled and productive to meet government and department business and operational goals. 
-Support participation of staff in personal and professional learning and development of skills. 
-Lead the development of branch and sector operational and business plans and direct the efficient and effective use of budget and staff resources to support achievement of sector and department goals. 
-Research online and technology developments and the potential impacts on policy in order to make recommendations for assessment processes, policies and practices.  

If this opportunity interests you, please do not hesitate to apply!

Please click on the link to view the job description.

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.

Competencies for this position include:

Systems Thinking: The Director must be aware of current trends in assessment, instruction and curriculum and how they impact learners to communicate how this knowledge is applied in the development and construction of assessment instruments.

Creative Problem Solving: The Director collaborates with branch, sector, division and department management to develop guidelines, policies, and procedures related to the development of valid diploma examinations and reliable marking procedures that are valid and fair for all students.

Agility: The Director supports and collaborates with  stakeholders through timely and effective responses to issues and concerns related to the development and reliable marking of provincial assessments.

Qualifications

Education
University degree in a related field supplemented by six years progressively responsible experience. Demonstrated leadership or supervisory experience mentoring and coaching individuals is an asset. Professional Teaching Certification is required. 

Other Requirements:

• A cover letter must be provided that clearly and concisely outlines how the candidate meets the requirements outlined in the job ad in paragraphs. The candidate’s resume and cover letter will be used to evaluate writing ability and could disqualify them from the competition. 

Preference will be given to candidates with the following assets:  
 

• Knowledge of the relevant program and courses of study. 
• Awareness of trends in assessment and instruction and how they impact learners to address issues in test design and development. 
• Thorough knowledge of Alberta school authorities, schools, government policies and procedures related to construction, instruction and assessment. This knowledge enables the incumbent to respond appropriately to Ministerial action requests regarding diploma examinations and other assessment related issues and direct the development of valid and reliable assessment instruments.,. 
• Knowledge and skill to psychometrics, test design, and curriculum to provide leadership in the development and marking of all diploma exams. 
• Ability to interpret the Department Business Plan goals and implement them within the unit and for effective communication with stakeholders and partners. 
• Knowledge of administrative structures of school authorities, post-secondary institutions, non-government agencies and government departments in Alberta to identify appropriate representatives for collaboration and consultation.
• The job requires a high level of coordination to ensure that different diploma exams and field tests meet all aspects of sector standards. In addition, this job requires a high level of organization  and coordination to facilitate the reliable marking of diploma exams multiple times per year , all within preset deadlines.

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

There is one permanent full-time position working for 36.25 hours per week located in Edmonton.
 

• Final candidate for this position will be required to consent to a criminal record check as part of the pre-employment process.
• 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
• Management Employee 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
• 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