Role Responsibilities

We have exciting full time permanent opportunity within the Ministry of Advanced Education.

The Legislative Analyst plays a key role in the planning, development and implementation of legislation, regulations, and other legal instruments in Advanced Education. This position is required to work closely with department staff and officials including central agencies such as Executive Council, Legislative Counsel Office, Legal Services, and Treasury Board and Finance. The Legislative Analyst provides corporate legislative services for all bills, regulations, Orders in Council, Ministerial Orders and Board Orders within the legal framework of Advanced Education.  While operating under the direction of the Director, Legislative Services, this position carries out functions with a high level of independence. This position transforms policy into legislation and contributes to the development and execution of both the department's legislative and regulatory agenda in order to accomplish government priorities. The Legislative Analyst position and learned experience of incumbents is key to the succession planning of other legislative staff in this specialized field.

Responsibilities: 

1. Legislative planning, development, review, and implementation.
 

• Produce, review, and contribute to elements of legislative approval packages or other briefing materials including briefing notes, memos, Legislation Charts, speaking notes, Cabinet policy documents, and bills, regulations, Orders in Council, Ministerial Order and Board Orders.
• Support members of the Legislative Services team in shepherding legislative projects through the government decision-making and Legislative Assembly process to approval.
• Work in partnership with program areas, Legislative Services staff, Legal Services and Legislative Counsel in the planning and development of legislative projects.
• Contribute to the legislative and regulatory planning processes to set agendas for the departments.
• Advise department staff in the review of Acts, regulations, or policies that have a legislative impact and participate in any internal working groups required to complete the review.
• Provide technical legislative advice and guidance on legislation, policy, governance, or legislative projects to staff and department officials.
• Support the development of bills, and new and amending regulations including activities related to project management of the development and approval processes and providing drafting instructions to Legislative Counsel.
• Support the development and drafting of Recommendations for Orders in Council, Ministerial Orders and Board Orders working with Legislative Services staff, Legal Services and Legislative Counsel.
• Review proposed strategic and operational policies of the department in order to identify any legislative issues or problems and recommend solutions.

Role Responsibilities (Continued)

2. Research, analysis, monitoring, reporting, and building capacity.

• Provide legislative-related research and analysis including inter-jurisdictional legislative analysis of statutes and regulations on various policy topics.
• Foresight activities including the monitoring of legislative developments in Canadian jurisdictions to identify trends that may affect Alberta legislation and analysis of impacts.
• Monitor and analyze the Alberta Hansard during each legislative session to identify issues relating to the department and anticipate and advise on responsive actions where required.
• Monitor all department Action Requests related to legislation to provide advice and recommend intervention where necessary.
• Provide responses to legislative-related Action Requests as required.
• Maintain all internal tracking and reporting activities for the Legislative Services team and facilitate any legislative reporting required by the department, Minister, Executive Council or the Legislative Assembly.
• Act as a liaison to divisional policy coordination staff in reviewing the Initiative Tracking System and any other tracking or reporting related to legislation.
• Build and maintain a network of trust relationships with department staff, Alberta Justice and Executive Council in order to identify strategies to manage department legislation.
• Monitor regulatory expiry dates and any other legislative deadlines as required.
• Create documents, and provide support and advice related to the development of legislative-related training or resource material for department staff.
• Manage the Corporate Registry function of the department to maintain and secure all original signed non-regulatory Ministerial Order and Board Order records.
• Facilitate the publication of Ministerial Orders on the Queen's Printer.
• Participate in the work of the GoA Legislative Planners Network and serve in an acting position for another member of the Legislative Services team as required.

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.

Agility – The Legislative Analyst works with staff to develop the most effective way to address the initial problem. The incumbent is required to be diplomatic in consulting with staff in order to manage conflicting ideas and overcome obstacles.

Develop Networks – The Legislative Analyst works with different teams and staff inside and outside of the department in order develop legislation. They guide staff in the refinement of policy ideas into requirements of law that achieve the intended results. This requires leading a collaborative effort to achieve consensus and communicate direction to Legislative Counsel.

Systems Thinking – The provision of guidance and advice on legislative matters requires a broad view of interconnected rules in different statutes, regulations, and other instruments and their impact on policy objectives and implementation of programs over the long term.

Creative Problem Solving – The Legislative Analyst works with program areas to identify root causes of policy matters to identify an appropriate legislative or non-legislative solution that is proportional to the original problem and effective in solving it. The position is responsible for consultation with different areas and staff (e.g., Legal Services) to find ways to improve a legislative recommendation or identify any issues or risks with a proposed option.

Qualifications

Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, supplemented by a minimum of four years of related progressively responsible experience is required. Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one-for-one basis.

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.

Assets:

• Knowledge of Advanced related legislation (e.g. Post-secondary Learning Act, Private Vocational Training Act, Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act, Student Financial Assistance Act, etc.) and related regulations.
• General knowledge of other legislation impacting the Ministry (e.g. Financial Administration Act, FOIP Act, Government Organization Act, Interpretation Act, Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act) and related regulations.
• Awareness and knowledge of domestic and international agreements (e.g. Canadian Free Trade Agreement, New West Partnership Trade Agreement).
• Thorough knowledge of the Government of Alberta's legislative process, including roles of Legislative Counsel, Executive Council, and Cabinet Committees, the timing of stages of the legislative process for both Bills and regulations, and related approval and decision making processes.
• Thorough understanding of principles and processes associated with legislative and regulatory planning, development and drafting, including thorough knowledge of the legislative process and legislation development, including public consultation and implementation.
• Thorough knowledge of and experience in government, political, and legislative environments.
• Knowledge of and experience with freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation, policies, and procedures.

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, working Monday to Friday.

Working location is Commerce Place, 10155 – 102 St. NW, Edmonton.

Candidates are required to submit a resume and cover letter that succinctly demonstrate their qualifications against the job requirements, including education, experience, and relevant competencies. It's important for applicants to ensure their resume and cover letter clearly articulate how their past work experiences align with the role's qualifications and needs.

** Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Resumes must include precise employment dates (month and year) to assist in assessing written communication skills and attention to detail.

The final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo an academic check, references and may be asked to complete a written exercise and/or assessment.

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. 

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies across the government of Alberta, at equal or lower classification and salary.

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
• Management Employees 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