Role Responsibilities

The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services has an exciting opportunity for you to join our team!

Reporting to the Manager, the Policy Intern plays a key role in providing strategic support to the System Refocusing mandate. At the direction of management, the Policy Intern, has a supportive role in carrying out complex policy and program development projects. Projects can range from short-term assignments requiring strategic analysis with quick turnarounds, to long-term projects with multiple components, and recommendations which include options, risks, and supporting evidence. The work will be fast-paced and require a high level of integration with partners across the department and government.

The Policy Intern is involved in supporting the implementation of the direction for Alberta's health care system to improve health outcomes for Albertans and empower health care workers to deliver quality care across the province. This includes planning, evaluation, interpretation, and implementation of new initiatives, policy, or programs, within the framework of the division's mandate and the department's business plan objectives.

This position will be responsible for the following duties:

• Provide strategic support to the managers and director on the stand-up of the new provincial health entities.
• Support planning and preparation for meetings, including the development of agendas, meeting materials, presentations, draft emails, and other documents to support governance body objectives as required.
• Collate and summarize information from meetings to inform key decision makers and executive management and contribute to and complete action items delegated to Alberta Health.
• Research and analyze the impacts of strategic policy initiatives and options and identify linkages between issues and initiatives in relation to direction relevant to the department and government policy.
• Apply a systems perspective to raise awareness of significant trends and leading practices through the development of appropriate briefings, presentations, and informational material.
• Consult with other divisions branches, teams and departments to gather the appropriate internal information that will support the overall system refocusing project management.
• Undertake ad hoc requests by senior officials to support special projects and initiatives as needed.
• Establish and maintain positive and effective relationships with team members and other program areas and support senior and executive management in dealing with issues (e.g. preparation of briefings, action requests, presentations, participation in meetings, research, etc.).

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: Sees the need and readily steps in to help others on the team; anticipates change and adapts behaviour accordingly, open to changes; takes advantage of opportunities to improve program development and implementation processes.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Creates opportunities for project teams and stakeholder to share information; respects others' point-of-view; encourages or facilitates conflict resolution; recognizes performance of all groups involved.
• Creative Problem Solving: Helps manage projects with multiple stakeholders simultaneously and can use planning skills, analytical and creative thinking to arrive at innovative solutions.
  Develop Networks: Builds relationships by following through on commitments, demonstrating integrity and respect for others; informs key stakeholders of relevant information in a timely manner; seeks and applies the perspectives and needs of colleagues and stakeholders.
• Drive for Results: Sets and accomplishes goals and priorities; factors in complexity of issues and aligns plans based on government direction; removes barriers to collaboration; provides informed advice.
• Develop self and others: Manages a team and provides effective guidance, support, and professional development. Must provide timely and constructive feedback to ensure strong performance and leverage strengths when assigning roles.
• Systems Thinking: Anticipate outcomes and potential impacts across interrelated areas and will factor this into planning.

Qualifications

Minimum Recruitment Standards 
Requirements:
•    University graduation in a related field; no experience required; or equivalent as described below.

Equivalencies: Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of: 
•    1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
•    1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

The following knowledge or experiences are considered as assets: 
•    Strong writing, editing, speaking and interpersonal skills are necessary to provide accurate response.
•    Intermediate computer software and application skills including MS Excel, Outlook, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint.
•    Strong planning, coordination, records management, and problem-solving skills.
•    Effective communications skills (written and oral) to collaborate effectively with colleagues and with internal and external stakeholders.
•    Collaboration skills to successfully work in a cross-functional team environment.  
•    Ability to prioritize workload and cope with changing priorities and deadlines.
•    Organization and prioritization skills to balance multiple ongoing projects at one time and ability to meet tight timelines.

Work experience: 
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 competition is a temporary full-time position working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

End Date: 1 year

This position is located in Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time or full time.

The final candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment checks (Reference check/Criminal record and/or academic).

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary. This competition may be used to fill future roles at the same or lower classifications.

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.
•    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 agreements.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.