Role Responsibilities

The Director provides strategic leadership on a broad range of programs and services at the regional, divisional, and cross-government levels. In this position, you will be responsible to supervise multiple Managers of an urban service delivery office in the North Region. Service delivery offices are front-line delivery sites that plan and deliver a range of services to children, youth, and families from intake through assessment, case management, legal permanency, transition services and post-intervention supports. These sites are involved with reporting, assessing, and investigating concerns surrounding a child or youth’s safety and well-being, as well as providing ongoing case management for children, youth, and families in need of child intervention services. In addition, staff at the service delivery offices assist in connecting to community resources and parenting supports, accessing information about prevention and early intervention services, accessing and obtaining information about financial supports, accessing information about becoming a foster/adoptive parent or kinship care, or assisting with obtaining guardianship of a family member in need.

• This position has significant responsibilities and accountabilities for (but not limited to):
• Operational oversight of programs and services across one large site ensuring the delivery of services that provide safety for clients.
• Implementation of performance measures and goals that meet the needs of the communities in the province working towards continuous improvement.
• Making high risk decisions and addressing identified complex issues in response to emergent situations that could impact the safety of children, youth, and families.
• Taking a pivotal role in the development of regional strategic and operational planning goals and priorities in alignment to Ministry priorities and legislation.
• Providing input into provincial strategies and governance portfolios to ensure the implementation of consistent practices across regions.
• Providing Indigenous perspective and ensuring culture is reflected in regional plans, programs, and delivery of services.
• Human and financial resource planning and practices.

The Director in this role provides supervision, management, and leadership to 55 - 60 FTE’s including managers, supervisors, child intervention practitioners, and administrative professionals. These positions are responsible for the delivery of programs and services supporting children, youth, and families. This role also has responsibility and accountability to foster a healthy workplace culture, enable staff engagement, and inspire a collaborative team-based environment.

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 - Consider the impact of strategies and changes on the work of clients, stakeholders, and team members and support organization vision and goals through strategic planning of tasks and considering relationships between different work approaches and their impact on different programs, divisions, and ministries.
• Drive for Results - Design and manage projects to achieve intended outcomes and deliverables within allotted timeframes.
• Agility - Ability to create an adaptable environment and overcome barriers through proactive and flexible approach to work.
• Develop Self and Others - Builds a strong team of diverse professionals by fostering a professional working environment founded on trust and respect
• Build Collaborative Environment - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Creative Problem Solving - Facilitate the creation of a work environment for generating and finding newer ideas to solve existing and potential problems.
• Develop Networks - Develop and sustain a network of relationships across the department and with other GOA ministries on issues and work with other branches to develop effective communication channels to enhance and maximize the effectiveness of interactions.

Qualifications

Education

Preferred education is a related degree in Social Work.

Other post-secondary considerations are humanities, public administration, child and youth care, sociology, and psychology supplemented by seven (7) years of progressive responsible supervisory, management and leadership experience preferably in a child intervention environment. Other experiences and/or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one-for-one basis.

Requirements

• A broad understanding of, and experience in child intervention practices, quality assurance systems development, and environmental issues impacting the delivery of services to children, youth, and families including Indigenous models of intervention.
• Proven ability to effectively manage and lead internal and external resources, including budget and staff, to achieve organizational goals.
• Demonstrated leadership skills including strong interpersonal, coaching, and mentoring skills supported by a demonstrated commitment to develop self and others.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) including excellent mediation and conflict resolution skills. 
• Understanding and experience with business and strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Well-developed systems thinking, creative problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to develop and lead collaborative environments through strong relationship building skills.

Assets

• Demonstrated leadership abilities and skills to align a large diverse team into a specific purpose, development of collaborative networks with peers and other stakeholders and an understanding of government processes, legislation, and environment. 
• Strong project management skills as evidenced by a track record of accomplishing objectives and achieving results.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities (agility) to meet tight timelines for program, policy, and issues management responses.
• 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 currently 1 permanent position available.

The position is in Grande Prairie, AB.

Travel will be required. This position is required to participate in on-call/after-hours rotation (evenings and weekends) to ensure the needs of Albertans are met.

Role Requirements:

You carry a valid Class 5 Driver's License and have access to a reliable vehicle. 

As per the Health Professions Act, successful applicants must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) to be eligible for this position. 

Other considerations:

• They have a degree in social work from any university in North America that is accredited by the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or
• They have graduated from an approved social work diploma program in Alberta; or
• They have, within the last five years, been a registered, certified or licensed social worker in another province or with a member of the Association of Social Work Boards
• The final candidates will undergo an academic check, intervention record check and provide a suitable security screening (criminal record check with vulnerable sector). A completed CRC with VS within 6 months at time of application is acceptable. 

What we offer: 

• Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages- working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Pension plans:
  • Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) – https://www.mepp.ca
• Leadership and mentorship programs
• Professional learning and development
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Northern Programs - myAPS Northern Alberta employee programs - https://www.alberta.ca/premium-pay-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca

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.