Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic leader passionate about creating high-impact public policy? Join the Government of Alberta’s new Passenger Rail Team to lead the implementation of the provincial Passenger Rail Master Plan—a once-in-a-generation initiative with the potential to transform how Albertans move, connect, and grow. You’ll play a key role in setting the foundation for passenger rail in Alberta, aligning governance, investment, and stakeholder interests across the province.

As Director of Passenger Rail Policy, you will lead a team responsible for delivering high-level policy advice, strategic planning, and legislative guidance to shape Alberta’s passenger rail future. Reporting to the Executive Director, you’ll oversee the formulation of sound, forward-looking policy options while ensuring alignment with government priorities. You’ll manage high-profile files, collaborate across ministries and sectors, and support the creation of policy and legislation needed for implementation of the Passenger Rail Master Plan following government decisions in fall 2025.

Your key responsibilities include:

• Developing policy and legislative strategies that address governance, regulation, and implementation for provincial passenger rail.
• Leading and advising on high-profile policy initiatives by preparing briefings, options analyses, and decision-support materials for executives and elected officials.
• Managing stakeholder engagement with Indigenous communities, municipalities, federal partners, and the private sector to inform policy development.
• Overseeing strategic projects from conception to execution, including resource planning, interdepartmental coordination, and performance tracking.
• Translating policy decisions into operational guidance to support consistent application across departments and programs.
• Representing the department in cross-government committees and public engagements, ensuring professional and accurate communication of the government’s position.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Relationship-building expertise to foster collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong communication skills to deliver high-quality briefings and engage effectively with senior leaders, the public, and partners.
• Adaptability and resilience to lead through shifting priorities and navigate politically sensitive issues with professionalism.

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.  

• Systems Thinking: Applies a long-term, cross-ministry lens to policy planning, ensuring proposed passenger rail strategies align with Alberta’s future growth, regulatory requirements, and transportation systems
• Creative Problem Solving: Develops innovative, stakeholder-informed policy solutions that balance fiscal constraints, technical feasibility, and diverse perspectives across the province.
• Agility: Adapts quickly to shifting political direction, tight timelines, and incomplete information to provide timely, strategic policy advice and maintain momentum on high-profile files.
• Develop Networks: Builds and sustains influential relationships across governments, industry, and communities to support informed, collaborative decision-making.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Leads cross-functional teams and facilitates inclusive engagement processes to align policy development with operational needs and stakeholder expectations.

Qualifications

Required:

• A related university degree (e.g., Public Administration, Political Science, etc.), and a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively related experience.
• Equivalencies may be considered. Demonstrated experience in strategic policy development.
• Proven experience in legislative development, including analyzing legal frameworks and drafting or advising on legislation.

Preferred:

• Experience leading cross-functional teams and stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of rail operations and planning (light and/or heavy rail).
• Experience managing sensitive or high-profile public policy initiatives.

Equivalencies are:

• A related two-year diploma and a minimum of nine (9) years of related experience; a related one-year certificate and a minimum of ten (10) years of related experience; or a minimum of eleven (11) years of related experience in lieu of formal education.

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

Additional Position Details:

• This position is a permanent, full-time role with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday (8:15 am – 4:30 pm). 
• Location: Twin Atria Building, 2nd Floor, 4999 98 Ave, Edmonton, AB.

Recruitment Process:

• Pre-employment checks will be conducted to assess candidates’ suitability. These checks may include (but are not limited to): references, criminal record check, academic verification, etc.
• 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. 
• Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered at a lower classification and salary.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.
 

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• 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 a modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.