Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, Program Implementation, this position supports the field as they pilot and implement career education programming and Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum by working with internal and external stakeholders to develop and apply strategies for professional learning related to career education initiatives and new curriculum.

The Professional Learning Lead ensures that professional learning strategies are inclusive, feasible and effective, as well as forward looking and reflective of innovative approaches for K-12 education. The position develops strategies using up-to-date theory and research and thorough engagement with the Ministry's internal and external stakeholders. A significant part of the Lead's work is to consult with ministry staff and stakeholders, including teachers, school authorities, post-secondary teacher preparation institutions, the Alberta Professional Learning Consortium, and other professional learning providers.

The Professional Learning Lead provides leadership, support, direction, and consultation to staff supporting career education initiatives, classroom piloting and implementation supports. As a member of the implementation and engagement team, this position assists in implementing the new Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum and career education programming and facilitates changes in program direction. The position provides advice and recommendations to the Manager, Implementation, informed by a solid understanding of education stakeholders, ministry priorities, and foundational guiding documents.

The Professional Learning Lead represents Implementation and Engagement Branch in the education community, liaises with various stakeholder groups and may be required to resolve complex issues in a variety of situations.


RESPONSIBILITES: 

1.   Lead the design, development and refinement of professional learning strategies for career education, classroom piloting and implementation of the K-12 curriculum by:
•    Anticipating the requirements of current and future work to ensure the design, development and execution of provincial classroom piloting and curriculum implementation improvement strategies are informed by theory, research, effective practices, existing resources and input from professional learning providers
•    Seeking input from internal stakeholders including division staff as well as Program and System Supports and System Excellence divisions to determine needs and priorities
•    Interacting with school authorities (superintendents, principals, teachers), parents, post-secondary teacher preparation institutions, professional learning providers, First Nations, Métis and Inuit and Francophone communities, and other education partners to inform decisions on the design and development of coordinated professional learning strategies for career education  and curriculum implementation.
•    Ensuring professional learning strategies effectively tap into and innovatively use existing resources and build system capacity.

Role Responsibilities Continued

2.  Contribute to professional learning and implementation by:
•    Leading team input on emerging issues and in providing advice regarding content, development processes and planning of the professional learning strategy through development of analyses, business cases and briefing notes to assist decision-making processes.
•    Developing and managing detailed project plans using appropriate project management processes to manage emerging issues, coordinate and lead the project plans associated with career education, classroom piloting and implementation project plans.
•    Supporting partners in understanding implications for career education and curriculum implementation in order to influence, identify and incorporate systemic improvements into planning.
•    Staying abreast of system changes proposed or implemented by other parts of the ministry to advise management of benefits and risks and then working with colleagues and education stakeholders to plan for, develop and execute relevant supports and professional learning to minimize the impact of system changes. 
 
3.  Lead the development and delivery of professional learning for the system to support career education, classroom piloting and implementation of curriculum by
•    Designing, where appropriate, new programs, structures, products and processes to enhance system capacity to support classroom piloting, implementation, and career education.
•    Monitoring trends, risks and opportunities for building system capacity through a variety of formal and informal data collection mechanisms to inform areas for professional learning opportunities and information supports.
•    Collaborating with internal and external partners to ensure system needs are effectively addressed through capacity building mechanisms.
•    Providing leadership in the delivery of a coordinated approach to system capacity development.
•    Ensuring consistent application of the vision, guidelines, considerations, and features identified in The Guiding Framework.
 
4.  Contribute to effective branch operations by:
•    Ensuring outcomes are delivered in accordance with business and operational plans.
•    Leading and effectively supporting team operations, including providing guidance to interchange participants and managing contracts/grants, as assigned.
•    Leading the team in decision making regarding content, development processes, research, and planning.
•    Providing advice and recommendations on emerging issues, opportunities, and challenges.
•    Developing analyses, business cases, and briefing notes to assist with decision-making processes.
•    Developing and leading detailed project plans.
•    Designing and delivering professional learning for internal and external stakeholders to support.
 
5.  Respond to a high number of information requests by
•    Studying the nature and intricacies of the request.
•    Researching all the issues.
•    Deciding on key considerations and recommendations.
•    Preparing a department response, including briefing materials, appropriate support materials, and correspondence.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

Qualifications

Master's Degree in a related field plus five years related experience or equivalent as described below. Equivalency: Bachelor's Degree in a related field plus seven years of related experience.

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.

This position requires expert knowledge of: 
•    This position requires expert knowledge of.
•    Curriculum development models.
•    Current and formative research regarding trends in curriculum development and career education.
•    Professional learning and curriculum implementation models and engagement practices, including a thorough understanding of its philosophy, history, and current and formative research.
•    The theory, principles, and practices in professional learning, curriculum implementation and stakeholder engagement to ensure high-quality, research-informed curriculum implementation and development.
•    Organizational culture and leadership theory.
•    Change management and policy implementation.
•    Department goals and policies that relate to curriculum development, professional learning, and implementation.
•    Structures and policies of school authorities with respect to provincial accountability systems.
•    The broad framework of department policies to manage the curriculum development and implementation process.

The position works within a broad framework of policies, including:
•    Education Act, the Funding Manual, and The Guide to Education, K-12.
•    The Guiding Framework for the Design and Development of Kindergarten to Grade 12 Provincial Curriculum.
•    Ministerial Order on Student Learning.
•    Access to Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act (formerly "FOIPP).
•    Applicable department policies and curriculum development standards, guidelines, and processes.

The following would be considered good assets to be successful in the role: 
•    Understanding of research on the principles of 21st century learning and the implications for curriculum development.
•    Excellent research, communication (oral, written, information literacy), and interpersonal skills.
•    Sound project management and organizational skills, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
•    Initiative, agility, and strong problem-solving skills.
•    Fluency in both French and English is considered a strong asset.
•    Understanding of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit culture and communities is considered a strong asset.

https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This is a full-time permanent position, working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.|

Work location is in 44 Capital Boulevard, Edmonton.

A cover letter is required. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Candidates may be asked to complete assignments as a part of the recruitment 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 have 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 agreement.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.