Role Responsibilities

The Ministry of Advanced Education has an exciting opportunity and is looking for a Program Development Specialist to join our team!

The position of Program Development Specialist (PDS) develops and maintains post-secondary apprenticeship education programs (AEP) that result in the issuance of a post-secondary education credential from the department's Registrar. Reporting to the Senior Manager, the PDS advances the departments goal of ensuring Alberta remains a destination of choice for professionals and is a leader in the Apprenticeship Education Model (AEM) while maintaining Alberta's nationally and inter-nationally recognized certification standards in the designated skilled trades professions.

The PDS provides leadership in applying pedagogical knowledge in the development and maintenance of AEP products and the curriculum development cycle for assigned AEPs. The position provides leadership, and psychometric and information management expertise in assessment design, development, administration, scoring and reporting activities within the unit, branch, and division. This position is responsible to ensure the validity and reliability of scores through psychometric analysis for theory and practical assessments.

The PDS provides advice, expertise, and services to the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades (ABST or Board) regarding the legislated certification standards (scope of profession, restricted activities and certification requirements and pathways) for each of the current 59 designated skilled trades.

Role Responsibilities cont.

In your role as a Program Development Specialist, you will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Advises the Registrar respecting apprenticeship education programs (AEPs), industry-training programs (ITPs), and the expansion of new AEPs or ITPs or any other matter requested by the Registrar.
• Sets criteria for examinations and other assessments of learning or competencies to be conducted by post-secondary or industry training providers providing training to trainees in ITPs, and by the department as required.
• Engages external industry Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and PSI/training provider SMEs in the development, implementation, maintenance, review and revision of all related education products and standards as required to ensure the department's education programs meet the needs of industry and their profession and training providers are delivering to the departments’ current curriculum requirements.
• Coordinates the development, maintenance and modification of national Red Seal Occupational Standards (RSOS), and Red Seal Inter-Provincial (IP) assessments, with inter-jurisdictional stakeholders according to the province's agreed upon participation in the federal harmonization initiative under the auspices of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA).
• Engages with external industry SMEs (industry network) to development, implement, maintain, review and revise as required the certification standards for each of the designated skilled trades professions through the related legislation (e.g. scope of profession, restricted activities and certification pathways all captured in legislation).
• Recruits, interviews, recommends and evaluates performance of participants (instructional staff and industry SMEs) for assigned RSOS and IP assessment workshops.
• Prepares meeting schedules, notices, agendas, statistical data, minutes, and reports for the industry network.
• Prepares reports, briefings and recommendations for the Board, the department, and in some instances, for consideration to receive ministerial and cabinet approval.
• Develops and maintains program administration instruments that establish equivalencies to components of the apprenticeship education programs and industry training programs.
• Contributes to and develop program policy, regulation, administrative procedures in collaboration with other department branches or units.
• Provisions strategic guidance and advice to internal and external stakeholders to foster movement toward system goals and priorities.
• Leads varied methods of research, projects, analysis, and consolidate information from a variety of sources to address specific education and certification topics and issues.
• Provides issues management expertise and guidance to the branch's Director by researching and analyzing information and reviewing draft communications and products and providing potential resolutions 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.

• Systems Thinking – The PDS represents the department both on education programing and skilled trade certification standards and requirements on the department, cross-government, and external stakeholders and work teams. The PDS is expected to provide leadership, influence outcomes consistent with branch and department objectives, and to facilitate collaboration and positive relationships with and between the Board, industry representatives, post-secondary institutes, other departments within government and other external stakeholders related to the organization, including other provincial, territorial and federal governments and other related working groups provincially, nationally and inter-nationally.

• Creative Problem Solving – The PDS works with multiple teams to develop education programs, implement, maintain and revise. When situations present new problems in the administration of programs, the PDS must formulate solutions to rectify the situation to allow the program to proceed. The PDS is responsible for the development of new innovative education delivery and assessment products; solely reliant on the PDS to determine end-result; the PDS must work through a process to achieve a positive result to be implemented and adapted to all AEPs.

• Drives for Results – The PDS balances multiple and diverse responsibilities that must be carried out to achieve the specific outcomes expected of the position. Multiple educational programs will be assigned to a PDS, plus other specific assigned projects. This workload requires excellent organizational and time management skills, in addition to exercising sound judgment when determining priorities and managing workload to successfully achieve results; accountable for functional activities and duties through others to contribute at a department level with high impact on the organization.

• Builds Collaborative Environments- The PDS is responsible to lead project teams composed of colleagues, staff from other units, divisions, departments and/or external stakeholders. The proper allocation, co-ordination and management of these human resources determines the achievement of project deliverables.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• Journeyperson certification with minimum 6 years industry experience post certification required.
• Red Seal endorsement is desired.
• Applied degree in Education, or related discipline, an asset.
• Apprenticeship Education Instructional experience an asset.
• Apprenticeship Delivery Support Services experience an asset.
• University degree in a related field (such as Education, Humanities, Business, etc.) plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below. 

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. 

The following knowledge or experiences will be considered as assets: 

• Functional knowledge of the division and branch organizational structure, mandate, and programs - including familiarity with apprenticeship and industry training programs and postsecondary institute partners.
• Broad and specialized knowledge in adult pedagogical theory, curriculum design, and assessment development in the Apprenticeship Educational Model.
• Experience conducting psychometric and statistical analysis and developing interpretive and technical documentation.
• Strong ability to develop clear/concise written reports, briefings, letters, executive summaries, action requests, presentation, etc.\
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively build relationships, consult and work with program areas on a variety of projects, and to provide advice to business units on program development and implementation.
• Organization and prioritization skills to balance multiple ongoing projects at one time and able to meet tight timelines. 

Notes

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

This position is based in Edmonton. We require you to attach a Cover Letter with your application explaining your qualification and suitability for this role.

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.

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.

Top candidates will be required to undergo security screening.

Short listed applicants may be asked to perform a written assignment as part of the interview.

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

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.