Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about governance, legislation and public policy? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your expertise contributes directly to shaping public policy? If so, this opportunity is for you!

The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is seeking a Senior Legislation Analyst to join the Governance and Legislation team. This key role involves planning, developing, and implementing non-program specific legislation, regulations, and legal instruments critical to supporting the ministry’s strategic legislative agenda.

In this role, you will work collaboratively with Legal Services, Executive Council, Legislative Counsel, and internal teams to transform policy into effective legislative frameworks. You will also lead and contribute to interdepartmental projects, provide high-level legislative advice, and support decision-making at senior levels. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, review, and implement legislation, regulations, and legal instruments to support ministry objectives.
• Prepare legislative materials such as briefing notes, speaking points, and approval documents.
• Collaborate with Legal Services, Legislative Counsel, and Executive Council on legislative initiatives.
• Conduct legislative research, analysis, and jurisdictional scans to support policy and legal decisions.
• Monitor legislative trends, Hansard transcripts, and Action Requests relevant to the ministry.
• Support legislative and regulatory planning, tracking, and reporting across the department.
• Provide advice and training on legislative processes to ministry staff and leadership.
• Act as a project lead or contributor on legislative files and cross-ministry initiatives.
• Provide back-up support to the Manager and Governance & Legislation team 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 provision of guidance and advice on legislative matters requires a broad view of interconnected rules in different statutes, regulations, and other instruments and their impact on policy objectives and implementation of programs over the long term.
• Creative Problem Solving : The Legislation Analyst works with program areas, as required, to identify root causes of policy matters in order to identify an appropriate legislative or non­ legislative solution that is proportional to the original problem and effective in solving it.
  The position is responsible for consultation with different areas and staff (e.g., Legal Services) to find ways to improve a recommendation or identify any issues or risks with a proposed option.
• Agility : Exploration and consultation with program areas, policy and legal staff in the transformation of policy into legislation requires the analysis of the risks or advantages of options. The Legislation Analyst works with staff, as required, to develop the most effective way to address the initial problem. The incumbent is required to be diplomatic in consulting with staff in order to manage conflicting ideas and overcome obstacles.
• Build Collaborative Environments : The Legislation Analyst works with teams inside and outside of the department in order to develop legislation. They guide staff in the refinement of policy ideas into requirements of law that achieve the intended results. This requires leading a collaborative effort to achieve consensus and communicate direction to Legislative Counsel.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field (Political Science, Social Science, Business, Law) 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.

Experience required: 

• Demonstrated experience with legislative development (developing or supporting legislation, regulations, or other legislative instruments), policy development and/or government approval processes. 
• Demonstrated experience with developing materials for senior leaders, ideally in a legal or pubic service environment (such as, briefing notes, cabinet documents, legislation charts, memos, speaking notes). 
• Demonstrated experience in project management, ideally in a legal or public service environment. Ideally, the project management experience will have elements of relationship building, negotiation, conflict management, consensus building, and/or facilitation skills.  
• Interpreting and analyzing legislation, policy, and/or legal documents.

The following will be considered assets:

• Thorough knowledge of GOA’s legislative and policy approval process, including roles of Legislative Counsel Office, Executive Council (including Cabinet and Cabinet Committees), and timing of stages for both bills and regulations, and related approval and decision-making processes.  
• Coordinating or supporting cross-ministry legislative initiatives or working groups. 
• Strategic thinking, systems thinking, and planning skills, coupled with the ability to complete detailed work.
• Thorough knowledge of and experience in government, policitical, and/or legislative environments. 
• Familiarity with mental health and addictions, such as business plans, legislations, mandates, priorities, strategies and/or structure. 
• Experience with legislations impacting government operations (e.g., Financial Administration Act, Government Organization Act, Alberta Public Agencies Governance Act). 

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

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week (full time).

This is a permanent, full-time position.

Work Location: Edmonton

A cover letter is required and will be used as part of the screening. 

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.