Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the OSAR Manager, the Attendance Specialist provides leadership and expertise on student attendance, re-engagement in learning, and chronic absenteeism. The position applies extensive knowledge of education programs, student support services, and work with vulnerable students to lead projects, provide policy guidance, support school authorities, and work collaboratively with ministry, cross-ministry, school authority and community partners to strengthen attendance supports and improve outcomes for students and families.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing subject matter expertise: Share evidence-informed strategies, interpretation, advice and recommendations related to attendance, student engagement, chronic absenteeism, legislation, policy and program supports.
• Leading attendance-related initiatives: Plan and manage projects that support student attendance and re-engagement, including the development and implementation of legislation, regulations, policies, resources, tools and provincial guidance.
• Supporting school authorities and partners: Provide consultation to school administrators and central office staff on individual chronic absenteeism matters, access to the Attendance Board, and strategies to help students and families re-engage with learning.
• Managing issues and information requests: Research and respond to emerging issues, action requests, briefing materials, status reports and correspondence for branch, department and senior ministry representatives.
• Strengthening collaboration and continuous improvement: Build and maintain strong working relationships with school authorities, Attendance Board members, ministry and cross-ministry partners, and community organizations to identify gaps, share practices and improve OSAR supports and services.
• Supporting the Attendance Board: Provide administrative and operational information, process guidance, training and regular in-service support to Attendance Board members to help them fulfill their mandate.

The Job Description is provided for Further details on 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.

• Systems Thinking: Considers broader trends, risks, legislation, policy impacts and multiple stakeholder perspectives when providing advice and supporting attendance-related decisions.
  Creative Problem Solving: Applies education system knowledge, evidence-informed practices and collaborative approaches to analyze complex attendance issues and develop practical solutions.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Builds strong relationships with school authorities, Attendance Board members, ministry and cross-ministry partners, and community stakeholders to share information, resolve issues and achieve outcomes.
• Drive for Results: Plans and manages work proactively, removes barriers, communicates effectively and aligns solutions with OSAR priorities and the broader goals of the education system.

Qualifications

A Master’s degree in education plus five years of related experience is required.

Equivalency: a Bachelor’s degree in education plus seven years of related experience will be considered.

Required Skills

• An active Permanent Alberta Teaching Certificate is required
• Extensive knowledge of education programs, student support services, student attendance, engagement in learning and chronic absenteeism.
• Experience working with vulnerable students and applying evidence-informed, trauma-informed and solution-focused approaches to complex attendance barriers.
• Ability to interpret and provide guidance on legislation, regulations, policies, programs and processes related to compulsory education and student attendance.
• Strong consultation and communication skills to provide advice, recommendations and support to school authorities, ministry staff, partners and members of the public.
• Demonstrated ability to research and respond to emerging issues, prepare briefing materials, action request responses, status reports and correspondence.
• Experience developing or delivering training, in-service sessions or guidance materials for boards, partners or education stakeholders.

Assets

• Experience leading or supporting projects, initiatives, resources or tools related to student attendance, re-engagement in learning or system improvement.
• Experience collaborating with school authorities, Attendance Board members, cross-ministry partners, community organizations or other external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Alberta’s education system, including school authority operations, attendance processes and supports available to students and families.
• Related education or background in psychology, school counselling, leadership or social work.

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Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

This competition is for 1 full-time permanent position located in Edmonton.

Monday – Friday, 7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week.

Candidates are required to submit a cover letter that outlines their academic qualifications and professional experience and articulates the reasons for their suitability for the position.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)  
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.