Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, the Senior Initiatives Advisor provides strategic leadership, expert advice, and subject matter expertise to advance the Ministry's commitment to improving health outcomes for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. The role supports the development and implementation of culturally informed, relationship-based, and community-driven initiatives that foster meaningful engagement and sustainable health system improvements.

The role involves establishing and maintaining effective relationships across government divisions and branches, with other jurisdictions and agencies, and with representatives of Indigenous organizations and communities. These relationships are essential to aligning business goals with Ministry objectives and ensuring meaningful integration of Indigenous perspectives.

This position will be responsible for the following duties:

• Lead the development and implementation of Indigenous-focused engagement strategies, initiatives, and approaches that support ministry objectives and improve health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples.
• Drive collaboration with health system partners, federal and provincial counterparts, and other Government of Alberta ministries on shared Indigenous health priorities.
• Lead key unit files, including provincial Indigenous advisory committees, health sub-tables, and strategic engagement initiatives.
• Develop and implement complex work plans, engagement strategies, and project approaches that align with ministry objectives and Indigenous-governmental contexts.
• Lead the coordination of strategic engagements involving Indigenous partners, senior officials, and cross-sector stakeholders.
• Conduct complex research, environmental scans, and jurisdictional analyses to identify emerging trends, opportunities, risks, and best practices.
• Develop strategic recommendations to support policy, program, and initiative development.
• Develop briefing notes, speaking points, presentations, correspondence, and other executive support materials.
• Ensure senior leaders are informed of relevant context, risks, and relationship considerations to support effective interactions and decision-making.
• Provide strategic guidance to committee members and participants on Indigenous health priorities and engagement considerations.
• Monitor the Indigenous, health, and government environments to identify emerging issues, trends, and opportunities.
• Develop, propose, and implement coordinated responses to complex partner or intergovernmental issues.

The 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.

• Agility Sees the need and readily steps in to help others on the team; anticipates change and adapts behaviour accordingly, open to changes; takes advantage of opportunities to improve program development and implementation processes.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Creates opportunities for project teams and stakeholder to share information; respects others' point-of-view; encourages or facilitates conflict resolution; recognizes performance of all groups involved.
• Creative Problem Solving: Helps manage projects with multiple stakeholders simultaneously and can use planning skills, analytical and creative thinking to arrive at innovative solutions.
• Systems Thinking: Anticipate outcomes and potential impacts across interrelated areas and will factor this into planning.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University graduation in a related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.
• For your application to be considered, a cover letter explaining your qualifications and suitability for this role must be attached with your application.

Equivalencies: Directly related experience or education 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 are considered as assets:

• Experience in Indigenous Health.
• Strong knowledge of First Nations and Métis organizations, governance structures, and effective engagement practices that foster respectful and reciprocal relationships.
• Strong knowledge of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultural practices, protocols, and histories.
• Experience working with an Indigenous government or organization.
• Experience in strategic planning and implementation within government or a similar environment, particularly in with an Indigenous focus.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience preparing and providing written reports, analysis, briefings, letters, and presentations.
• Effective communications skills (written and oral) to collaborate effectively with colleagues and with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaboration skills to successfully work in a cross-functional team environment and leadership skills.
• Organization and prioritization skills to balance multiple ongoing projects at one time and ability to meet tight timelines and cope with changing priorities.

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

Notes

This is a temporary position ending on July 15, 2028, with regular working hours of 36.25 hours per week, Monday through Friday.

This position is based in Calgary, Alberta.

The final candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment checks (Reference check/Criminal record and/or academic).

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 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.