Role Responsibilities

Join our team and help navigate the future of trade and trade policy.

Reporting to the Manager, the Trade Policy Officer is responsible for providing research and analysis, and for coordinating engagement with relevant technical contacts within the department, Government of Alberta, and federal and provincial governments, to develop responses on trade policy issues related to trade in goods, market access, trade barriers and trade irritants.

This work contributes to the development of a stable, transparent, rules based international trade and investment regime, which supports departmental priorities related to export growth, the promotion of trade, and the facilitation of inward investment.

1. Provide research and analysis of trade policy issues affecting Alberta.

• Monitor and assess the implications of trade policy issues/initiatives and trade disputes on Alberta, with a particular focus on trade in goods, including tariff analyses, Rules of Origin, alcoholic beverages and cannabis, critical minerals and carbon border adjustments.
• Coordinate research and analysis on trade policy issues as needed. Initiatives may be undertaken internally or via cooperation with other departmental units or government departments (e.g., responsible for data analysis, international relations, etc.), external contracts, or other approaches as necessary.
• Collaborate closely with the Trade Data Assessment team to ensure alignment on analytical methodologies, integrate policy perspectives into the development of data analyses, and lead the interpretation and translation of data-driven insights into policy analysis and recommendations.
• Review documents, reports, position papers, studies, etc., to identify issues, positions, and recommendations related to trade policy. Determine relevance and compatibility of issues, positions and recommendations with Alberta trade policy priorities. Make recommendations for Alberta approach or response.

2. Ensure Senior departmental officials are effectively prepared on trade policy matters.

• Prepare briefing material on trade policy issues of importance to Alberta, for internal or interdepartmental distribution, as required.
• Prepare responses on behalf of the department to correspondence from businesses and the public.
• Develop slide decks and other presentational material on trade policy issues.
• Prepare briefing material providing general trade policy status updates for use in transition briefings, Cabinet updates, senior level FPT meetings, etc.

3. Ensure provincial priorities are effectively represented within Canada and with international trading partners, as appropriate.

• Liaise with contacts within the Government of Alberta, other jurisdictions, and the federal government, as necessary, on trade policy developments in Canada and internationally that have implications for Alberta.
• Represent ministry and/or Alberta at federal/provincial conference calls and meetings on trade policy issues; prepare summaries, reports, commentary and recommendations as needed.
• Coordinate ministry-led interdepartmental meetings where trade policy issues are discussed.
• Prepare briefing material and correspondence on trade policy issues of importance to Alberta, for internal, interdepartmental, intergovernmental, or public distribution, as required.

Role Responsibilities (continued)

4. Identify Alberta's priorities and develop policy positions in international trade negotiations and the implementation and ongoing management of trade agreements.

• Support the analysis of trade negotiations to identify and assess implications for Alberta. Monitor negotiations, engage in federal-provincial-territorial discussion of issues, review negotiating text, make recommendations on the provincial response or approach.
• Solicit and synthesize information and views from other departments on trade negotiations, engaging with relevant technical experts.
• Analyze completed trade negotiations for their impact on the province, including by providing summary information and identifying any go-forward issues.
• Participate in or monitor administrative processes related to existing trade agreements, including working committees, embedded negotiating commitments, and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to reviews of proposed GoA measures to assess their compliance with trade obligations.
• Participate in or monitor administrative processes related to existing trade agreements, including working committees, embedded negotiating commitments, and reporting requirements.
• Contribute to reviews of proposed GoA measures to assess their compliance with trade obligations.

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.

• Systems Thinking: Develop policy responses and consider the larger international, national, and provincial policy context and how it affects Alberta trade policy interests, as well as the impact of current choices on future policy decisions.
• Develop Networks: Maintain strong cross-departmental and external linkages to ensure effective information exchange, collaboration, and policy development.
• Drive for Results:Achieve goals by assessing the situation, developing an engagement plan, seeking the best resolution - potentially in the context of competing interests - and collaborating with relevant colleagues and stakeholders to achieve a satisfactory outcome.
• Agility: Expertise working in policy areas; situations and obstacles encountered are often nebulous without a clear path to resolution. The trade policy environment is dynamic and fast-paced, requiring the ability to quickly adapt to changing priorities and emerging issues.

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field plus 2 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.

Note: For professional work related to Communications (e.g. Public Affairs Officer), a directly related diploma is considered equivalent to university graduation in a related field.

In addition to the minimum qualifications, the following knowledge, skills, and experience would be considered strong assets:

Preference will be given to candidates who have an MBA, law, international trade policy or trade law specialization.

• Demonstrated understanding of key concepts in international trade policy.
• Strong understanding of Alberta trade policy objectives and ability to align work activities with those objectives.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to identify and synthesize relevant information/data from varied sources.
• Expertise in trade data, research, and analysis.
• Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods and practices.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) skills with attention to detail, grammar and ability to both compose and edit written material including formal correspondence and briefing material.
• Manage work effectively independently and as a team member.
• Ability to manage multiple requests, competing priorities and to meet tight timelines.
  

Include a specific minimum number of years of experience needed for the job (i.e. a minimum of 5 years) supported by the MRS for the job classification. If equivalencies will be considered include “Equivalencies will be considered on the basis of XYZ”.

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

Notes

This is one (1) permanent, full-time position, working 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Work location is Commerce Place, 10155 102 Street NW, Edmonton.

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.