Job Specification

Purpose :

To lead and manage the planning, development, research and evaluation of strategic and operational policy initiatives and programs, including the ongoing impact to legislation, regulation and program frameworks to support delivery of the government and ministry program and regulatory mandate.

To provide expertise and advice to ministry executives, senior management and staff on policy options, legislation, regulations, funding models, risk and issues management strategies.

To lead and direct stakeholder and Indigenous partner relations and the ministry's federal-provincial, inter-provincial and inter-ministerial relations, consultations, engagement and facilitation, and to oversee partnership and consensus building in developing, promoting and delivering policies and programs that support ministry strategies and goals.

To lead the management and governance of data sets for policy analysis, including working with internal/external stakeholders to identify data needs and relevant analytics to be performed with the data.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Manages the planning, development and implementation of strategic policies, agendas and frameworks and ensures consistency with ministry and government standards to support delivery and integration of key government and ministry policies, programs and regulatory mandates. Oversees the design and establishment of policy development and legislative review models, processes and methodologies that are consistent with government standards and best practices.

2. Oversees the preparation of Cabinet submissions, project reports and recommendations, House Book Notes, discussion papers, policy materials, briefing documents and executive correspondence on policy topics, and leads presentations and briefings to executive management.

3. Provides advice and expertise to ministry executives and senior management on strategic policy program decisions and provides recommendations on identified stakeholder issues and related risk analyses impacting achievement of government commitments and strategy. Proposes strategic policy recommendations to mitigate risk and manage identified issues.

4. Manages a team in planning, research, development of options and recommendations, policy implementation including environmental scans and qualitative/quantitative analysis, to identify policy needs and gaps, identify significant policy issues and socio-economic impacts, and develop evidence-based policies that support ministry policy and program directions.

5. Manages project teams by authorizing project resources and deliverables; and ensures adherence to timelines and goals, and resolution of identified project issues. Determines project methodologies, resources and deliverables. Prepares RFPs, develops terms of reference, selects suitable consultants and manages assignments and performance.

6. Ensures that emerging issues and trends that have potentially major implications for the ministry and government are anticipated and impacts are managed and minimized. Coordinates a schedule of ministry priority needs for review and approval. Acts as a ministry primary contact with Cabinet Office to facilitate the review of ministry submissions and to coordinate the central agency approvals process for ministry initiatives.

7. Manages and coordinates the activities related to transfer payment management including the negotiations, design and risk assessment to ensure policies adhere with ministry strategic objectives.

8. Ensures the development of proper governance structures, policies and processes within organizations authorized to receive transfer payment and grant funding, to ensure sector accountability

9. Leads ministry, inter-ministry and inter-jurisdictional committees, policy forums, and working groups, to develop consensus on strategic policy, program delivery and issues management.


Managerial Responsibilities
1. Develops and oversees ministry strategic plans in the program area and provides advice and expertise to executive levels on issues impacting the OPS and ministry service deliverables.

2. Controls financial resources and reporting, develops the multi-year budget and resource plans. Leads business, financial, and results-based planning processes for Ministry programs/operations and services.

3. Builds organizational capacity through effective human resources development by authorizing recruitment activities, labour relations management, talent management, organizational design and succession planning.

4. Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with key partners and stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate information flow and identification of issues; presents and advocates the ministry's position at various forums

5. Responsible for the overall compliance with legislative statutes, collective agreements, government and ministry policies, directives, guidelines and commitments related to programs and services.

Qualifications :

Not applicable.

Factors :

Knowledge :

Ministry strategic corporate directions, multi-year business and results based planning processes, and ministry service delivery models, to lead and manage a significant ministry program area, to determine program objectives and resource requirements and to ensure alignment of programs and projects with corporate strategic goals.

Government and ministry financial, administrative and procurement policies and directives to plan and manage fiscal and material resources. This includes reviewing and approving budgets, managing facilities, assets, and contract service providers, leading long range fiscal planning, providing regular financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with financial protocols, audit principles, directives and guidelines.

Human resources theories, principles, policies and collective agreements to develop organizational capacity which includes succession planning, talent management, organization and job design and labour relations management.

Project management principles and methodologies to oversee and guide the overall delivery of mandates and strategies.

Ministry strategic direction, business plans, and service/program delivery models in order to ensure programs support ministry plans and directions.

Policy expertise in specific policy area, policy development theory, practices and methods, ministry and government/Cabinet legislative and political decision-making processes, ministry/ branch directions, mandate, legislation and existing policy and program frameworks, and social, political, fiscal and governance factors, including the range of stakeholder interests, to strategically lead and manage the multiple policy project initiatives, and to oversee partnership development and consultation processes.

Economic analysis, and quantitative research methods to provide specialized advice and expertise to senior management and executives on policy and program strategies and issues that impact ministry strategic planning and policy and program development and decision making, and to lead and manage a unit providing research and analyses of trends, gaps and issues, forecasting, evaluation of best practices, options, costs and impacts, in support of evidence based decision-making, and the assessment of the effectiveness of new/changed policies and programs

Policy and program evaluation and research methods, including environmental scans and quantitative and qualitative methods, to provide expertise and lead and manage projects and teams in the research analyses of policy trends, gaps and issues, including systems modelling, and evaluation of best practices, options, costs and impacts, and to provide evidence based policy and program recommendations and assessment of the effectiveness of new/changed policies and programs.

Transfer payment management techniques and methodology to lead negotiations and risk assessment and ensure existing and newly developed policies adhere to the ministry's strategic direction.

Consultation and negotiation methods, techniques and best practices; new and emerging trends in communications to manage the development and implementation of stakeholder, Indigenous and key partner relationships and communications strategies to support ministry initiatives.

Vendor management and government procurement principles, practices and methods, to authorize project contracts.

Program Responsibility :

Responsible for the development and implementation of multiple policy frameworks, legislation, regulations, policies, procedures and standards to support program delivery and strategic corporate goals, and to ensure consistency with ministry and government standards and best practices.

Responsible for providing strategic advice and expertise to the director, Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister's office, and Minister's Office on stakeholder interests/issues and potential impacts on the government/ministry agenda to prepare/present issues management strategies and policy recommendations.

Responsible for leading the coordination of policy submissions for the ministry and making significant contributions to the formulation/revision of the ministry's policy and legislative agenda, including managing the consultation and liaison with other ministries, Cabinet Office and central agencies and developing a schedule of priority needs for Cabinet decisions consistent with ministry strategic business planning objectives.

Responsible for providing policy advice to ministry executives, senior management, staff , partner Ministries and sector stakeholders in asset management planning, asset leveraging, and implementation matters to support transfer payment agreements and meet minsitry requirements.

Leads and manages projects, initiatives, and research and analysis to identify issues and gaps in policy and program service delivery and to develop evidence-based policy recommendations. Fosters and manages key partnerships and relationships with a range of cross-jurisdictional stakeholders for consultation purposes and to ensure a coordinated and consensus driven approach to policy development and issues management. Leads and represents the government/ministry in negotiations related to partnership agreements and pilot projects with provincial communities, industries, stakeholder sectors and other jurisdictions.

Responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of partnership and stakeholder outreach strategies to secure support and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, facilitate province-wide public and stakeholder input on assigned programs, align engagement strategies, raise awareness, gather input, build consensus, balance competing interests, build program support, identify and manage contentious and emerging issues and minimize risk.

Provides advice and expertise, including analysis and development of options, risk management approaches and communication strategies, to senior ministry executives regarding issues, stakeholder interests, and identifies concerns that have the potential to affect the ministry/government agenda.

Leads the management and governance of large data sets for policy analysis, including working with internal/external stakeholders to identify data needs, relevant analytics to be performed with the data.

Analytical Thinking :

Develops and evaluates stakeholder, Indigenous and key partner outreach strategies to facilitate province-wide public and stakeholder input on assigned programs, advise ministry executives on methods of leveraging internal and external stakeholder relationships, manage contentious and emerging issues, minimize risk, and secure support and collaboration among internal and external stakeholders.

Leads the assessment of public and political impact of ministry policies and legislation by identifying potential risks and managing issues when policies are implemented; researching and analyzing data and trends to determine resolutions and providing recommendations to senior management, political staff and stakeholders.

Coordinates partnership development and consultation processes, and evaluates and balances ministry and stakeholder needs to ensure that the interests and concerns of all relevant stakeholder industries, sectors and jurisdictions have been considered in the policy development process.

Develops and promotes business strategies for transfer payment management and oversight to support ministry mandates and identifies complex and contentious issues, determines cause and effect relationships and evaluates potential effectiveness of proposed solutions.

Anticipates, assesses and analyzes critical program issues and risks with potential impacts for the ministry/government and leads development of mitigation options, solutions and communication strategies to address identified concerns.

Develops work plans, and determines the scope and consultation requirements of multiple policy research projects, involving qualitative and quantitative analysis, in order to ensure that specific recommendations and policy proposals are evidence based and address and resolve identified issues.

Planning / Coordinating :

Leads and manages multi-year strategic business /program/service plans including the deployment of resources (human and financial) to deliver programs and services.

Coordinates and leads the planning and implementation of organizational development and complex change initiatives for the program, service, project or initiative.

Plans and coordinates multiple deliverables with external and internal stakeholders, partners and consultants.

Leads and coordinates strategic policy planning, the review of policy directions, and the evaluation of evidence based outcomes relative to ministry goals and mandate.

Directs, plans, and coordinates multiple team project initiatives for the research, development and implementation of the ministry policy framework, ensuring that initiatives are aligned with ministry strategic objectives.

Plans and coordinates consultation and partnership relationships with stakeholders in all relevant industries, sectors and jurisdictions to inform policy review and development.

Plans and coordinates multi-year business planning processes, ensuring compliance with financial controls and procedures, ministry and audit policies, directives and guidelines.

Leadership/Guidance :

Develops, builds and leads organizational capacity through positive and values based leadership, inclusive and engaged teams, and partnerships. Frames program vision and strategy for services, programs or operations.

Determines human resources and organizational needs for optimal performance and delivery of results and alignment with ministry objectives; leads talent management and succession planning; mentors employees; sets goals and performance standards.

Exercises managerial and strategic leadership accountability and authority in the areas of organizational design, recruitment and retention, talent management, labour relations and compensation related matters.

Independence of Action :

Reports to a senior level, Director or higher, and works within broad parameters and the strategic ministry/branch mandate, legislation, and strategic goals and directions.

Exercises considerable independence and judgment in the development of policy development, to meet government and ministry strategic business objectives and priorities and in the provision of advice and recommendations to Senior Management, which is considered authoritative, and informs policy and program decisions.

Performs responsibilities within the strategic ministry/branch mandate, legislation, and program directions for the specific policy area, with broad latitude to plan and manage projects and initiatives to meet government/ministry strategic business goals and objectives.

Exercises independent judgment in developing and recommending the ministry strategic policy framework and in leading the development, implementation and evaluation of relevant legislation, regulations, policies, programs, and standards that both address external stakeholder concerns and priorities.

Independently provides strategic policy advice and recommendations to senior management, on stakeholder opportunities, issues and solutions where advice in the policy area is considered authoritative.

The position is recognized throughout the ministry, as an expert in policy development, delivery and implementation, and provides independent advice and guidance to ministry and government officials on policy issues to support government decision making.

Leads or participates in executive strategic business and results based planning processes, and in the planning and implementation of strategic initiatives such as reorganization or change management.

Interpersonal/Communication :

Provides strategic advice and policy proposals, and discusses, briefs, and makes persuasive recommendations to ministry senior management and executives on policy and program area plans, proposals and issues resolution.

Builds key horizontal relationships and leads and manages partnership negotiations and consultation processes, with a view to developing and fostering key linkages across the OPS and with other sector stakeholders, and identifying policy and program delivery issues and priorities.

Chairs or participates on senior level corporate committees, work groups, special projects and initiatives, related to design, development, implementation and evaluation of ministry policies and programs.

Contributes/leads the development of Cabinet submissions and other materials that support government policy decision-making with partners, stakeholders, and consultation aspects of assigned programs.

Physical Effort :

Most of the time is spent in an office environment with frequent opportunity to move about.

Sensory Effort :

Requires visual attention and concentration (i.e. reading without interruption) to lead business planning; to manage multiple policy and program evaluation projects and initiatives to meet strategic objectives and timelines for delivery; to review detailed research outcomes; and to give direction to project teams. Concentrated effort is required to lead consultations and partnership negotiations, to listen to feedback, and to ensure issues and information has been understood and communicated.

Working Conditions :

Work is performed in a typical office environment. Periodic travel to attend conferences and public and stakeholder engagement meetings.