Senior Policy Analyst

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Job Requisition ID:88710
Ministry:Mental Health and Addiction
Location:Edmonton
Full or Part-Time:Full TimeHours of Work:36.25 hours per week
Closing Date:November 13, 2026Classification:Program Services 4
The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding career opportunities.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is advancing the Alberta Recovery Model as part of broader health system transformation, focusing on a recovery-oriented approach to addiction and mental health care.
A recovery-oriented system of care is a coordinated network of personalized, community-based services for people at risk of or experiencing addiction and mental health challenges. It provides access to a full continuum of services and supports, from prevention and intervention to treatment and recovery. The vision is for every Albertan to have the opportunity to pursue recovery and live a healthy and productive life. The Ministry also liaises with several stakeholders, including the Office of the Alberta Health Advocates and Recovery Alberta. See Alberta Mental Health and Addiction to learn more.
Role ResponsibilitiesAre you excited by the opportunity to build something new – something that will make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of Albertans while advancing a recovery‑oriented mental health and addiction system in Alberta? Do you thrive in a positive team environment, embrace diverse perspectives, and work together toward a shared vision? If so, we invite you to join our team as we develop and establish an innovative program designed to support individuals whose substance use or addiction places them at risk of harm to themselves or others.
Reporting to the Associate Director within the Statutory Director's Office (SDO), the Senior Policy Analyst leads the development and implementation of operational frameworks and processes required to establish and support the SDO's core functions as the operational arm of the Compassionate Intervention (CI) program. Operating in a complex, time-sensitive, and evolving policy environment, this role plays a critical part in translating legislative and policy direction into effective operational practices.
Initially, the Senior Policy Analyst will lead the development of the SDO's operational foundation, including operational policies, procedures, guidelines, service standards, workflows, reporting mechanisms and supporting tools. As the program evolves, the role will focus on continuously improving the operational framework, monitoring implementation, identifying opportunities for enhancement, and preparing strategic briefing materials, including briefing notes, reports, presentations, and recommendations for senior leadership. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and skilled problem solver who is energized by building new systems and processes. They are comfortable operating in a dynamic environment, balancing competing priorities, and working collaboratively with partners across government, healthcare, community organizations, and law enforcement.
This is a unique opportunity for a passionate, innovative, and forward-thinking professional to help shape the operational foundation of a first-of-its-kind program in Canada with the potential to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of Albertans.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading the development of SDO’s operational frameworks, including operational policies, guidelines, manuals and service standards, and strategic options aligned with Government of Alberta (GoA) standards, processes, and priorities.
Leading the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of SDO’s performance measurement framework, including key performance indicators and reporting functionalities and platforms.
Supporting the day‑to‑day operations of the SDO, including responses to action requests, corporate reporting requirements, and management of assigned contracts or grants.
Leading research, environmental scanning, and analysis to inform CI operational policies, guidelines and processes, as well as related mental health legislation and policies.
Identifying emerging trends, policy issues, risks, and leading practices across jurisdictions to support evidence‑based advice and recommendations.
Preparing and contributing to senior leadership materials, including briefing notes, policy options papers, Cabinet packages, presentations, and speaking notes.
Coordinating and supporting strategic engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including Indigenous communities and organizations, police services, service delivery partners, regulatory bodies, and people in pursuit of recovery.
Representing the SDO and the Ministry on cross‑ministry committees, working groups, and initiatives to foster collaboration and alignment.
Providing expert, timely advice on complex, sensitive, and high‑impact issues affecting Alberta’s mental health and addiction system.
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.
Creative Problem Solving:
Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues: Engages perspective to seek root causes. Finds ways to improve complex systems. Employs resources from other areas to solve problems. Engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks.
Agility:
Identifies and manages required change and the associated risks: Identifies alternative approaches and supports others to do the same. Proactively explains impact of changes. Anticipates and mitigates emotions of others. Anticipates obstacles and stays focused on goals. Makes decisions and takes action in uncertain situations and creates a backup plan.
Drive for Results:
Takes and delegates responsibility for outcomes: Uses variety of resources to monitor own performance standards. Acknowledges even indirect responsibility. Commits to what is good for Albertans even if not immediately accepted. Reaches goals consistent with APS direction.
Build Collaborative Environments:
Collaborates across functional areas and proactively addresses conflict. Encourages broad thinking on projects and works to eliminate barriers to progress. Facilitates communication and collaboration. Anticipates and reduces conflict at the outset. Credits others and gets talent recognized. Promotes collaboration and commitment
Develop Networks:
Leverages relationships to build input and perspective: Looks broadly to engage stakeholders. Open to perspectives towards long-term goals. Actively seeks input into change initiatives. Maintains stakeholder relationships.
QualificationsUniversity degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Mental Health, Health/Social Sciences, or related field with a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience related to the role;
or equivalent as described below.
Equivalency: Directly related education or experience may be considered on the basis of 1 year of education for 1 year of experience;
or 1 year of experiencefor 1 year of education.
Required Experience:
Experience developing and implementing operational frameworks, including policies, procedures, guidelines and workflows.
Experience working with policy development processes and policy implementation.
Proven ability to develop clear, concise, and well‑structured executive‑level materials (e.G., briefing notes, Cabinet documents, presentations.
Experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders across ministries and sectors.
Demonstrated experience conducting environmental scanning, data analysis, and synthesis.
Assets:
Experience working in mental health and addiction policy, recovery‑oriented systems of care, or complex social policy environments.
Experience in developing operational policies, guidelines, and manuals in the social services and/or health sectors.
Experience managing projects.
Experience leading performance measurement, evaluations, or continuous improvement activities for an organization or program.
Knowledge of or experience applying Alberta mental health and addiction legislation (Mental Health Act, Compassionate Intervention Act).
Familiarity with Government of Alberta or public‑sector policy development cycles, approvals, or reporting processes.
36.25 hours per week (full-time) Monday to Friday
Location: Commerce Place Building, 10155 - 102 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 4G8
A cover letter outlining how your qualifications and experience align with the role is required.
We recognize that lived experience with mental health challenges, addiction, and recovery provides unique insight that strengthens our work. We welcome applicants who have personally navigated these experiences and who are comfortable integrating that knowledge into their professional practice.
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.
Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.
We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.
If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Krista Lammie at View email address on ca.hrm.tc.
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