Program Support Specialist

**Job Information**

Job Requisition ID: 65128
Ministry: Jobs, Economy and Trade
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: December 19, 2024
Classification: Program Services 4MA

**Salary**: $2,757.39 - $3,604.17 bi-weekly/ ($71,967 - $94,068/year)

The Ministry of Jobs, Economy, and Trade supports economic development, promotes trade and investment, attracts skilled workers, leads childcare and promotes safe, fair and healthy workplaces.

**Role Responsibilities**:
Reporting to the Manager, Childcare Supports, the Program Support Specialist will provide expert leadership in facilitating the implementation and delivery of various childcare support initiatives for Jobs, Economy & Trade Regions across the province. This position also supports contract and grant activities in the division. The Program Support Specialist draws on a strong working knowledge across social programs. Familiarity with associated legislative, policy and practice frameworks are critical to plan for and monitor services that meet the complex needs of Albertans through their lifespan.

The incumbent takes a lead role in the coordination, facilitation, and support of programs that assist childcare programs in the delivery of quality, inclusive childcare to Albertans.

Responsibilities include:

- Acts as point of contact for community agencies, contract holders, licensed childcare programs and Albertans across the province when seeking resources and supports to deliver or utilize quality childcare across the province.
- Leads in development and delivery of regional and provincial core training and resources to contracted agencies, licensed childcare, Family Day Homes, and First Nations/Indigenous programs to promote the provision of high-quality childcare and inclusive/diverse practices.
- Identify emerging issues, assess potential impacts, and recommend mitigation strategies to support service providers and address client needs.
- Evaluate agreements to ensure they are effective and support overarching goals of services and service level agreements.
- Contributes to continuous improvement efforts for existing childcare support programs and assist with future Childcare Support program development. Facilitates the development of collaborations with community agencies, other government programs, licensed childcare (facility based and home based) programs and First Nation/Indigenous communities.
- Supports practice improvements at a regional level, which informs provincial directions in the implementation of childcare support initiatives to promote prevention and early intervention, child development and child well-being.
- Supports the coordination, alignment, and efficiency of Childcare Support resources with cross Ministry programs and services through protocol processes that may include multi-disciplinary committees or working groups.
- Works collaboratively with Childcare Policy and Childcare Licensing to ensure a cohesive, transparent delivery of resources for childcare programs.
- Manages grants and contracts awarded from the ministry and assesses the effectiveness of services provided to ensure they meet the expectations outlined by the program (ICC, Respite, Space Creation, FDH, etc.) and the grant/contract requirements.
- Review and reconcile contract/grant payments, along with project schedules, to support the budget estimates/forecasts and the monitoring of expenditures.
- Conduct compliance monitoring and review financial reporting to ensure contracts/grants are delivered in alignment with the terms and conditions of the agreements.
- Identify and resolve compliance issues. Including amending or recommending the termination of agreements, while taking into account legal, political and client considerations.
- Respond to and provide periodic reports for contract and grant related information inquiries.

Please

**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.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

- **Systems Thinking -** The ability to work collaboratively with other teams in the division to further the goals and visions of the ministry through various childcare support initiatives, while maintaining awareness of any compounding factors that may challenge the completion of the project.
- **Creative Problem Solving -** The ability to work collaboratively with your team, community organizations and stakeholders to assess and improve the initiatives that are in place. The ability to use innovative ideas or adapt existing processes to address both new and past problems.
- **Agility - **The ability to efficiently work in a changing environment and prioritize multipl