Engagement Specialist

**Job Information**

Job Requisition ID: 64364
Ministry: Education
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Ongoing
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 25, 2024
Classification: Subsidiary 02B 3625 Program Services 3 Market Adjust

**Salary**: $2,626.89 to $3,448.73 bi-weekly ($68,561 - $90,118/year)

**Ministry of Education**
Alberta Education supports students, parents, teachers, and administrators from Early Childhood Service (ECS) through Grade 12. Through safe and caring schools for all students, Alberta’s Government is making life better by investing in education - one of the most important investments we can make in our future. The Ministry has the following responsibilities: develop curriculum and set standards; evaluate curriculum and assess outcomes; teacher development and certification; supports students with diverse learning needs; fund and support school boards; First Nations, Métis and Inuit and Francophone education; and oversees basic education policy and regulations.

**Strategic Engagement Branch**
The Strategic Engagement Branch enhances the strategic engagement capacity of the Ministry of Education and across the Government of Alberta. Core to this function, the branch serves as an engagement centre of excellence, both internal and external, for the department by supporting new and innovative ways of thinking, being and working in a complex education sector landscape.

**Role Responsibilities**:
Project management is a critical aspect of this position. The Engagement Specialist plans and coordinates resources to identify client and stakeholder requirements, develops project plans, and manages activities to ensure completion of deliverables as planned. This position also participates in ministry working groups and committees to provide stakeholder engagement expertise and represents the perspectives and requirements of the branch as appropriate. The Engagement Specialist functions within the parameters of applicable legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines.

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:
1. Provide expertise, research, and analytical services to Ministry program areas to support the planning and delivery of engagement activities:

- Promote effective and strategic engagement strategies and standards of practice for engagement.
- Build a shared and common understanding of, and commitment to, strategic engagement.
- Provide advice and recommendations regarding alternative methods to meeting engagement needs (e.g. existing internal and external programs, contractors, partnering with other ministries)
- Research, analyze and share data and information on trends and issues.
- Guide, interact, and support staff, stakeholders and partners.

2. Foster an environment of engagement throughout all interactions (e.g. consultation, facilitation, online coordination, staff interactions).
- Live the model of innovative, effective, efficient and relevant business and engagement practices.
- Consult with direct supervisors and clients at pre-launch, mid, and final checkpoints to clarify expectations, needs, opportunities and desired results related strategic engagement.
- Identify and recommend greater opportunities for stakeholders to be knowledgeable about, and inform, Alberta's education system.
- Participate in ministry and cross-ministry committees and working groups to provide perspectives and advice in relation to engagement.
- Develop and deliver information sessions to ministry and cross-ministry representatives to promote strategic engagement and gather information to inform strategic planning.

**Role Responsibilities Continued**:
3. Provide project management services for stakeholder engagement projects and activities to ensure consistency, quality assurance and results.
- Support teams to establish project terms of reference, resource requirements, workflow, timelines and evaluation.
- Monitor project processes and outcomes, initiate and coordinate adjustments and resolve conflicts and issues as required.
- Keep branch management team apprised of status of projects, prepare briefing materials and presentations to management or stakeholders for information and input to decisions.

4. Design, develop and deliver strategic engagement activities for Ministry program areas and Government of Alberta.
- Ensure engagement practices lead to informed decision-making and the achievement of results.
- Collaborate with clients to determine appropriate methods and techniques that will achieve identified outcomes (e.g., facilitated sessions, online surveys, polls, videos, webinars, etc.).
- Support the design of engagement strategies that result in effective risk mitigation.
- Design and deliver appropriate and effective engagement activities.
- Coordinate planning and delivery of meetings and training sessions associated with engagements.
- Facilitate engagement activities and events.
- Develop plans and documents in support of