Executive Director, Strategic Workforce Policy

Government of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 154,000 - 202,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of Alberta is seeking an Executive Director, Strategic Workforce Policy in Edmonton. The role provides enterprise leadership for design, development, and continuous improvement of workforce policies and frameworks that attract, retain, develop, and engage Alberta Public Service employees.

The position reports to senior leadership, aligning policies with government priorities and coordinating with departments, central agencies, and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Senior management experience with policy development in a large service-oriented environment.
• Knowledge of human resources functions and change management is a key asset.
• Understanding of PSC program areas and HR functions related to the program areas would be an asset.
• Strategic thinker with ability to influence decisions and build relationships.
• Experience leading complex HR programs and managing projects and policy issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead workforce policy development, implementation and alignment with government priorities.
• Provide strategic HR policy advice to executive leadership and stakeholders.
• Oversee interpretation, application and governance of workforce policies, ensuring consistency.
• Drive workforce modernization and performance measurement across the APS.
• Evaluate and integrate AI, automation, and emerging technologies within workforce policy functions.

Skills

Senior management

Policy development

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Education

Related degree

Job description

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Executive Director, Strategic Workforce Policy

Job Title: Executive Director, Strategic Workforce Policy

Job Requisition ID: 86745

Ministry: Public Service Commission

Location: Edmonton

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: September 7, 2026

About Us

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is the central human resource department for the Alberta Public Service (APS), providing expert advice, strategic leadership and stewardship, and direct delivery of human resources (HR) services to support the attraction, retention, development and engagement of a highly capable workforce that delivers outcomes for Albertans.

PSC’s key accountabilities include:

• Ensuring effective and integrated human resource policies, strategies and services are established and enhanced to support the APS in achieving government priorities.
• Providing strategic human resource consulting services and organizational effectiveness supports across government.
• Delivering workforce planning, labour and employee relations, occupational health and safety, classification and compensation, talent acquisition, pensions and benefits, learning and development, and talent management programs.
• Providing stewardship of human resource programs, legislation, policy frameworks and collective bargaining obligations across the APS.

The Strategic Services Division provides enterprise leadership in workforce policy, strategic workforce planning, compensation and classification policy, organizational effectiveness initiatives that support a modern and responsive public service, and payroll and benefits administration. The division works with government departments, central agencies, and external stakeholders to establish workforce policies and frameworks that are equitable, fiscally responsible, sustainable, and aligned with government priorities.

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Services, the Executive Director, Strategic Workforce Policy provides enterprise leadership for the design, development, implementation and continuous improvement of workforce policies, programs and frameworks that support the attraction, retention, development and effective management of Alberta Public Service employees. The position is accountable for establishing an integrated and strategic approach to workforce policy development across classification, job evaluation, compensation, pensions, and benefits programs.

The Executive Director ensures workforce policies and programs align with government priorities, operational needs, fiscal parameters, legislative requirements and leading human resource practices. The role provides strategic advice to executive leadership, oversees the interpretation and application of workforce policies and directives, and ensures consistent, transparent and defensible workforce management practices across the APS.

As a trusted advisor to the Public Service Commissioner, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and executive leadership teams, the Executive Director provides strategic thought leadership on workforce policy issues, labour market trends, workforce modernization and emerging human resource risks and opportunities. As a member of the PSC Executive Directors Council, the position contributes to enterprise-wide strategic planning, policy development and service delivery initiatives and supports seamless integration between workforce policy and client service delivery functions.

The Executive Director champions innovation, continuous improvement and future-focused workforce strategies, ensuring workforce policies and programs evolve to meet changing organizational needs, workforce expectations and advances in technology. The position provides strategic leadership for the evaluation, integration and responsible implementation of artificial intelligence, automation and emerging technologies within workforce policy functions, leveraging modern solutions to improve policy development, service delivery, workforce insights and organizational outcomes while ensuring alignment with legislative, ethical and governance requirements.

Qualifications

Your background includes extensive related senior management experience with expertise in policy development and implementation in a large service-oriented environment. You bring extensive knowledge of human resources functions and change management.Knowledge of Public Service Commission’s related program areas and significant knowledge of other human resource functions related to the program areas would be an asset.

A strategist with a broad systems focus, you are known for your ability to influence critical decisions and build strategic relationships to achieve shared outcomes. You are skilled in leading complex human resources programs as well as managing projects and policy issues. You hold a reputation for empowering teams, facilitating innovation, and applying a systems approach to achieving results. You have advanced collaboration and relationship skills and a reputation for engaging, developing, and mentoring high functioning teams as well as excellent communication skills.

An understanding evidence-based government decision-making and performance measurement in relation to strategic initiatives is an asset. Your exceptional written and verbal communication skills will support your success in this role.

A related degree in business, public administration, human resources, social sciences or an equivalent field.

$5896.65 - $7,749.28 bi-weekly ($153,903 - $202,256 annually)

Notes

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

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. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.