Policy Advisor

Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 82,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Positive workplace culture and work–l–

Good work–life balance

Job summary

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is seeking a Policy Advisor in Edmonton to shape strategic policy and legislative initiatives. You will work with legislative and policy specialists to develop high-quality policy advice, cabinet briefs, and decision documents, ensuring alignment with government priorities.

The role emphasizes analytical rigor, coordination across divisions, and training to strengthen policy capacity within the department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, environmental sciences, political science, social sciences, humanities or related field and 4 years of related experience such as Government policy development or Government decision and approval processes.
• Equivalency: 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.
• Assets: Experience developing or supporting government policy, legislation, regulations or related decision documents.
• Strong written communication skills and attention to detail; project management skills, including time management and organization.

Responsibilities

• Analyzing complex policy issues and evidence to assess options, impacts and trade-offs across environmental, social and economic considerations, and developing balanced, well-supported policy advice aligned with departmental and government direction.
• Synthesizing varied perspectives and considerations into clear, concise and compelling advice for decisionmakers.
• Drafting and supporting development of policy decision documents, including Cabinet Reports, briefing notes, presentations and speaking notes.
• Providing strategic advice to program areas on policy and government decision-making processes, including analytical requirements, responsibilities, approvals, documentation and timelines.
• Coordinating complex policy initiatives across program areas to deliver high-quality decision packages within tight and evolving timelines.

Skills

Systems Thinking

Agility

Build Collaborative Environments

Drive For Results

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, environmental sciences, political science, social sciences, humanities or related field

Job description

Job Information

Job Title: Policy Advisor

Job Requisition ID: 88414

Ministry: Environment and Protected Areas

Location: Edmonton

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: November 17, 2026

Classification: Program Services 4

Salary: $3,148.20 - $4,126.82 bi-weekly ($82,168 - $107,710/year)

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.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is dedicated to safeguarding Albertas natural resource and ecosystems awhile balancing environmental and economic needs. We focus on wildlife conservation, managing protected areas, creating environmental policies, conducting research and engaging the public through educational initiatives. Our commitment is to sustainably, ensuring Alberta’s landscapes and resources are persevered and responsibly managed for future generations.

Corporate Strategic Services Branch and Policy Alignment and Legislative Services

The Corporate Strategic Services Branch provides strategic leadership, direction and coordination of a broad range of planning, policy and administrative services for the Department to support the ministry’s environmental mandate. The Policy Alignment and Legislative Services team within the Branch is responsible for supporting the Departments Cabinet and Legislation work.

Role Responsibilities

Are you a strategic thinker who thrives on complex policy challenges and enjoys turning various information and perspectives into clear, actionable advice?

This is an opportunity to help shape and advance Environment and Protected Areas’ strategic policy and legislative agenda while strengthening policy development and decision-making across the Department.

Reporting to the Manager, Policy Alignment and Legislative Services (PALS), the Policy Advisor works alongside legislative and policy specialists to advance complex policy initiatives and ensure strategic policy changes are coordinated and aligned with Government of Alberta and departmental priorities.

In this role, you will navigate complex and evolving policy issues, provide strategic advice, and help move priority initiatives through government decision-making processes. You will develop high-quality policy advice and decision documents, coordinate initiatives across the department, and build strong working relationships with program areas. You will also strengthen policy capacity across the department by providing guidance, sharing best practices and delivering department -specific policy training.

Your key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Policy Advice and Project Management:

• Analyzing complex policy issues and evidence to assess options, impacts and trade-offs across environmental, social and economic considerations, and developing balanced, well-supported policy advice aligned with departmental and government direction.
• Synthesizing varied perspectives and considerations into clear, concise and compelling advice for decisionmakers.
• Drafting and supporting development of policy decision documents, including Cabinet Reports, briefing notes, presentations and speaking notes.
• Providing strategic advice to program areas on policy and government decision-making processes, including analytical requirements, responsibilities, approvals, documentation and timelines.
• Coordinating complex policy initiatives across program areas to deliver high-quality decision packages within tight and evolving timelines.

Strategic Planning and Alignment:

• Coordinating initiatives and developing integrated plans to advance the departments strategic policy and legislative agenda.
• Maintaining awareness of the broader policy and political environment, including government commitments, departmental priorities and public concerns, and identifying implications and opportunities for department initiatives.
• Applying sound judgment and political acumen to anticipate sensitivities, competing interests and emerging issues that may affect policy development and decision-making.
• Identifying connections, dependencies and opportunities for collaboration among departmental and cross-government partners working on related policy initiatives.
• Advising departmental staff on government and departmental decision-making processes to support realistic sequencing, timelines and approvals.
• Supporting departmental tracking of strategic policy and legislative initiatives to identify priorities, interdependencies and upcoming decision points.

Policy Capacity and Continuous Improvement:

• Strengthening policy capacity across the department by identifying knowledge gaps and developing practical training tailored to Environment and Protected Areas.
• Collaborating across the division and department to strengthen policy processes, procedures and promote consistent, high-quality policy advice.
• Developing and sharing templates, guidance documents, and presentations to support department staff on navigating government policy processes and decision-making processes.

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.

Systems Thinking: Understand the department’s strategic policy and legislative goals within the context of Government of Alberta priorities and the evolving social, political and economic environment.

Agility: Ability to thrive in dynamic environment and takes initiative to anticipate and adapt to changing priorities.

Build Collaborative Environments: Establish and maintain strong collaborative partnerships within the department and Government of Alberta to solve complex problems.

Drive For Results: Develop recommendations and plans to support ministry priorities, anticipates risks and capitalizes on opportunities.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, environmental sciences, political science, social sciences, humanities or related field and 4 years of related experience such as Government policy development or Government decision and approval processes.

Equivalency:

Directly education or experience considered on the basis of:

1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or

1 year of experience for 1year of education

Assets:

• Experience developing or supporting government policy, legislation, regulations or related decision documents.
• Experience preparing Cabinet Reports, Executive briefing material, presentation & speaking notes, , briefing notes or similar government decision materials.
• Knowledge of government policy, legislative and decision-making processes.
• Experience developing policy guidance, procedures, training or other resources that strengthen organizational policy capacity.
• Strong written communication skills and attention to detail – experience with cabinet documents and drafting instructions an asset.
• Project management skills, including time management and organization.

This position is a permanent, full-time role, with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

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 contactJane McEwen at [e-mail] .