Senior Indigenous Initiatives Advisor

Government of Alberta; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 82,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of Alberta is seeking a Senior Indigenous Initiatives Advisor in Edmonton or Calgary to lead Indigenous health policy projects, prepare briefing materials, and support program development with rigorous analysis and stakeholder engagement.

The role requires university-level education in Indigenous relations or related field, plus4+ years experience, and a strong ability to manage multiple complex initiatives and collaborate across departments.

Qualifications

• University graduation in Indigenous relations, social sciences, public health or political science or related field.
• Cover letter explaining your qualifications must be attached.
• Equivalencies: 1 year education = 1 year experience or vice versa.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Indigenous initiatives and policy advisory projects.
• Develop decision packages and policy documents to support program development.
• Manage complex projects, environmental scans and literature reviews.
• Analyse Indigenous community health policy and programs and report to management.
• Represent the department's view on Indigenous health strategies and policies.

Skills

Agility

Collaboration

Creative problem solving

Systems thinking

Project management

Analytical skills

Written & verbal communication

Education

Indigenous relations or related field

Job description

Job Information
Job Title: Senior Indigenous Initiatives Advisor
Job Requisition ID: 84533
Ministry: Primary and Preventative Health Services
Location: Edmonton or Calgary
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: September 9, 2026
Classification: Program Services 4
Salary: $3,148.20 to $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 and diverse career opportunities.
The Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services (PPHS) is building a more resilient and sustainable health care system that can support Albertans getting care when and where they need it, while responding to system-wide health challenges, improving health outcomes, and maintaining fiscal responsibility. For further information, visit the ministry website at https://www.alberta.ca/primary-and-preventative-health-services .

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Manager, the Senior Indigenous Initiatives Advisor will take on a senior Indigenous initiatives and policy advisory roles, including leading and supporting projects, developing decision packages, and preparing policy documents that support program and initiative development. The role now includes complex project management responsibilities, efficient completion of environmental scans and literature reviews.

This position will be responsible for the following duties:

• Supports the analysis and implementation of Community Health Clinic policy and funding models.
• Review, evaluation, interpretation, implementation of Indigenous community health policy and programs with the scope of the department's mandate.
• Identifies and evaluates complex and sensitive issues that impact the primary health care system, health care providers, other government departments, agencies, and the Federal/Provincial/Territorial landscape.
• Prepares reports, recommendations and materials for management, senior leaders, and external stakeholders for information and/or decisions.
• Provides analysis and advice in relation to the implementation of Jordan's Principle.
• Works closely with PPHS' 4 pillar agencies including Primary Care Alberta to ensure policy and program implementation.
• Represents the department's view on Indigenous primary and community health strategies and policies.
• Chairs committees and/or meetings and makes presentations to committees as required.
• Support the Manager and Director in achieving the mandate and goals of the unit and branch.
• Draft responses to queries, briefings, and Action Requests.
• Lead recommendations to support continual improvement of branch functions and maintain awareness of associated processes, tools, and best practices that can be tailored to meet branch requirements.
• Provide backup coverage to the Manager as required.

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.

• Agility: Sees the need and readily steps in to help others on the team; anticipates change and adapts behaviour accordingly, open to changes; takes advantage of opportunities to improve program development and implementation processes.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Creates opportunities for project teams and stakeholder to share information; respects others' point-of-view; encourages or facilitates conflict resolution; recognizes performance of all groups involved.
• Creative Problem Solving: Helps manage projects with multiple stakeholders simultaneously and can use planning skills, analytical and creative thinking to arrive at innovative solutions.
• Systems Thinking: Anticipate outcomes and potential impacts across interrelated areas and will factor this into planning.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University graduation (Indigenous relations, social sciences, public health, political science) or in a related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.
• For your application to be considered, a cover letter explaining your qualifications and suitability for this role must be attached with your application.

Equivalencies:

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

The following knowledge or experiences are considered as assets:

• Experience working with or in Indigenous communities or on Indigenous health.
• Strong knowledge of First Nations and Métis organizations, governance structures, and effective engagement practices that foster respectful and reciprocal relationships.
• Experience working with an Indigenous government or organization.
• Experience in legislative, regulatory, or policy development within a government setting.
• Experience in project management.
• Experience preparing and providing written reports, analysis, briefing notes, letters, and presentations.
• Experience in analytical, research, and consultation skills with experience analyzing and consolidating large and diverse amounts of information.
• Effective communications skills (written and oral) to collaborate effectively with colleagues and with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaboration skills to successfully work in a cross-functional team environment and leadership skills.
• Organization and prioritization skills to balance multiple ongoing projects at one time and ability to meet tight timelines and cope with changing priorities.

This is a full-time position, with regular working hours of 36.25 hours per week, Monday through Friday.
This position is based in Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta.
The final candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment checks (Reference check/Criminal record and/or academic).
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 contactEdmund [e-mail] .