Accreditation Officer

Government of Alberta•Edmonton, AB

4d•CA$82,168 - CA$107,710•Onsite

About The Position

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 System Support and Student Records Sector provides school accreditation services, administers programs, verifies grant compliance, policy direction, and builds system capacity that promotes an inclusive education system for children and students. All work is guided by Alberta Education and Childcare's core values of respect, integrity, accountability and excellence. The School Accreditation, Monitoring and Print Services (SAMPS) Branch provides the ministry and school authorities with accreditation services, program monitoring, and guidance and interpretation of policies for which the sector is responsible.

Requirements

University graduation in a related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below.
Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.
Strong understanding of legislation, regulations, policies, standards and procedures related to education program delivery and accountability.
Knowledge of the Education Act, related regulations, the Guide to Education and ministry policies affecting school accreditation or program operations like Independent School Registrations Act, Early Childhood Services Regulations
Experience reviewing, assessing and analyzing complex documentation to support compliance, accreditation, monitoring or program review activities.
Ability to prepare clear, accurate and timely briefing materials, correspondence, action request responses and recommendations for leadership review.
Strong consultation, communication and issue-resolution skills when working with internal partners, school authorities, operators and stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and maintain attention to detail in a policy or program administration environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with independent schools, independent ECS operators or Alberta school authorities.
Experience supporting monitoring, audit, compliance assurance or annual operating plan review processes.
Experience developing or improving administrative processes, procedures, guidelines or tools that support consistent program delivery.
Experience building collaborative relationships across divisions, ministries or external stakeholder groups.

Responsibilities

Manage and review documentation, correspondence and interviews related to the accreditation and monitoring of independent schools and independent ECS operators in Alberta.
Support monitoring and annual operating plan review processes to assess compliance with applicable legislation, regulations, standards, policies and operational requirements.
Participate with Field Services and ministry partners, as required, to review accredited independent schools and provide insights on compliance with Annual Operating Plan requirements.
Prepare recommendations for prospective accreditation, continued accreditation or discontinuation of accreditation for consideration by senior officials and the Minister of Education and Childcare.
Provide consultation, interpretation, advice and support to school authorities, independent school applicants, ECS operators and other stakeholders on accreditation, monitoring and operational matters.
Respond to client, stakeholder and partner concerns in a timely, accurate and appropriate manner that aligns with department quality standards.
Facilitate the resolution of issues or conflicts related to accreditation and monitoring while building collaborative and consultative relationships with ministry partners and stakeholders.
Support the implementation of education-related legislation, regulations, policies, standards, programs and initiatives through sound analysis, advice and operational support.
Work with branch and division staff to implement, assess and refine accreditation, monitoring and private ECS operator review processes.
Review findings from accreditation and monitoring activities and recommend revisions to provincial policies, regulations, standards and procedures, as appropriate.
Prepare briefing documents, action request responses, correspondence and other materials for senior leadership, branch officials and the Minister in a timely and appropriate manner.
Keep senior leadership informed of emerging issues, risks and stakeholder concerns, and provide timely recommendations and responses to support effective decision-making.