Manager, Intergovernmental Affairs - Sherwood Park, Canada - Strathcona County

Strathcona County

Verified Company

Sherwood Park, Canada

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Sophia Lee

beBee Recruiter

Description

Reporting to the Chief Commissioner, this position is responsible for the proactive identification of issues, trends, opportunities, and challenges to ensure the County is strategically prepared to respond to regional issues.

The position provides advice, strategic analysis, and influences decision making in support of key initiatives.

As Manager of the Intergovernmental Affairs Branch, this position establishes strategic direction and provides leadership for the branch, ensuring alignment with the organization.

This position is responsible for working with other municipalities and departments, building strong, collaborative relationships with other levels of government, and Indigenous leaders and communities.

The incumbent is required to navigate the political landscape, manage relationships, and influence and provide strategic advice to Directors and executive level staff.

Responsibilities:

Provide strategic advice and recommendations that support and influence Executive Team decision making
Initiate proactive conversations with the region to gather insights, monitor emerging issues, trends, opportunities, and challenges
Liaise regularly with provincial government, municipal governments, intergovernmental associations, and County staff to provide updates on emerging issues or new developments to existing issues, or to assist with requests for information and/or decision
Establish and maintain effective internal and regional relationships to support issues management and the action required to advance corporate initiatives
Lead, manage and mentor the Intergovernmental Affairs Branch
Provide leadership to the branch and ensure the operations, programs, and services and projects align with Strathcona County's strategic direction, corporate business plans, and County corporate values
Manage intergovernmental relationships, including collaborating with stakeholders, representing Strathcona County on boards, committees, and conferences, and managing consultants
Conduct proactive research and strategy development on trends, issues and opportunities, as well as coordinate reports
Represent Strathcona County in various capacities and ensure the County's interests, positive image, and relationships are built and preserved by establishing and maintaining key provincial and regional relationships
Work with external committees, and those as directed by Council such as Intermunicipal Relations Committees with various municipalities
Develop outreach strategies to support the goals in the Strategic Plan and the needs of County departments, understand department and strategic business plans and coordinate the reporting and collection of relevant information between departments and external government and municipal organizations
Manage intergovernmental affairs projects and reports as directed by the Chief Commissioner by providing leadership in recommending strategies to deal with immediate and longer-term opportunities and challenges, work proactively with other orders of government, external agencies and businesses to create innovation solutions to address issues and assist the organization with early identification of trends or issues that may impact policy and/or resource allocation and community understanding
Liaise closely with Indigenous groups, municipal departments, and community organizations to further the County's reconciliation efforts
Develop the long-term vision and initiatives in support of the strategic reconciliation planning process
Establish, model, support, and encourage a collaborative and healthy work environment including personal accountability, a unified culture, team alignment, engaged employees, respectful conduct, recognition, and continuous improvement
Skills and Abilities

Ability to employ advanced leadership and communication skills to anticipate and recognize issues of significant impact to the Community, and to advise others and influence outcomes
Excellent interpersonal skills, political acumen, judgement, and discretion, with the ability to build relationships, along with the ability to interact and relate effectively with elected officials, executives, and diverse groups of stakeholders
Excellent consulting, analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to plan and manage multiple and lengthy projects while responding to emerging issues
Comprehensive knowledge of municipal and other orders of government and relevant legislation
Ability to proactively connect at local, provincial, national and global levels to keep abreast of issues/trends and how they will affect the future of the community

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, Economics or a related field
Ten years of experience in increasingly responsible levels of senior management/management with proven leadership in intergovernmental affairs
An extensive career track record of progressively more senior roles in a public sector organization, with proven ability to provide senior l