Senior Program Consultant

The Opportunity:

The Mental Health and Addictions Branch requires a creative, innovative, resourceful individual with exceptional leadership skills for a term position. As a Senior Program Consultant, you will provide mental health and addictions leadership and support to the Ministry of Health, other government ministries, and mental health stakeholders, including the Saskatchewan Health Authority. You will be responsible for policy development and setting and supporting strategic direction in the mental health and addictions program areas. As a part of the Mental Health and Addictions branch, you will focus on both short and long-term strategic planning, analysis of system performance and key trends that impact the mental health of Saskatchewan's population.

The ideal candidate will be a clear communicator, verbally and in writing. You will have knowledge of mental health and addiction programs, including specialized services such as child and youth services, as well as knowledge of current emerging issues related to mental health and addictions in Saskatchewan. You will be proactive, using your education and experience to identify and analyze key program area trends, their implications, and system responses. You will be able to apply appropriate research methodologies to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of research conducted by others and to identify alternatives. You will be able to build collaborative relationships within the Ministry of Health and with other human service ministries and stakeholders. You will also have demonstrated ability to mange projects, committees, and processes to ensure that quality deliverables are completed over time. Experience with intergovernmental working groups at the provincial level is an asset for this position.

The successful candidate must be a team player, able to both lead and collaborate with a reputation for integrity and a focus on service excellence and innovation in their work. You will have in-depth knowledge of the relevant acts, and regulations, as well as the program area.

Typically, the skills and knowledge will have been gained through a Master's Degree in a Health field, combined with relevant Mental Health and addictions-related policy experience.

• Provide leadership and direction in developing, planning, and evaluating ministry strategies, programs, and policies.
• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of policy research and program evaluations.
• Initiate strategic policy development to drive renewal and systemic change, including environmental scans and risk analysis.
• Establish and lead work groups focused on strategic planning, policy development, and performance evaluation.
• Support senior government decision-making by delivering timely written and verbal analysis on key issues and strategic directions.
• Conduct in-depth research and literature reviews, consult with experts, and synthesize findings to inform policy and evaluation frameworks.
• Lead intra- and inter-ministerial initiatives to address policy and performance issues and develop reporting standards.
• Develop evaluation frameworks to measure ministry performance, including outcomes, indicators, and data collection methods.

Job Capabilities:

As a public servant, we are seeking someone who:

• Is accountable, takes ownership of their work by contributing to organizational outcomes and demonstrates the corporate values in our Commitment to Excellence.
• Is innovative and seeks out ways for improvement by thinking creatively, identifying new ideas and taking responsible risks.
• Works collaboratively with others to understand, engage and have meaningful dialogue to achieve work outcomes.
• Is inclusive, identifies and is aware of personal bias, and readily seeks out and appreciates diverse perspectives.
• Is adaptable, continuously learns from experience and applies those learnings to new situations.
• Focuses on achieving public service excellence.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

The successful candidate will have:

• Knowledge of Saskatchewan’s mental health and addictions system, including the continuum of prevention, treatment, recovery and specialized services, such as child and youth mental health and addictions services.
• Knowledge of current and emerging mental health and addictions issues, evidence and leading practices, and their implications for policy, programs and service delivery in Saskatchewan.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, government policies and accountability frameworks that guide mental health and addictions programs and services.
• Knowledge of public policy development, strategic planning and program evaluation principles and practices, including their application within a government and health-system environment.
• Ability to conduct and critically assess research, including literature reviews, environmental scans, jurisdictional reviews and qualitative and quantitative analysis, and translate findings into practical policy and program recommendations.
• Ability to analyze complex health-system issues, trends, risks and performance information using multiple sources of evidence and stakeholder perspectives to identify options and support sound decision-making.
• Ability to develop policy, strategic and evaluation frameworks, including outcomes, indicators, performance measures and approaches for monitoring and reporting results.
• Ability to lead complex projects, committees and intergovernmental or cross-sector initiatives, establishing clear objectives, coordinating diverse participants and ensuring quality deliverables are completed within required timelines.
• Ability to develop high-quality policy and decision-support materials, including briefing notes, reports, recommendations, presentations and other products that clearly communicate complex information to senior leaders and diverse audiences.
• Ability to plan and facilitate consultation and engagement processes with government ministries, the Saskatchewan Health Authority, community partners, subject-matter experts and other stakeholders.

Job Skills:

• Communication (Level C)
• Critical Thinking (Level C)
• Digital Skills (Level C)
• Interacting with Others (Level C)
• Navigating Ambiguity (Level C)
• Managing Self (Level C)
• Health, Safety and Wellness (Level A)
• Data Literacy (Level C)
• Influence (Level C)
• Political and Organizational Awareness (Level C)

Learn more about the Government of Saskatchewan’s Capabilities and Skills Framework here.

What We Offer:

• Dynamic and challenging work
• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive benefits package including pension
• Vacation, scheduled days off, and other types of leave
• Inclusive work environments
• Career growth, development, and advancement opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements

Our Commitment to Excellence:

The Government of Saskatchewan upholds deep-rooted values of Respect and Integrity, Serving Citizens, Excellence and Innovation, and Acting as One Team.

The Ministry of Health is dedicated to achieving a responsive, integrated and efficient health system that puts the patient first. The ministry partners with the Saskatchewan Health Authority and other health systems to build healthy people and healthy communities through: Better Health, health promotion and disease prevention; Better Care, improving the individual’s experience with the health care system; Better Value, strategically investing in our health care system; and Better Teams, building safe, quality workplaces to support patient-centred care. The Government of Saskatchewan provides the services, programs and supports the people of Saskatchewan need. We deliver on the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth to build a strong economy, strong communities and strong families, ultimately building a stronger Saskatchewan. Dedicated to service excellence, we demonstrate innovation, collaboration and transparency, practice effective and accountable use of resources and promote engagement and leadership at all levels.