Social Planner - FCSS

This position applies strategic and systems thinking to advance community social well-being through prevention-focused strategic planning and the identification of emerging and complex social issues. Reporting to the Team Leader of Social Planning, the Social Planner with a focus in FCSS, leads the development and continuous improvement of preventative funding processes, strategies, and evidence-informed solutions aligned with community priorities and FCSS program requirements.

The primary responsibility of this role will be to oversee and maintain the City’s Family and Community Support Services Grant Program (FCSS), to achieve compliance with provincial guidelines.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop evidence-informed funding approaches and strategies to guide the allocation of prevention funding (FCSS) in the Airdrie community.

• Oversee and manage the administration of the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program in Airdrie that includes contract management, evaluation of funding applications, and funding allocation recommendations

• Conduct research using qualitative and quantitative methods that enhance preventative grant strategies and funding decisions

• Manage FCSS data and evaluation, including data analysis, survey design and instruments, and the presentation of findings to agencies and Council Committees

• Align FCSS outcomes with community priorities and Provincial FCSS requirements

• Develop and maintain the City’s prevention (FCSS) policy, procedures, funding strategy, and priorities

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, rights holders, interest holders, other business units, and Provincial counterparts

• Oversee FCSS reporting requirements to the Province of Alberta on an annual basis

• Manage surveys, resources, and the Airdrie FCSS Portal

You Bring:

• An undergraduate degree from a recognized university in social sciences, social work, or a relevant field (graduate degree would be considered an asset).

• Minimum of five years’ experience in the social services field or public sector

• Understanding of the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Act and Regulation is an asset

• Strong understanding of prevention-focused funding approaches

• Preference will be given to those with demonstrated grant management experience

• A primary responsibility of this role will be to manage, develop, and maintain the City’s Family and Community Support Services program (FCSS) and make funding recommendations

• Understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion

• Knowledge of the social service sector, grant funding best-practices and strategy development

• Demonstrated ability in strategy development and implementation

• Demonstrated ability and experience to develop key policies that strengthen social well-being

• The ability to work with multiple interest holders & stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability to analyze reports and outcomes to inform decisions

• Demonstrated experience with qualitative and quantitative research

• Demonstrated experience in evaluation methodologies and community engagement data analysis

• Experience in survey design, community needs assessments, environmental scans etc.

• Demonstrated ability to implement best practices and solutions

• Experience with writing and presenting reports, briefing notes, public speaking, and facilitation

• Experience working within a municipal or public sector environment is preferred

• Excellent analytical skills

• Adaptable and reliable

• Strategic thinker

• Demonstrates initiative

• well-developed communication skills

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as a team member, or as a group leader

• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills with a focus on reaching effective solutions

• Demonstrated ability to understand and interpret public policy and legislation

• Demonstrates ability to identify opportunities to increase efficiencies with community social-serving organizations providing preventative programming

• Demonstrated organizational skills with strong professional ethics when working with a multi-disciplinary team and/or multi-sectoral settings

• Capable of…