Social Planner

Job Number: 56281

Are you looking for an opportunity to create positive policy and systems change in affordable housing and homelessness issues in Edmonton? Join the Affordable Housing and Homelessness team as a Social Planner and help implement ambitious actions in the Affordable Housing Strategy and Homelessness and Housing Services Plan to reduce housing precarity in Edmonton Utilize your planning, research, and analytical expertise to improve systems in the homeless serving sector and create and maintain the supply of affordable housing for Edmontonians.

Reporting to the Program Manager, Policy and Planning, the Social Planner uses a big picture, systems thinking approach to ensure that the policies and initiatives of the City are aligned, effective, and deliver the desired social outcomes outlined by City Council and senior leadership.

What will you do?

Lead development of significant social policy frameworks and strategic plans for the section

Conduct environmental scans and situational analyses;
Undertake research on historical and emerging best practices from other jurisdictions and social trends

Undertake detailed data analyses, including presentation and visualization for various audiences;
Identify and assess issues and problems at the community and system levels, and propose potential solutions

Produce briefing notes and memos in accessible language for executive leadership and audiences

Lead the production and writing of Council Reports with corresponding research and engagement to inform recommendations

Design and execute effective public engagement processes to involve stakeholders in decision making and policy development

Gather and share information, stay abreast of trends in municipal government and local issues in the community

Participate in the new development or redesign of services, programs, and projects

Assess and evaluate proposed and existing programs and services

Evaluate affordable housing and homelessness initiatives and programs

Establish criteria for program evaluation and assist in the development and implementation of program monitoring, performance evaluation and tools

Develop, implement, and monitor service and performance improvement processes

Lead a variety of assigned projects which may be complex, and/or sensitive

Establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal partners, other orders of government and community stakeholders including the homeless serving organizations, affordable housing providers, and representatives from allied systems of care Determine and develop appropriate documentation outlining formal relationships (Charters, Memorandums of Understanding, Terms of Reference)
Identify community issues and provide information on statistics and demographics

Advise external agencies and organizations on existing policies and services

Lead, facilitate, and/or participate in external community committees and working groups

Represent the section on committees and working groups for various branch, department, and corporate initiatives

Perform other related duties as required

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Business or Public Administration, Recreation, Planning, Political Science, Public Health, or a related disciplineA minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in social planning, policy development, impact evaluation, social innovation, strategic design and/or strategic planning OR a Masters Degree and a minimum of 3 years experience

Holders of degrees in Social work must be registered with the Alberta College of Social Workers Assets:

Project Management training

Project Management certification and/ or Change Management certification

Experience working in affordable housing development and/or working with the homeless serving sector, including the development of housing programs or shelter service delivery

Experience developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, key performance indicators, and measuring the impact of social systems

Significant understanding of Indigenous communities, history, culture, trends and current environment

Experience working with First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities and Indigenous-led housing providers

Skills required for success:

Strong skill and ability with Google Suite of applications

Experience leading complex projects; must have exceptional project and process management skills

Experience, training, and skills in program/policy evaluation in social development

Ability to design, implement and…