As the professional organization of Alberta teachers, the ATA promotes and advances public education, supports teachers’ professional practice and serves as the advocate for its members. The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) is proud to retain our status as one of Alberta’s Top 80 Employers for consecutive years.
Please note this position is located in our Calgary office.
We offer
- A 35-hour work week, a minimum of four weeks of paid vacation, plus multiple other days off categories to support your work/life balance.
- A generous defined benefit pension plan and a competitive salary range of $84,123 to a current maximum of $108,993.
- A full range of 100% employer-paid benefits for you and your eligible family members.
- Free on-site parking, outdoor patio, cafeteria, library, access to an on-site gym and multifaith/quiet spaces.
- Recognition and development programs plus generous support for continuous staff education.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Associate Coordinator, Regulatory Affairs and Membership Support, this position offers critical support for Executive Staff Officers who represent teachers confronted with allegations of unprofessional conduct and/or incompetency under the purview of the Alberta Teaching Profession Commission (ATPC). Key responsibilities include client intake, case file management, regulatory insight, quality assurance, investigations, risk evaluation, and active collaboration with Representation Officers (RO’s) throughout the entire lifecycle of cases. Specific responsibilities include:
- Manages the intake process for teachers and teacher leaders faced with allegations of unprofessional conduct and/or incompetence.
- Conducts meticulous preliminary intake interviews with members, adeptly documenting the historical context leading to a complaint. Utilizes probing questions, engages in substantive conversations, and employs a nuanced understanding of discipline processes and legislation relevant to the issue.
- Evaluates complaints and associated documents to comprehend allegations against members. Formulates sophisticated interview questions and elicits comprehensive responses to address the intricacies of the allegations.
- Crafts detailed intake reports for the RO, articulating primary issues in the complaint, identifying key witnesses and evidence, and contributing an assessment of the overall complexity of the case.
- Assigns cases and collaborates in meetings with representation officers to discuss incoming files, articulating potential risks, strategic considerations, and establishing connections to other case files or analogous complaints.
- Supports RO in educating and supporting stakeholders in gaining a clear understanding of the ATPC discipline process and the support mechanisms provided by the Association.
- Provides expertise and support in responding to inquiries from teachers, school authorities, and other stakeholders regarding their obligations in ATPC disciplinary matters.
- Maintains comprehensive records, including the creation of comprehensive case files, resources, documentation, and decision content within the representation database; recommends process changes that reflect best practices and the changing environment of Regulatory Affairs.
- Collaborates closely with ROs and ESOs to identify issues, dispense advice, and develop strategic approaches for handling potentially sensitive situations.
- Communicates and collaborates with all Regulatory Affairs colleagues to ensure the database remains current and accurate; contributes to the development and implementation of processes and efficient procedures to ensure data integrity and usability.
- Addresses inquiries from the general public and other education entities involved in the ATPC disciplinary process, delivering responsive and informative interactions.
- Under the strategic guidance of the Associate Coordinator, Regulatory Affairs, and the designated Executive Staff Officer (ESO) serving as RO, provides adept support for follow-up actions stemming from Commissioner decisions. This includes the drafting and review of documents such as those pertaining to natural justice, case law precedents, consent resolutions and disciplinary hearings.
- Undertakes thorough review of ATPC investigation reports, ensuring meticulous alignment with legislation, policies, procedures, and operational guidelines. Identify potential issues warranting further investigation and demonstrate a nuanced understanding of regulatory affairs.
- Acting under the lead of the RO, attends hearings in a counselling capacity, functioning as the "second chair." Assists the RO in presenting investigative findings, evidence, cross-examination, and other related tasks, as assigned, during disciplinary proceedings.
- Assists in preparing witnesses for hearings through in-depth preparation interviews, ensuring they are thoroughly equipped and confident in their testimony.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in education, criminology or a related field.
- Investigative training or certificate is required.
- Administrative law/natural justice training/certificate.
- A minimum of five years’ experience in conducting investigations, preferably in a regulatory environment or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience related to regulatory hearings is an asset.
- Experience demonstrating the use and application of a variety of legislated enforcement tools in an administrative and regulatory environment.
- An understanding of various related legislations is an asset.
- Knowledge of advanced, innovative investigation techniques.
- The ability to demonstrate use and application of a variety of legislated enforcement tools in an administrative and regulatory environment.
- Knowledge of provincial education legislation that governs teacher conduct and competency is an asset.
- Strong service, relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills and a proven ability to edit, proofread and attend to detail.
- The ability to maintain calm and professional in stressful situations.
- Sound judgment in handling sensitive matters and in maintaining confidentiality.
HOW TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter and resume in one attachment along with the names and telephone numbers of two business references should be addressed to Connor Poon, HR Generalist and emailed to careers@ata.ab.ca by 10:00 pm on Sunday, July 7, 2024.
The Alberta Teachers’ Association thanks all applicants for their interest, however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.