Head of Education Services

Job Information
Job Title: Head of Education Services
Job Requisition ID: 57096
Ministry: Arts, Culture and Status of Women
Location: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open
Closing Date: June 6, 2024
Classification: Program Services 3 Market Adjustment
Salary: ​$2,626.89 to $3,448.73 bi-weekly ($68,561 to $90,011 / year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit:

The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women works to improve Albertans' quality of life through support of cultural development, historical preservation and increased gender equality. For more information on the Ministry, please visit

Role Responsibilities

Are you a champion for the Blackfoot culture and passionate about preserving Indigenous history? Do you dig archaeology and desire to share stories about a place where people have been nourished for thousands of years? Join us in the unique role of Head of Education & Interpretation Services at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site, where you'll lead the development and delivery of memorable experiences for local visitors and guests from around the globe.

Key Responsibilities :

Program Development, Delivery, Promotion, and Assessment :

• Provide education and interpretation programs to diverse audiences, including local school groups, international tourists, independent travelers, and community organizations, ensuring alignment with their unique needs and learning styles.
• Incorporate traditional and western knowledge into authentic programming while upholding ethical and respectful representation of Blackfoot Culture, in accordance with guidance and protocols provided by the site’s Elders advisory group.
• Coordinate education and interpretive programs with other activities occurring at the site, ensuring strong collaboration with marketing and communications, special events, visitor services, and other aspects of operations.
  

Staff Supervision, Training, and Evaluation :

• Provide leadership to full-time and seasonal interpretive guides, overseeing recruitment, training, and performance evaluations.
• Collaborate with program coordinators to assign daily tasks, ensuring seamless delivery of programs and services.
  

Interpretive Planning, Exhibit Development, and Upkeep :

• Develop a diverse range of education and interpretive programming aligned with the site's Interpretation Plan, the UNESCO World Heritage designation, the Heritage Division, and regional/local education and tourism priorities.
• Contribute expertise to exhibition planning and maintenance, ensuring content authenticity and relevance, design excellence, and sustainability.
  

Administration :

• Manage education and interpretation program budgets, allocate resources for various initiatives.
• Facilitate staff training sessions and meetings, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Track program uptake through data collection and survey administration, generating insights for future enhancements.
• Prepare comprehensive reports on program outcomes and recommendations for ongoing improvement.
  

Join us in our mission to promote cross-cultural learning and appreciation of Indigenous heritage. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

• Creative Problem Solving : You will work with coworkers and stakeholders to develop new programs based on current events, ongoing research and community needs. You will need to evaluate and alter program delivery based on visitor feedback and best practices in programming.
• Build Collaborative Environments : You will need to build relationships within the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump team, the Royal Alberta Museum Branch, and Heritage Division, to develop content and materials pertaining to a wide range of programs.
• Agility : You will need to adapt to changing visitor needs, group booking requirements, and audience demands on a daily basis.
• Develop Networks : You will engage with team members from across the Heritage Division, the larger interpretation and education sector, and local community partners, to remain engaged with relevant communities of practice.

Qualifications

University graduation in Education, Indigenous Studies, Tourism, or another related field such as History, Anthropology, Archaeology or Museum Studies, plus 2 years progressively responsible related experience; equivalencies will be considered as described below.

Equivalency : Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of one year of education for one year of experience; OR one year of experience for one year of education.

• The ability to speak the Blackfoot language is desirable, as this position will communicate with Elders and community members and will lead the incorporation of Blackfoot language into education and interpretation programming.
• Knowledge of Blackfoot history, heritage, language, and culture, and similarly of other Plains First Nations cultures, is important to ensure the authenticity and integrity of on-site and off-site programming.
• Understanding of the purpose and work of museums and heritage facilities, including Alberta’s Historic Sites and Museums, as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and other heritage designations in Alberta and Canada.
• First-hand experience in the field of education and interpretation program planning, and experience in creating memorable visitor experiences, that meet specific learning objectives for diverse audiences.
• Considerable experience using Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Professional office and business skills, including budgeting, operational planning, project management, email and phone correspondence, team camaraderie.
• Familiarity with the use of Video Conferencing equipment for distance learning, as well as computer-based applications such as Teams, Zoom and Skype.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to

Notes

This is a full-time permanent position located at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, about 20 minutes northwest of Fort Macleod, Alberta. Hours of work are 36.25 hours/week (7.25hr/day), with normal shifts from 9:30am - 5:15pm (including one 30-minute lunch break). Regular weekend work is required, with days of rest often falling mid-week. Occasional travel for training and program delivery may also be required.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

What we offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service -
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) -
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information -
• Professional learning and development -
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool –
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Leadership and mentorship programs

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)( or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application. Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level. We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted. If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Dana Polutnik at [email protected] .