Meet Master of Public Administration Alumni, Sean Mckie
Recently, the Faculty of Graduate Studies chatted with Public Administration alumni, Sean McKie, who discusses their graduate experience and current role in the public sector.
When did you graduate from your Master in Public Administration program?
I graduated from the MPA program in October 2017.
Can you tell us about your academic background and what led you to choose MPA program?
As a history major who pursued a diverse course of study on everything from classics, to Canadian history, to the history of science, the MPA program always appealed to me for the unique and broad blend courses offered. From courses on organizational and political theory, to public finance and leadership, to on-the-job learning opportunities, I felt the program would provide an ideal stepping stone to further refine the critical thinking and writing skills I developed in my undergraduate History degree, and to learn to apply them in a professional public sector context.
The tipping point for me however, was the co-op component of the MPA program which provides students with real-world work experience in a public sector organization. As someone who knew that I wanted to transition out of academia and into the professional world (preferably public sector), the ability to build on-the-job experience was very attractive.
Can you talk about your experience in the MPA program?
What stands out most for me about my time in the program are the personal and professional connections I was able to build. Because the program is structured around a cohort model, students get the opportunity to get to know their classmates and professors on a deeper level than what is possible in other programs. I always felt a true sense of community and spent most of my time outside of the classroom with fellow students working on group projects, planning and participating in student union activities, or just debating and discussing politics and issues from our seminars over a few pints.
Academically, the MPA program challenged me to broaden my interests and pursue topics and issues not only from an academic or theoretical lens, but from a practical solution-oriented perspective. This was aided by the excellent professors – many of whom have themselves worked in public sector roles. In addition to the excellent co-op work experiences I was able to have, this unique mix of theoretical and practical instruction provided by the program continues to benefit me to this day when navigating complex challenges.
Can you tell us a bit about your role as a Workforce Management Advisor?
As a Workforce Management Advisor with the Manitoba government, I am part of a three person team within Labour Relations that assists our human resources staff and department leadership to plan and implement major changes across government. Workforce changes can take many different forms but typically include: reorganizing departments and/or divisions, work teams and reporting relationships; changing work headquarters; devolving services to a broader public sector entity; or contracting out work.
Day to day, my role typically consists of analyzing proposed changes, determining potential impacts to employees, evaluating relevant collective agreement, legislation and policy requirements, and providing advice and recommendations to senior leadership in departments on how best to proceed with the changes they are seeking to implement. This work is completed with a view to satisfying not only the needs of the department and the change initiative in question, but also government’s broader mandate, objectives, and longer-term strategic considerations.
As no two workforce changes are ever the same, the role of Workforce Management Advisor is typically fast-paced, exciting, and provides a unique opportunity to impact all areas of the organization and learn how government functions system-wide.
You are a guest on a panel a titled "Graduate Student and Alumni Panel: A Career in the Public Service" on Wednesday March 24 from 9am-10am.
Can you tell us what students may expect for the session?
Students can expect to hear about my experiences as a former graduate student at the University of Winnipeg transitioning from my time in the MPA program into a career in the public service. In particular, I hope to share why I chose a career in public service, what the day-to-day of a public servant looks like, how a graduate degree can help prepare you for public service, and the value in taking advantage of co-op work opportunities and internships as a graduate student or recent grad.
Thank you so much for taking some time out of this busy time of the year! Good luck with speaking engagement!
Contact Dylan Jones at d.jones@uwinnipeg.ca if you want to register for the panel: Graduate Student and Alumni Panel: A Career in the Public Service.