Rangeland Program Specialist

Role Responsibilities

Are you a technical expert passionate about sustainable land management, ecological stewardship, and collaborative problem-solving? This advanced professional opportunity offers the chance to play a pivotal role in supporting Alberta’s rangelands by providing specialized expertise in recreational access on grazing leases, feral horse science and management, terrestrial invasive species, and provincial grazing reserve programs. If you’re motivated to influence policy implementation, strengthen provincial consistency, and work alongside diverse stakeholders, this role offers a meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact on Alberta’s Crown lands.

This position provides advanced technical expertise and program specialization to support integrated Lands Delivery teams, the Rangeland Programs and Issues Lead, and key stakeholders. The role focuses on ensuring provincial consistency and effective implementation of the Recreational Access Regulation, supporting feral horse science and management, coordinating terrestrial invasive species initiatives, and strengthening oversight of the Provincial Grazing Reserves (PGR) program. Through collaboration with government partners, municipalities, industry stakeholders, and ENGOs, the position contributes to effective regulatory assurance, responsible resource management, and efficient program delivery across Alberta’s rangelands and Crown lands.

Role Responsibilities (Continued)

Your key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing technical and operational expertise to ensure provincial consistency in implementing recreational access on grazing dispositions.
• Leading and supporting key initiatives and undertaking continuous improvement for recreational access on grazing dispositions
• Engaging with stakeholders to understand concerns and challenges related to Crown land management.
• Comprehensive understanding of agricultural public land rental rate practices.
• Calculation of yearly agricultural disposition rental rates and the management of the underlying data sets.
• Supporting Lands Delivery staff to ensure provincial consistency in contract issuance and the prioritization of limited financial resources.
• Coordinating and overseeing operational delivery for the Provincial Grazing Reserves program.
• Supporting program clarity and ensuring consistent provincial implementation of PGR policies and legislation.
• Developing operational guidelines that enable efficient, cost-effective delivery of the PGR program.
• Ensuring alignment of the PGR program with the department’s Regulatory Assurance Model while minimizing administrative burden for patrons and staff.
• Support and development of rangeland resource integration initiatives and projects.
• Responding to action requests and providing expert input on emerging rangeland and land management issues.

If you are ready to contribute your expertise to sustainable rangeland management and the responsible stewardship of Alberta’s Crown Lands, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence programs and policies that support both ecosystems and communities.

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.

Creative Problem Solving:
Works in open teams to share ideas and process issues:

• Uses wide range of techniques to break down problems
• Allows others to think creatively and voice ideas
• Brings the right people together to solve issues
• Identifies new solutions for the organization

Drive for Results:
Takes and delegates responsibility for outcomes:

• Uses variety of resources to monitor own performance standards
• Acknowledges even indirect responsibility
• Commits to what is good for Albertans even if not immediately accepted
• Reaches goals consistent with APS direction

Develop Networks:
Leverages relationships to build input and perspective:

• Looks broadly to engage stakeholders
• Open to perspectives towards long-term goals
• Actively seeks input into change initiatives
• Maintains stakeholder relationships

Build Collaborative Environments:
Collaborates across functional areas and proactively addresses conflict:

• Encourages broad thinking on projects, and works to eliminate barriers to progress
• Facilitates communication and collaboration
• Anticipates and reduces conflict at the outset
• Credits others and gets talent recognized
• Promotes collaboration and commitment

Systems Thinking:
Takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them:

• Takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities
• Anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives
• Works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values
• Works with others to identify areas for collaboration

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
University graduation in Agriculture or a related degree, with appropriate specialization, plus three years related experience; or equivalent as described below. Eligible for membership with the AIA (Alberta Institute of Agrologists).

Equivalency: Related master’s degree considered in lieu of part of the three years of related experience on a one-for-one basis.

Assets:

• Experience working with grazing lease administration or recreational access regulation.
• Familiarity with the Provincial Grazing Reserves program, policy implementation, and budget coordination.
• Experience developing operational guidelines, program procedures, or regulatory assurance frameworks.
• Familiarity with agricultural disposition rental rates and the underlaying calculations.
• Regulatory assurance and rangeland lifecycle management.
• Experience with rangeland ecology, landscape processes and spatial data management.
• Experience and understanding of livestock grazing industry specifically rangeland program development and the integration with policy.
• Experience using Government of Alberta and ministry specific programs and applications.
• Proficiency in ESRI geospatial products (i.e. ArcPro or ArcMap)

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

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This is a full-time permanent position in Edmonton with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday.

Limited travel throughout the province will be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, regulated parties, and other external stakeholders.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.

Application Information:

• In your application, please include a cover page detailing your interest, and role related experience.
• In your resume, include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time or full-time. For example, January 15, 2016 - June 25, 2019: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).
• Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.