Environmental Protection Officer

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about safeguarding Alberta’s environment and public health? Do you bring a strong foundation in environmental science, regulatory inspections, and a commitment to making a difference? If so, we invite you to explore a meaningful career as an Environmental Protection Officer.

In this dynamic role, you will be a key player in delivering essential services to industry, municipalities, government partners, and the public. You will apply your expertise to uphold Alberta’s environmental legislation, including the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Water Act, and Climate Change and Emissions Management Act while balancing technical precision with the goals of our compliance assurance program.

You will be part of a collaborative Compliance Team dedicated to protecting Alberta’s rich natural resources. Your work will directly contribute to the responsible stewardship of our environment, ensuring it remains safe, sustainable, and vibrant for all.

Other responsibilities may include:

• Conduct proactive and reactive inspections across regulated sectors such as contaminated sites and industrial facilities.
• Investigate environmental incidents and public complaints, collect evidence, and report findings.
• Apply the principles of Education, Prevention, and Enforcement to promote legislative compliance.
• Lead and mentor junior staff, sharing your knowledge and acting as a technical resource within the team.
• Serve as an Emergency Regional Responder on a rotational 24/7 on-call basis, prioritizing and responding to environmental emergencies.

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: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

How Competencies will apply to this role:

• Drive for Results: You will use your drive for results to engage stakeholders proactively using educational and prevention tools to ensure the rules were understood and followed. As a representative of the Ministry, you will conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner when conducting compliance inspections and investigations and when responding to environmental incidents.
• Creative Problem Solving: You will use your ability to understand and apply the regulatory tools in the compliance assurance framework effectively in a variety of different regulated sectors and situations.
• Systems Thinking: By using a systems thinking approach, you take a broad view of regulating the environment to ensure that the actions you take to address compliance issues are impactful and result in long-term benefits to the environment.
• Develop Networks: You will use your excellent interpersonal skills to build trust and credibility with a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure complex and potentially contentious situations reach compliant outcomes.
• Develop Self and Others: You take your personal and professional development seriously and implement continuous improvement strategies. You share your passion and dedication to excellence to improve the team outcomes.

Qualifications

Requirements: 

• A bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as Environmental Science, Agriculture Studies, or Environmental Enforcement.
• A minimum of 4 years of direct compliance, regulatory and/or enforcement experience. 

or

• A two-year technical diploma in a related field, such as Environmental Science, Agriculture Studies, or Environmental Enforcement.
• A minimum of six years of direct compliance, regulatory and/or enforcement experience. 

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of: 

• 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 
• 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Additional requirements: 

• Valid Driver’s License.

Assets:

• Hands-on experience with regulatory inspections and investigative techniques that support environmental compliance and accountability.
• Familiarity with regulated sectors, especially contaminated sites and industrial operations, where your insights can make a real impact.
• Working knowledge of Alberta’s environmental legislation, including direct application of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and Water Act.
• Strong foundation in environmental practices and technologies, including soil conservation, land reclamation, vegetation management, waste handling, and pesticide application.
• Skilled in environmental sampling, with the ability to collect from diverse media and sources using standardized protocols.
• Analytical mindset to interpret lab results and identify potential non-compliance or environmental harm.
• Sound judgment in applying legislation and regulations during investigations and enforcement actions.
• Tech-savvy with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite to support documentation, reporting, and collaboration.

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

Additional Position Details:

• This is a full-time, permanent position based in Calgary. The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., totaling 36.25 hours per week.
• On-call work will be required in case of environmental emergency situations.
• Some travel may be required; must have a valid Driver’s License.

Recruitment Process:

• Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.
• Please include a resume that outlines your relevant experience and interest in the role. Be sure to include the start and end dates (month and year) for all education and work experience. Also indicate the nature of each role—whether it was casual, part time or full time.
  
  • For example:
    January 15, 2006, to June 25, 2009: Assistant (part time, three 8-hour shifts per week).
• 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 have 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.
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.h as a modified work schedule agreement.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.