Consultation Advisor

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about providing strategic and regulatory consultation processes that balance the needs and interests of a diverse stakeholder group? 

As the Consultation Advisor, you will be reporting to the Region Lead and will function within the parameters of having knowledge of applicable Alberta Energy Regulator (AER ) and Government of Alberta (GOA) Ministries’ legislation, regulations, policies, directives, and procedures. You will be responsible for implementing Alberta’s First Nations and Metis Settlements Consultation Policies and Guidelines on Land and Natural Resource Management in support of AER, Environment and Protected Areas (EPA), and Energy mandates. 

Operating in a highly political, litigious, and technically demanding environment, you must exercise a high degree of mediation skills in order to de-escalate situations and resolve conflicts. In this position you will focus significant effort on relationship-building, mediation, consensus-building, and negotiation amongst multiple stakeholders, including representatives of First Nations, Tribal Councils, Métis communities, industry, and different levels of government where interpretation and understanding of technical, cultural, and traditional information is required to facilitate a common understanding. Solving complex problems, for which there are often few or no prior solutions, you must integrate experience and knowledge of past and present relationships, initiatives, stakeholders, and legal responsibilities to implement and manage consultative initiatives. You will also provide input into policy development and initiatives, as well as leading and/or participating on various internal and external committees

Responsibilities:
 

1. Provide comprehensive consultation services relating to the mandates of the AER and GoA Ministries to ensure the GoA’s duty to consult has been met.
2. Accountable for advancing strategic engagement and consultation at the regional, sub-regional, and local levels. 
3. Provide an Aboriginal Consultation Office (ACO) point of contact and for developing and maintaining effective working relationships at the regional, sub-regional, and local levels, with individual First Nations, Métis communities, provincial ministries, federal agencies, industry, and other stakeholders to ensure effective communication on GoA Ministry initiatives, public and private sector land use and resource development projects, and information sharing and advice.
4. Identify consultation issues to collaborate on improving the consultation/engagement processes, frameworks, and guidelines between First Nations, Metis, GoA Ministries, the AER, and other stakeholders.
5. As a member of the Regional Team, you will contribute to the effective and efficient delivery of the ACO mandate.

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.

• Systems Thinking: to identify emerging issues, challenges, and opportunities, provide options for resolution and develop recommendations to prevent or mitigate legal or political risk associated with consultation initiatives. 
• Build Collaborative Environments: Teamwork-oriented to collaborate with ministry staff to plan, implement and assess specific programs to ensure the delivery of an integrated consultation program across the province.
• Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
• Develop Networks: Proactively develop and maintain effective partnerships with multiple stakeholders to ensure a clear understanding of diverse interests when supporting the engagement of Indigenous communities and the achievement of collaborative outcomes. 
• Agility: anticipate and adapt by focusing on long-term goals, changing the way we approach situations, using new ideas and solutions to achieve results 

Qualifications

University graduation in a related field (natural resources/environmental management, etc) plus four years progressively responsible related experience; or equivalent as described below. 

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

Experience: 

• Working experience leading and supporting initiatives (e.g. consultation, policy, etc.)
• Previously holding role(s) where one of the responsibilities was to establish and maintain positive working relationships with Indigenous communities, proponents, and/or other provincial and federal government representatives. 
• Previous working experience in a politically sensitive and/or litigious environment. 
• Experience managing projects.

Knowledge and/or experience of the following are considered assets:

• Indigenous issues in the natural resources sector
• Crown Treaty rights and obligations, provincially and federally
• Government of Alberta’s First Nations and Metis Settlements Consultation Policies on Land and Natural Resource Management and associated Guidelines
• Alberta First Nations and Métis communities, Aboriginal history, culture, rights, case law and legal issues  
• Natural resource development and economics in Alberta
• EPA and AER’s approval processes and legislation (Public Lands Act, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Water Act, Mines and Minerals Act, Part 8)

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

Hours of Work

• 7.25 daily hours
• 36.25 weekly hours (Monday to Friday)

Position Requirements: 

• Valid Class 5 Drivers license 
• Ability to travel throughout the province (approximately 10-15%)
• Top candidates may be required to undergo security screening.

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Other Application Information:

• A cover letter outlining how your experience relates to the qualifications of this role is required and may be used to assess your communication abilities.
• Written assessment may be used as part of the screening/selection process.

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. 

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.