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 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. Consultation Process Management

• Provide comprehensive consultation services to ensure the Government of Alberta’s (GoA) duty to consult is met in accordance with AER and GoA ministry mandates.
• Identify and initiate consultation activities for Crown‑ or proponent‑led projects.
• 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.
• Offer guidance and participate in Crown consultation initiatives, providing advice on planning, stakeholder engagement, legal and legislative requirements.
• Interpret and apply the First Nations and Metis Settlements Consultation Policies on Land and Natural Resource Management and associated guidelines
• Review and assess consultation records, logs, and summaries to evaluate adequacy and determine consultation completeness.
• 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.

Role Responsibilities continued

2. Strategic Engagement & Regional Leadership

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks or issues related to First Nations and Métis consultation.
• Support consistent implementation of GoA and ACO consultation frameworks, policies, and procedures.
• Support provincial initiatives such as Land Use Framework, Consultation Policy development, Water Management Tables, and Caribou Management Plans.
• Support Crown‑led consultation on sub‑regional and community‑specific initiatives (e.g., sub‑regional land use plans, water licences, access development plans).

3. Relationship Management & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a key ACO point of contact, building and maintaining effective relationships with First Nations, Métis communities, ministries, AER, federal agencies, industry, municipalities, and other stakeholders.
• Deliver information sessions and workshops to build awareness of GoA and ACO consultation policies and processes.
• Participate in committees and working groups to represent ACO and GoA consultation perspectives.
• Collaborate with the Strategic Engagement and Policy Innovation Branch to support ACO priorities.

4. Issues Management & Continuous Improvement

• Review land‑use and resource‑development information to identify potential legal or political risks and recommend solutions.
• Monitor policies, programs, and initiatives to identify areas for improvement.
• Analyze trends and emerging issues to provide insight to decision‑makers.
• Actively seek and incorporate input from ministries, AER, First Nations, Métis communities, industry, and other partners to enhance consultation processes.

5. Regional Team Contribution

• Contribute to ACO databases (GIS, TLU, ACIS, ERKS‑Livelink) and project‑tracking systems.
• Share lessons learned and insights from engagement with communities and stakeholders.
• Prepare briefing materials, analysis, and responses on consultation matters.
• Provide the Region Lead with advice on opportunities, challenges, and risks, including recommendations for mitigation strategies supporting ACO’s 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 natural resource or environmental management or a related field 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.

Required experience:

• Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with Indigenous communities, proponents, and/or other provincial and federal government representatives. 
• Managing Projects. 

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

• Indigenous issues in the natural resources sector and Natural resource development and economics in Alberta
• EPA and AER’s regulatory approval processes and legislation (Public Lands Act, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Water Act, Mines and Minerals Act, Part 8)
• Working in politically sensitive and/or litigious environment. 

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 hours per week (full-time) Monday to Friday.

Term of Employment:

• Permanent

Location:

•  Edmonton

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

 Written assessment may be used as part of the screening/selection process. 

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 – June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.

Cover letter is Mandatory.

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.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.