Lands Program Specialist

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about conservation, policy, and program delivery? Do you enjoy turning strategy into action and working with diverse partners to deliver meaningful environmental outcomes? The Lands Program Specialist plays a key role in advancing Alberta’s private land conservation objectives through the design, delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement of grant programs, land purchases, and policy initiatives. This role offers the opportunity to lead complex, high‑impact work that directly supports conservation outcomes across the province.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the end‑to‑end delivery of provincially administered private land conservation programs, including grant funding and land purchase initiatives.
• Manage program intake, application review processes, approvals, grant agreements, contract administration, and reporting requirements.
• Coordinate and support grant review committees, synthesize recommendations, and provide advice to management and senior leadership.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on program outcomes, budgets, risks, and performance to ensure effective stewardship of public funds.
• Develop and prepare briefings, decision materials, reports, and presentations for internal and external audiences.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal partners and external stakeholders such as municipalities, conservation organizations, producers, and landowners.
• Support policy and program development, including research, analysis, and implementation of legislation, policies, tools, and frameworks related to private land conservation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to enhance program effectiveness and delivery.

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.

Please be advised that there will be a competency-based interview for this competition. The behavioral competencies that have been deemed as critical for this role include:

• Creative Problem Solving: You approach private land conservation and program delivery challenges with sound judgment and adaptability, analyzing complex information to identify practical, defensible solutions.
• Build Collaborative Environments: You foster respectful, inclusive, and productive working relationships with internal teams and a wide range of external partners, including municipalities, conservation organizations, landowners, and Indigenous partners.
• Systems Thinking: You consider broader impacts, risks, and long‑term implications to ensure private land conservation initiatives align with government priorities and support responsible, sustainable land stewardship across Alberta.
• Drive for Results: You take accountability for delivering high‑quality, timely work in a complex and evolving environment. You effectively manage competing priorities, deadlines, and program requirements while ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with legislation, policy, and funding agreements.

Qualifications

Requirements:

• University graduation with a focus on Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Biology, or a related field.
• Minimum Four (4) years of related experience supporting land‑based programs, regulatory or program delivery, Policy development or legislative implementation.
• A valid Class 5 drivers license is also required.

Equivalency:
Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:
•    1 years of education for 1 year of experience; or
•    1 year of experience for 1 year education.

Assets:

• Experience administering or evaluating grant funding programs.
• Familiarity with private land conservation, ecosystem services, or land‑use planning.
• Experience working with external stakeholders, Indigenous communities, NGOs, or multi‑stakeholder committees.
• Knowledge of provincial legislation, policies, and government decision‑making processes.
• Experience preparing briefing materials for senior leadership.
• Familiarity with Environment and Protected Areas Legislation.

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 full-time permanent position is based in Edmonton.

This position works Monday to Friday, 8:15 AM-4:30 PM, 36.25 hours a week.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.

In your application, please include a cover page detailing your interest, and role related experience.

For Employment Experience:

• Please indicate duration of employment (month, year).
• Please specify employment status (i.e., casual, part-time or full-time).
• Ex: Youth Worker, Jan 2006 - June 2009, Part-time (8-hour shifts/week).

For any Post-Secondary Education:

• Please specify your major and length of program.
• Please specify the year you graduated.
• Ex: Bachelor of Social Work, 4-year Degree (Graduated 2017).

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.