Senior Policy Advisor, Energy and Minerals Resource Access

Role Responsibilities

The opportunity to influence and shape the future of land use in Alberta; the prospect of impacting environmental, resource, and people policies; and the incredible chance to work with passionate planners and policy professionals is at your fingertips with this exciting Senior Policy Advisor position at Alberta Energy and Minerals.

In this role, you will be relied on as Alberta Energy and Minerals’ subject matter expert on key files such as regional and sub-regional land use planning, caribou planning, Eastern Slopes planning, Mineral Rights Compensation Regulation, and management of cumulative impacts to Treaty rights, to name a few. To excel in this engaging role, you will draw upon your systems thinking and creative problem-solving skills to collaborate with external stakeholders and stakeholders across the department and cross-ministry to achieve results on major long-term projects and initiatives. Utilizing your relationships and wide network of colleagues and professional contacts, you will be challenged to achieve objectives through others (sometimes with varying goals and outcomes) and seek unique solutions to multi-faceted problems. You will be responsible for representing the Ministry on policy initiatives and issues, to ensure relevant perspectives related to management of the Crown’s energy and mineral resources are integrated throughout the policy cycle.

From a technical perspective, you will undertake research, review data, and consult with ministry and cross-ministry colleagues as well as stakeholders to determine impacts of potential policy options on provincial priorities for energy and mineral resource development. The use of GIS systems, interpretation of maps and land-use plans, and creation of technical reports will be a critical part of this role. The Senior Policy Advisor will also be a key negotiator on contracts and agreements with other ministries and federal departments; therefore, a strong political acumen and tact will be required to get our negotiations across the finish line.

Come join our team to make a lasting impact on major planning and resource development initiatives across Alberta!

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: You will navigate to integrate diverse policy factors and communicate complex impacts, cross-sector impacts to Energy decision-makers. This position must develop a shared understanding about Alberta Energy and Minerals’ obligations regarding access to resources, including impacts on aboriginal and treaty rights and jurisdictional issues with different levels of government.
• Creative Problem Solving: You will demonstrate the ability to approach complex challenges with innovative thinking and practical solutions. The Senior Policy Advisor applies analytical skills and creativity to evaluate options, anticipate obstacles, and implement effective strategies that align with organizational goals.
• Build Collaborative Environments: The Senior Policy Advisor is skilled in the areas of relationship building and creating collaborative work to ensure expert insight and analysis are conveyed in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Agility: You will demonstrate agility by navigating shifting priorities from long-term planning to urgent issues like litigation, while maintaining focus, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset. Your ability to plan and incorporate project management principles will ensure that timelines are met, and plan can pivot where required.

Qualifications

A university degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resource Science, Urban and Regional Planning, Geography, Political Science, Economics, Engineering, or Public Policy/Administration plus six years of progressively responsible related experience is required. Related experience may include policy analysis and recommendations; research and creation of technical reports; working on initiatives with multi-disciplinary stakeholders; public consultation and engagement; and/or experience with long-term planning initiatives.

A Master of Urban and Regional Planning, Master of Planning, or Master of Public Policy degree plus 4 years of related experience as described above would be considered equivalent.

Other equivalencies may be considered on the basis of 1 year of directly related education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of directly related experience for 1 year of education.

Asset skills and experience:

• Experience working in the public sector.
• Experience working within Alberta’s Crown mineral tenure system or Crown land management system.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience with contracts and legal documents.
• Advanced skills and experience with GIS programs.
• Knowledge of resource and environmental policy issues, including those that involve Indigenous communities and Treaty rights.

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:
•    36.25 hours per week (full time) Monday to Friday.

Term of Employment:
•    This is a full-time permanent position.

Location:
•    Petroleum Plaza Building North Tower, Edmonton.

Other Information:

Please provide a cover letter and resume outlining how your education, skills, and experience meet the required and asset qualifications of the position. Please be sure to outline the technical/mapping programs you have used in your current and previous roles.

A written assessment may be used as a part of screening or selection.

Final candidates will be required to undergo an academic credentials verification.

Successful candidates will be required to disclose any business or financial interests, including the owning of shares or financial investments in the energy sector, to comply with the Department of Energy & Minerals’ Supplementary Code of Conduct.

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.

Notes: continued

What the Government of Alberta has to offer:

• 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.