Crop Assurance Specialist

Role Responsibilities

Ready to take the next step in your career in agriculture? Join us as a Crop Assurance Specialist and develop your expertise while supporting crop health and assurance in Alberta’s Peace Region. You’ll collaborate with regulatory partners, apply your agricultural knowledge, and gain experience working with programs, policies, and legislation that support Alberta’s agriculture sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and conduct interdisciplinary regulatory and policy research.
• Engage stakeholders and provide recommendations for changes to crop legislation and policies.
• Ensure awareness and updates on crop and bee health initiatives.
• Create and present concepts for crop health assurance strategies.
• Develop and deliver presentations, reports, articles, and fact sheets.
• Provide professional advisory services in crop health.
• Maintain awareness of current legislation, regulations, policies, and best practices for the agriculture and food sectors.

Work Environment:

You will work in a dynamic environment, collaborating with various stakeholders including provincial, municipal, and national government agencies, agriculture service boards, agricultural research associations, plant/crop commodity groups, industry group representatives, and staff from other sectors of Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) and GoA departments. You will have the potential opportunity to impact Alberta’s agricultural policies and programs.

The Job Description is provided for further details on 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.

Systems Thinking- Takes a long-term view towards organization’s objectives and how to achieve them:

• Takes holistic long-term view of challenges and opportunities
• Anticipates outcomes and potential impacts, seeks stakeholder perspectives
• Works towards actions and plans aligned with APS values
• Works with others to identify areas for collaboration

Drive for Results - Takes and delegates responsibility for outcomes:

• Uses variety of resources to monitor own performance standards
• Acknowledges even indirect responsibility
• Commits to what is good for Albertans even if not immediately accepted
• Reaches goals consistent with APS direction

Creative Problem Solving - Works in open teams to share ideas and process issues:

• Uses wide range of techniques to break down problems
• Allows others to think creatively and voice ideas
• Brings the right people together to solve issues
• Identifies new solutions for the organization

Build Collaborative Environments - Involves a wide group of stakeholders when working on outcomes:

• Involves stakeholders and shares resources
• Positively resolves conflict through coaching and facilitated discussion
• Uses enthusiasm to motivate and guide others
• Acknowledges and works with diverse perspectives for achieving outcomes

Develop Self and Others - Encourages development and integration of emerging methods:

• Shapes group learning for team development
• Employs emerging methods towards goals
• Creates a shared learning environment
• Works with individuals to develop personal development plans

Develop Networks - Makes working with a wide range of parties an imperative:

• Creates impactful relationships with the right people
• Ensures needs of varying groups are represented
• Goes beyond to meet stakeholder needs
• Ensures all needs are heard and understood

Qualifications

University graduation in Science, Agriculture, Biology or any other related field, plus three (3) years’ experience in government program policy planning and delivery or related.

Equivalency: Related master’s degree considered in lieu of part of the three years of related experience on a one-for-one basis.

Additional Requirements:

• Eligible to become either a Professional Agrologist with the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) or a Professional Biologist with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists.
• Experience with the Canadian Western Cropping Systems.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.

Assets:

• Working knowledge and familiarity with the agriculture industry, farming/ranching, and invasive species, as well as collaborating with multiple stakeholders.
• Working knowledge and experience with relevant Government of Alberta (GOA) legislation, particularly the ASB Act, the Weed Control Act, the Agricultural Pest Act, and the Soil Conservation Act.
• Experience and knowledge in policy development.
• Extensive track record and comfort in traveling across rural Alberta under various weather conditions and engaging with rural Albertans in remote locations.
• Experience in creating compelling presentations and delivering speeches to large audiences.
• Comprehension of Ministry Business/Strategic Plans and possessing political acumen.
• Excellent data analysis, writing and computer skills

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Position Information: 

• Location: Peace River or Peace Country Region (Grande Prairie or Fairview)
• Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week (permanent full-time)
• Monday to Friday (08:15 am-16:30 pm) 
• Evening and weekend work is sometimes required      

Other Application Information:

• A cover letter is required with your application, outlining how your education and experience align with the role.
• Final candidates may be required to undergo a written test demonstrating writing skills and abilities pre or post interviews.
• This position may require final candidates to undergo a security clearance.
• 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.
• 55th to 57th parallels retention allowance.
   

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)  
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.