Locations: Calgary Head Office, Edmonton Regional Office
Employment Type: Limited Term - 7 months
Wetlands Specialist
The Opportunity
The Regulatory Applications Branch is currently recruiting for a Wetlands Specialist to join its talented team of professionals responsible for assessing and making recommendations on project applications and representing the wetlands discipline on a variety of multi-stakeholder groups and projects. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply their expertise across the full lifecycle of development, from the initiation stage at the time of application extending into end of life through remediation and reclamation. While the work we do is dynamic and critical to upholding the mandate of the AER we never lose focus on upholding our cultural values of supporting one another and prioritizing personal wellness, professional development, and work-life balance.
The Wetlands Specialist will be relied upon as an expert in the area of wetland ecology to protect wetland ecosystems in alignment with regulatory requirements and to provide risk-informed and science-based recommendations to the decision maker. The role requires interacting with a large suite of technical and regulatory professionals, clearly articulating risks associated with each application, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, primarily applicants and government partners, and drafting proposals and recommendations for the leadership team to consider.
Your Key Responsibilities:
- As part of a multi-discipline team, review applications and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all oil, gas, and coal development in the province that have the potential to impact surface water resources. Provides technical conditions and requirements for approvals related to sampling, monitoring, research and reporting. Develops research and monitoring requirements, decision reports, approval conditions and discussions of research results with industry.
- Provide expertise and technical advice/analysis to AER public hearing panels and the Alternate Dispute Resolution process. This includes direct support to the Panel during the information gathering phase, participation in the hearing process, and decision report writing.
- Work with a diverse network of experts across industry, academia and government to remain current on emerging issues, identify policy gaps and support policy initiatives with a view towards their practical application to energy sector activities and AER business processes. Participate in the development and lead the implementation of new government policy, regulatory frameworks, Directives and cumulative effects management. Develop strategies for improving industry regulation and AER procedures related to aquatic ecosystems and wetlands.
- Support and provide expertise to inspectors, approval coordinators and consultants on mitigation and monitoring requirements and remedial strategies related to unplanned release events, incidents, non-compliance and/or investigations.
- Perform desktop surveillance activities and reviews of annual submissions to assess and make recommendations on industry performance and compliance related to regulations and approval conditions.
- Support subject area initiatives and support enterprise projects by providing technical direction for implementation to core business processes and systems.
- Provide guidance to staff at various levels across the enterprise to support core application and compliance functions. Support and assist the training and educational initiatives for AER staff.
- Support enterprise projects by providing scientific guidance and input, assisting with the implementation into our core business functions and collaborating with stakeholders (internal and external) as necessary.
Qualifications :
- University degree in biological sciences, aquatic ecosystem ecology or environmental biology with a focus on wetland ecology or freshwater aquatic management.
- Applicants must have 7-10 years of regulatory/industry experience in areas of wetland ecology and management.
- Strong knowledge of wetland ecology.
- Strong knowledge of EPEA, Water Act, Public Land Act, and Oil Sands Conservation Act.
- Strong technical knowledge of industrial processes related to mining (coal and oil sands), conventional oil & gas, in situ, and pipelines to support all enterprise sectors.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate highly technical concepts to various stakeholders.
- Strong multi-stakeholder collaboration skills.
Additional Requirements/Information:
- All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.
- Registered or eligible to be registered as a Professional Biologist with Alberta Society of Professional Biologists.
AER Hybrid Work Model Trial
We understand the way we do our work has changed and our employees are looking for flexibility with a blend of in-office and remote work. Following the work from home orders being lifted, the AER will be trialing a hybrid work model to live, learn and adapt our flexible work arrangements in a way that works for our business and our employees.
What does our hybrid work trial model look like?
- Combination of in-office and remote work based on your preference and business needs!
- Flexible work hours, while committing to being available during our core hours of 9:00am – 3:00pm.
If you choose to participate in the hybrid model, you will:
- Be provided with an AER computer or laptop when working in the office.
- Need to have access to a personal computer when working from home (unless assigned an AER laptop - dependant on business need).
- Have a high-speed internet connection with a minimum of 50 Mbps for downloads and 30 Mbps for uploads when working remotely.
Benefits at the AER
- Flexible benefits program
- Work/Life Balance time off programs
- Healthcare spending account
- Voluntary Group Savings Programs
- Employee & Family Assistance Program
- Visit our careers page for more details on all the AER has to offer!
For Internal Applicants Only
- Under the AER's Classification Framework this position is a SP3 – Level 5
- In the event a current AER employee would like to apply for an internal posting, the employee will inform their leader prior to submitting their application.
- Please note: Should an individual with the required qualifications not be available, applicants with closely related qualifications may be considered. As a result, the position may be redesigned and/or reclassified.
- This position is eligible as a Temporary Assignment. Should the successful employee be a permanent employee, they would retain their permanent status for the term of the contract and potentially be eligible for Acting Pay as per the AER's Compensation Policy. At the end of the assignment, the employee would either return to their current role or be reassigned to an equivalent role within the organization.
Please note, this job advertisement will close on April 12, 2022, at midnight.
Job Type: Full-time