Recruitment posting
Alberta Energy Regulator- Board of Directors
Competition #: 838
Ministry : Energy and Minerals
Opening Date : 2025/01/06
closing Date : 2025/01/20
Role : Board Director
It is recognized in Alberta as a fundamental principle and as a matter of public policy that all persons are equal. Diversity and inclusion are valued and supported on the boards of Alberta's public agencies.
The Minister of Energy and Minerals and the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas are seeking applications from individuals to fill the positions of four Board Directors for the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER).
The AER’s mandate is to ensure the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of energy and mineral resources over their entire life cycle. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans. Recently the Government of Alberta set a policy direction for the AER to expand its mandate beyond hydrocarbons to include regulation of deep geothermal along with critical rare earth and other minerals.
The Government of Alberta created the AER in 2013 when it proclaimed the Responsible Energy Development Act. However, energy regulation in Alberta spans over 90 years. The AER took on regulatory functions related to energy development that were previously held by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (now Alberta Environment and Protected Areas) and combined them with the regulatory functions of the Energy Resources Conservation Board.
The AER has a clear strategy to fulfill its mandate, reach its vision of regulatory excellence, and deliver results for all Albertans.
The Government of Alberta gives the AER authority to ensure that companies develop the province’s hydrocarbon, geothermal and mineral resources in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible fashion. The AER:
- Reviews applications and makes decisions on proposed energy, geothermal and mineral resource developments;
- Oversees all aspects of energy, geothermal and mineral resource activities in accordance with government policies;
- Regularly inspects energy activities to ensure that all applicable requirements are met;
- Enforces rules to ensure that companies comply with AER requirements; and
- Holds hearings on proposed energy, geothermal and mineral developments.
The AER implements policy set forth by the Government of Alberta.
The AER’s role is to enforce rules and regulations around energy, geothermal and mineral resource development, taking direction from government policy. The AER is also responsible for regulating:
- Over 447,000 kilometres of pipelines
- Over 157,000 operating oil and natural gas wells
- Over 26,000 oil facilities
- Over 18,000 gas facilities
- Over 155 operating oilfield waste management facilities
- 157 primary/enhanced recovery in situ projects
- 26 thermal recovery in situ projects
- 8 operating oil sands mines
- 5 operating bitumen upgraders
- 5 operating coal mines
- 5 decommissioning coal mines
- 1 decommissioning coal processing plant
- 1 geo-thermal well
- 6 brine-hosted mineral facilities and wells
- 35 rock-hosted minerals surface mines
Few organizations steward such a large and varied mix of energy resources and infrastructure as the AER.
The organization oversees the world’s third largest established reserves:
- 1.8 billion barrels of conventional oil
- 158 billion barrels of bitumen
- 24.3 trillion cubic feet of conventional natural gas
- 36 billion tons of coal
Reporting to the Ministers of Energy and Minerals and Environment and Protected Areas, the Board is accountable for ensuring that the AER fulfills its statutory powers, mandate, and functions. The Board of Directors have a significant role to play in the AER’s success by overseeing the governance and management of the AER’s business and affairs.
Board Director Responsibilities:
- Guide the vision and mission of the AER and provide strategic leadership to the organization.
- Implement governance processes that align with AER’s vision, mission, and strategic priorities.
- Champion AER regulatory practices and regulatory frameworks to ensure relevancy, effectiveness and sustainment of regulatory models and instruments.
- Ensure that the AER makes decisions through fair and transparent processes.
- Ensure that the AER acts in alignment with Government of Alberta policy.
- Review operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures and systems to ensure operating effectiveness of the organization.
- Oversee the recruitment, direction, and evaluation of the performance of the AER’s Chief Executive Officer.
- Approve and monitor the AER’s long-term strategic plan, which includes performance measures and targets.
- Ensure that all staff comply with the AER’s code of conduct.
- Review and monitor principal enterprise risks and mitigation measures.
- Annually review and approve the written mandate of established committees, including:
- The Audit and Finance Committee
- The Governance Committee
- The Human Resources, Health, and Safety Committee
- The Regulatory Review Committee
- Monitor the financial performance of the AER, ensuring that the financial results are reported on a timely and regular basis.
- Approve and monitor internal audit processes and meet annually with the Office of the Auditor General of Alberta to review results.
- Assist with the development, communication, and implementation of effective regulatory and operational strategies, and processes.
- Promote and participate in an environment of openness, collegiality, fairness, trust, respect and professionalism within the AER.
- Promote the AER by representing the AER position and strategic directions to external stakeholders.
- Implement processes and procedures consistent with the Board’s values of accountability, transparency and public service.
In our search for Board Directors, we are looking for individuals who can demonstrate these key competencies:
- Regulatory experience: experience working within a regulatory system, preferably in the energy and/or mineral exploration and development sectors.
- Energy and environmental experience: broad technical knowledge in energy and/or mineral resources, engineering, earth sciences, and environmental sciences.
- Financial experience, including audit knowledge and oversight of risk management.
- Working knowledge of and experience with indigenous relations.
- Information management and technology: IT and the broader information services and management.
- Industry group and community relations.
- Legal – experience with administrative and/or regulatory laws.
- Business acumen.
- Sound governance experience.
- High ethical standards and accountability.
- Understanding of a regulatory agency’s accountability/relationship with government.
- Strategic leadership experience.
- Demonstrated experience with culture management and transformation.
- Human resources management.
Supplementary competencies include:
- Proactive rather than reactive: ability to think ahead and anticipate problems, solutions, and opportunities.
- Strong interpersonal skills (team player, collegial, collaborative).
- Strong organizational leadership credentials.
- Broad perspective as a “strategic thinker” and demonstrate creativity and passion for innovation.
- Shows integrity, accountability, and impartiality.
- Committed, adaptable, and an effective communicator
Specialized Knowledge and Experience:
- Understanding of Indigenous consultation in environmental assessments and other regulatory matters as they pertain to the energy and mineral exploration and development industries.
- Understanding of the research and innovation landscape (regional, national, international) is an asset.
- Knowledge in one or more of the following areas is required:
- Energy and mineral exploration and development
- Environmental remediation and reclamation
- Indigenous relations
- IT project oversight and data management
There are approximately seven (7) Board meeting dates and four (4) Committee meeting dates per year for Board Directors and these meetings typically cover one (1) day. Meetings are primarily held in either Calgary or Edmonton but may also be held around the province at other AER offices on occasion, which would then see it as possibly two (2) days to allow for required travel time.
The Board Director will receive a retainer of $112,500 per year during the member’s term of appointment (Remuneration is subject to change).
Remuneration and expenses will be paid in accordance with the Travel, Meal, and Hospitality Expenses policy and the AER Board Director Expense Submission Process and Allowance Guidelines.
In addition to your cover letter and resume, we require a biography. Click HERE to download the biography form.
Once the forms are completed, save them to your PC. When you click on submit application, you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop or upload your completed biography form and others requested into the ‘Drop files below or click to upload’ section.
Please note: This ad will close on January 20, 2025, or until suitable candidate found.
Executive Search, Alberta Public Service Commission
Phone: 780-408-8460
Carefully read the Recruitment Posting and the Position Profile to ensure this is an appropriate opportunity for you. Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements.
Online applications are preferred. To apply, click on the 'apply' button, create or sign into your account in the ePAAS system; upload your resume, view the listing under Current Opportunities and click on 'submit application'. The uploaded resume will be automatically attached.
Provide a short 4 line biography using the Biography template found under additional documents section. Your biography should include your name, current work experience, board/committee experience and relevant education. Please note that biographies may be edited for length and clarity.
Once your biography and other required form(s) are completed, save it to your PC. When you hit 'submit application', you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop (or upload) your completed cover letter, biography and other form(s) into the 'Drop files below or click to upload' section before clicking the 'apply' button.
If you are unable to apply online, please submit a cover letter and resume, quoting the recruitment posting competition number, to the contact provided on the posting. We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to assess which candidates' qualifications most closely match the agency's requirements. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted to advance to the next step in the appointment process. You can check the status of each competition on-line at https://www.alberta.ca/public-agencies.cfm.
The personal information in ePAAS is collected pursuant to section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information will be used to administer and manage recruitment for current and future public agency appointment opportunities. Questions regarding the collection, use, or disclosure of this information, may be directed to the Public Agency Secretariat, Public Service Commission, 3rd Floor, Peace Hills Trust Tower, 10011 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8 or by calling 780-644-3060. Applicants will be required to identify any real or perceived conflicts of interest and may be required to undergo additional screening.
Please Note: Successful applicants will have the following information about them made publicly available on the Public Agency Secretariat Website: name, biography, public agency, and position title.