Recruitment posting
Alberta Energy Regulator- Hearing Commission
Competition #: 839
Ministry : Energy and Minerals
Opening Date : 2025/01/06
closing Date : 2025/02/03
Role : Chief Hearing Commissioner, Full-time and Part-time Hearing Commissioners
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 is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving as the Chief Hearing Commissioner and Full-time or Part-time Hearing Commissioners of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). .
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) ensures the safe, efficient, orderly, and environmentally responsible development of hydrocarbon and mineral resources in Alberta. This includes allocating and conserving water resources, managing public lands, and protecting the environment while providing economic benefits for all Albertans. The AER provides full life-cycle regulatory oversight of energy and mineral resource development; from application and construction to abandonment and reclamation, and everything in between. For over 75 years, the AER and its predecessor organizations have adapted to meet innovations in technology, new industry activity, and changing societal expectations. The AER is building on this foundation and preparing the province for the next era in energy and mineral regulation.
Chief Hearing Commissioner:
Key responsibilities include:
- Provides leadership to hearing commissioners and staff and is responsible for oversight and management of the Hearing Commissioners’ Office and Hearing Services;
- Provides information to the AER Board of Directors and ensures an adequate interface with the AER CEO and organization;
- Ensures that proceedings conducted and decisions made by hearing commissioners are viewed as procedurally fair, transparent, independent, legally correct and adhering to the requirements of natural justice;
- Ensures hearing commissioners discharge their adjudicative responsibilities and conduct all AER proceedings fairly, expeditiously and in accordance with the public interest and the requirements of administrative law;
- Ensures that hearing commissioners have appropriate professional development opportunities; and
- Chairs and participates on hearing panels and leads and participates in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes, makes decisions, and issues written decisions on energy and mineral resource related activities.
In exercising these duties, the Chief Hearing Commissioner must consider those factors prescribed by the Responsible Energy Development Act and its regulations, including the social, environmental and economic effects of a project.
Full-time and Part-time Hearing Commissioners:
Hearing Commissioners interpret and apply the Responsible Energy Development Act (REDA) and other statutes and regulatory instruments administered by the AER in the performance of their adjudicative and alternative dispute resolution functions.
Key responsibilities include:
- Conduct hearings on applications, regulatory appeals, reconsiderations and inquiries into energy and minerals resource activities.
- Review evidence and submissions, make decisions and prepare written decision. Ensure the provisions of the various acts, regulations and processes of the AER are carried out according to the principles of procedural fairness.
- Serve as panel chair when requested by the Chief Hearing Commissioner.
- Design and lead AER alternative dispute resolution processes (ADRs).
- Identify policy issues and/or regulatory gaps that arise from hearings and ADRs.
- Participate in the development of AER practices, procedures and rules. Participate in the development of new and revised regulatory instruments.
- Maintain knowledge of energy and minerals industry practice, AER regulatory requirements and legislation, administrative law and its application, and economic, environmental and social issues associated with energy and minerals development, including the potential effects on landowners and Indigenous communities.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and AER staff. Mentor and share knowledge with less experienced Hearing Commissioners and/or other AER staff.
The Chief Hearing Commissioner and Hearing Commissioners are required to make decisions on complex matters that may have significant implications for individual companies, the energy and mineral sectors, landowners, Indigenous communities, other stakeholders, the AER and government. In addition to adjudicating and mediating disputes between resource development companies and landowners and other stakeholders, they are often involved in adjudicating and mediating disputes between resource development companies. These disputes often involve very technical matters, such as the impacts of subsurface injection on a subsurface reservoir and resource recovery.
Desired skills and competencies for the Chief Hearing Commissioner include:
- Legal or technical training, and experience in law, engineering, geoscience or environmental science;
- Understanding of the mandate of the AER and relevant energy and environment legislation;
- Understanding of energy and mineral industry operations and the economic effects of these industries;
- Exceptional leadership, interpersonal and oral and written communications skills;
- Demonstrated ability to foster an open and collaborative work environment that values efficiency and innovation;
- Ability to navigate complex and changing policy, regulatory and organizational requirements;
- A strong aptitude for adjudicative decision making which includes fairness, good listening skills; open mindedness, sound judgement, tact, and the ability to interpret legislation;
- Ability to organize and analyze complex evidence (written and oral);
- An ability to write clear, well-reasoned decisions that take into account the evidence, law and policy;
- Experience designing and leading alternative dispute resolution processes (facilitation, mediation, arbitration); and
- Experience presiding over or participating in public hearings.
Desired skills competencies for Hearing Commissioners include:
- Legal or Technical training, and experience in law, engineering, geoscience or environmental sciences;
- Experience as a statutory or quasi-judicial decision maker within a regulatory setting;
- Senior leadership experience in a complex and dynamic environment and exceptional interpersonal and communication skills;
- Understanding of the mandate of the AER and relevant energy and environment legislation;
- Understanding of energy and mineral industry operations and the economic effects of these industries;
- Understanding of and open to the interests and issues of Indigenous communities and familiarity with the legal framework and evolving case law related to Indigenous constitutional rights;
- Understanding of and open to the interests of landowners and other stakeholders;
- Ability to organize and analyze complex evidence (written and oral); and
- Good writing skills – an ability to write clear, well-reasoned decisions that take into account the evidence, law and policy.
Education
The minimum educational requirement is a Bachelors Degree in engineering, geoscience, environmental science, public policy, law or a related field.
The Government of Alberta is committed to offering qualified Albertans the opportunity to be considered as members on Alberta’s public agencies, boards and commissions. To help ensure that Albertans are well-represented on boards and commissions, we invite applicants from all backgrounds who embody a range of knowledge, skills and expertise to apply.
Under REDA section 11(1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council is responsible for establishing a roster of Hearing Commissioners consisting of a Chief Hearing Commissioner and other such individuals as required, and determining the compensation for each new appointee.
Chief Hearing Commissioner:
- The Chief Hearing Commissioner is subject to the principles outlined in the Reform of Agencies, Boards, and Commissions Act and its regulations and will be subject to any future changes to the Act and regulations.
- Compensation is set by the Base Salary Schedule at Level 4 ($195,154 - $264,031).
- Annual public disclosure of compensation and the contract of employment are required for this position.
- Information on compensation and benefits can be found here: https://www.alberta.ca/abc-compensation.aspx#toc-1.
- The Chief Hearing Commissioner works out of the AER’s Calgary or Edmonton offices and works full-time hours.
Full-time Hearing Commissioner:
- The salary range for full-time Hearing Commissioners is $162,583 – $219,966 as per the Reform of Agencies, Boards and Commissions Compensation Act (RABCCA).
- Full-time Hearing Commissioners work out of the AER’s Calgary or Edmonton offices and work full- time hours.
Part-time Hearing Commissioner
- Part-time Hearing Commissioners receive a base salary of $30,000 and an additional amount of $937.50 per day for the time necessarily spent in performance of duties as a Hearing Commissioner, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
- Part-time Hearing Commissioners may reside anywhere in Alberta and work hours that vary depending upon the number and nature of the files to which they are assigned.
The Chief Hearing Commissioner and Hearing Commissioners are required to travel to Edmonton, Calgary and various other locations in the province where Hearing Commissioner activities occur. Travel is required for both full-time and part-time Hearing Commissioners.
The AER offers a flexible work program – hybrid work and flexible hours.
Please clearly indicate in your cover letter if you are applying for the Chief Hearing Commissioner, Full-time or Part-time Hearing Commissioners roles.
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.
Applications received thru the e-PAAS online system will be forwarded to Executive Search.
The posting may be used to fill current and future public agency vacancies.
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.