Senior Specialist, Soil

Location: Calgary, Edmonton, AB preferred. Any AER office location will be considered

Employment Type: Full Time – Permanent

Salary Range: SP4, Level 6, $113,564 - $141,955 per year. The final compensation for this position will be determined based on individual factors, including education, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Senior Specialist, Soil - Hybrid

The Opportunity

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is currently recruiting for a Senior Specialist, Soil to join its talented team of professionals in the Regulatory Applications Branch. As the Senior Specialist you will work within the Mining team and provide technical knowledge in areas of Soil Conservation, Reclamation and Contamination Management across the province.

This role also extends to the related disciplines of reclamation, wetland ecology, monitoring and tailings management. As the Senior Specialist you will be responsible for providing technical and science-based recommendations on routine and complex decisions at each stage of the energy activity lifecycle, ensuring provincial policy, conservation and reclamation quality objectives, contamination management objectives, guidelines and management strategies are incorporated into project decisions and organizational initiatives.

This role requires interacting with a large suite of technical professionals, communicating with external stakeholders, primarily applicants and government agencies. 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.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Review applications and soil-related submissions for resource projects that may impact soil and reclamation outcomes, in collaboration with agencies such as Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Provide technical requirements for approvals, develop research and monitoring plans, draft decision reports, and engage with industry on findings.

• Technical review of submissions for soil contamination management for oil sands mining, coal and rock-hosted mineral projects in compliance with provincial legislation and guidelines.

• Collaborate with experts across industry, academia, and government to stay informed on emerging issues, address policy gaps, and support practical policy initiatives. Lead and implement new government policies, regulatory frameworks, directives, and cumulative effects management to achieve desired outcomes.

• Develop strategies for improving industry regulation and AER procedures related to soil conservation and reclamation in the mining sector.

• Support and provide expertise to inspectors, approval coordinators and consultants on mitigation and monitoring requirements and remedial strategies related to unplanned events, incidents, non-compliances and/or investigations.

• Perform desktop surveillance activities, review annual reports and submissions, and conduct site visits as required 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 expert technical direction for the implementation of core business processes and systems.

• Support inquires from media and other government agencies by gathering all necessary information and presenting it clearly and concisely.

What we’re looking for in you:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science, Soil Science, or related science discipline, with a minimum of 8 years progressive experience; or a Master of Science Degree and a minimum of 5 years progressive experience.

• Eligibility for membership with the Alberta institute of Agrologists or other applicable professional regulatory organization.

• Strong knowledge of Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Water Act, Public Land Act, Coal Conservation Act and Oil Sands Conservation Act

• Knowledge and understanding of risks to soil quality and quantity from project activities, reclamation material conservation and reclamation principles, techniques, standards and issues.

• Knowledge of landscape properties both terrestrial and wetland (including vegetation, soil and topography) and their relationship to land capability and establishment of equivalent land capability.

• Understanding of energy development processes in Alberta, and the associated environmental impacts.

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with ability to make sound recommendations based on technical knowledge and expertise.

• Team player with the ability to influence without authority and work cooperatively within multi-disciplinary teams and be able to share expertise with all staff levels.

• Ability to use strong communication (written and verbal, including technical writing) and interpersonal skills to present and communicate complex technical information to a variety of audiences.

Additional Information:

• All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.

• 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.

• If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email PeopleServices@aer.ca. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

What we offer you:

• Great benefits from your first day of work

• Flexible Work Program - hybrid work and flexible hours

• Defined benefit pension plan(s)

• Flexible benefits program options, including Personal & Health spending account(s)

• Generous vacation entitlement and flex days

More information about working at the AER including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website https://www.aer.ca/providing-information/about-the-aer/careers/what-we-offer.

Our Commitment to Diversity:

At the AER, our values of Accountability, Collaboration, Transparency, and Trust & Respect are foundational to our culture – a culture where every individual, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected factors, thrives and contributes their unique perspectives.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion fuels innovation, creating a brighter, more sustainable Alberta for all. Join us in shaping this dynamic future.

Application closing date: March 30, 2025, at midnight