Role Responsibilities

As a Surface Water Quantity Policy Specialist in the Water Availability and Partnerships Branch, you are an integral part of a team of water professionals responsible for developing robust and integrated water policy across the Government of Alberta. This position is strongly informed by science and will provide assessments and analysis to support Alberta’s water management objectives.

You will support and develop the province’s water quantity, supply and availability, and allocation information across the policy cycle – research, design, control, evaluation, and education. Working with a wide range of stakeholders, your responsibilities include but are not limited to: 
•    Policy and management option analysis of current and emerging issues affecting water quantity and supply, sustainable water management practices, the use and availability of water for Albertans, and water for sustaining aquatic environments.
•    Identify actions that improve Alberta’s preparedness, adaptation, and resiliency in planning for extreme events such as droughts, floods, and climate change.
•    Interpreting legislation, policies, and guidelines to identify and address policy or regulatory gaps and implementation issues.
•    Compiling, analysing, and presenting water monitoring data, water management and supply data, and demand and use information relevant to the development or update of regulations and policy.
•    Consulting, engaging, and collaborating on water quantity, availability, allocation, and policy issues with a wide range of stakeholders and the public.
•    Communicate information to the public, stakeholders, senior leadership, and other agencies regarding strategic advice and recommendations. 
•    Providing water science and policy support to variety of program areas and initiatives across the department and government.
•    Provide advice, outreach, and educational materials to raise awareness, understanding, and advance collective stewardship of Alberta’s water resources.

Please click on this link to view the job description for 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.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

How Competencies will apply to this role:

Agility: Demonstrate the ability to evolve policy approaches and tools to reflect existing conditions and adapt quickly to shifting government and organizational priorities and commitments.

Creative Problem Solving: Think critically and strategically and engage others in developing original and innovative solutions. Work productively with others to solve problems with minimal guidance or supervision.

Systems Thinking: Identify key factors and interactions influencing outcomes and assess the consequences of potential policy changes.

Qualifications

Required: 
•    Ph.D. in a scientific field related to hydrological sciences, water resources engineering, earth/environmental/natural resources with a specialty in water sciences.
•    Minimum of two (2) years related work experience.

Equivalencies considered: 
•    Master’s degree in a scientific field related to the position, plus 4 years related experience.
•    University graduation in a scientific field related to the position, plus 6 years related experience.

Assets:

Preference will be given to candidates who demonstrate the following:
•    Experience developing, administering, or complying with environmental policies, guidelines, regulations, or administrative tools (provincial or federal).
•    Knowledge of Alberta’s water management, licensing, and regulatory approaches, and general awareness of Alberta’s priorities and objectives relating to water management.
•    Experience in performance measurement, environmental indicators, or in the analysis of policy or program activities and results. 
•    Experience with applying or interpreting models and data (e.g., hydrological or water supply/allocation models) to predict or interpret of local, regional, and cumulative impacts on surface water resources.
•    Skills in numerical analyses and interpretation including statistical methods of environmental and regulatory data sets and geospatial analysis and mapping.
•    Experience working in and applying expertise in interdisciplinary settings (i.e., across various disciplines supporting watershed sciences such as groundwater and water quality).
•    Experience working with water monitoring and water management related datasets (e.g., hydrometric and climatic datasets) and Alberta hydroclimatic interpretation and expertise.
•    Experience with public consultation and engagements (general public, stakeholder groups and interests, multi-disciplinary groups).
•    Experience preparing terms of reference, reviewing proposals, and ability to build and maintain effective and productive working relationships with colleagues, external collaborators, and community or Indigenous partners.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

•    This competition is for 1 permanent full time position located in downtown, Edmonton. This competition may be used to fill future vacancies within the team.
•    Hours of work: Monday – Friday, 7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week.

Applicants are required to include a COVER LETTER with clear and concise specific examples that demonstrate how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements and competencies. The cover letter may be used to assess your communication skills as part of the screening process.

If selected for an interview, candidates will be asked to prepare a written assignment to further assess formal writing skills and written competency.

Instructions for your Resume:
For Employment Experience:
Please indicate duration of employment (month, year).
Please specify employment status (i.e. casual, part-time or full-time).
E.g.: Lifeguard Jan 2006 - June 2009, Part-time (three, 8 hour shifts/week).

For any Post-Secondary Education:
Please specify your major and length of program.
Please specify the year you graduated.
E.g.: Bachelor of Science, 4-year Degree (Graduated 2017).

Any costs associated with obtaining required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) – https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information –  https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-human-resource-directives.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool - https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreements.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.