Description:
The Alberta Energy Regulator is currently recruiting for a Senior Hydrogeologist to join its talented team of professionals in the Mining group within the Regulatory Applications Branch. As a Senior Hydrogeologist you will provide technical knowledge and leadership in the distribution, movement, quantity and quality of groundwater in Alberta as it pertains to Oil Sands and Coal mining projects.
Your primary focus will be to perform audit activities and approval/licence maintenance, including analyzing trends and making recommendations on operators’ performance and compliance to regulatory requirements. Draws upon substantive experience to guide team through complex scenarios that require broader understanding and analysis of various issues and that have greater impact to the environment, industry and AER credibility. Apply risk and science‐based review principles to assess and evaluate the cumulative effects.
The role requires interacting with other technical professionals to look at proposals holistically, liaising with industry, the public and government, clearly articulating risks associated with reports and applications under Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), Oil Sands Conservation Act (OSCA), Coal Conservation Act (CCA) and Water Act (WA)and making recommendations to the leadership team following provincial policies and guidelines.
What your day-to-day will look like:
- Perform audit activities and approval/licence maintenance, including analyzing trends and making recommendations on operators’ performance and compliance to regulatory requirements.
- Coordinates, reviews and makes recommendations, which includes case-specific conditions, on complex technical groundwater reports and applications, including monitoring and mitigation strategies, in accordance with government policy and regulations.
- Inform and liaise with representatives from industry, AER field staff, the public and government during the report and application review processes including but not limited to regulatory requirements associated with mining developments.
- Work with a diverse network of specialists 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 support the implementation of them into AER core business functions to ensure policy objectives are upheld.
- Represent the AER on external multi-stakeholder forums, working groups and committees, supporting the creation of new AER regulatory frameworks, directives, monitoring requirements and the development of novel approaches to regulation that uphold the integrity of environmental regulations.
- Provide expertise and technical advice/ analysis to AER public hearings and the Alternative Dispute Resolution process.
- Lead information, action and media requests by gathering all necessary project and environmental information and presenting it clearly and concisely.
What we’re looking for in you:
- 10 + years of related hydrogeological experience along with a bachelor of Science Hydrogeology or Earth Science or Geology with a specialization in Hydrogeology.
- Registered professional geologist with Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) or eligible for professional membership
- Strong understanding of Alberta’s regulatory framework and associated legislations and enactments ability to apply them to various application scenarios.
- Ability to use strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills to build and maintain working relationships with internal and external stakeholders includes facilitating meetings. Able to present and communicate complex technical information to a variety of audiences.
- Possesses strong self-leadership and ability to share expertise with all staff levels. Work effectively and willingly with others within the team and other resources within AER. Be able to step into an informal leadership role.
- Pre-placement Medical required.
- Possess a fully valid class 5 driver’s license along with a positive driving record.
- Occasional overnight travel to visit Oil Sands and Coal mine sites in different regions of Alberta may be required.
- 10% Percent field work and 90% office work.