Counsel

Important messages

The NEB is a federal regulatory tribunal that regulates, among other things, the construction, operation and abandonment of pipelines that cross provincial or international borders, international power lines and designated interprovincial power lines, imports of natural gas and exports of crude oil, natural gas liquids, natural gas, refined petroleum products, and electricity, and oil and gas exploration and production activities in certain areas. The NEB is also charged with providing timely, accurate and objective information and advice on energy matters. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta with Regional Offices in Montréal, and Vancouver, the NEB has a staff of approximately 450 employees and an annual budget of over $70 million.

The National Energy Board is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. This is an annual competition that recognizes the country's best places to work by Mediacorp Canada.

Duties

As a legal counsel of the National Energy Board, the lawyer at the NEB 11 level will be required to:

1. Undertake research and provide legal advice and opinions to the Chair, Board Members, Executive management and staff, on all matters within the jurisdiction of the Board, including:
o pipeline engineering, safety and environment
o financial regulation of pipelines
o energy exports
o frontier development
o interpretation of legislation applicable to the Board
o personnel and financial legislation applicable to the Board
o jurisdiction of the NEB
o administrative law
o aboriginal and Crown consultation
2. Act as counsel on public hearings which will involve:
o provision of advice on procedural and evidentiary requirements
o conducting examination of witnesses appearing for various parties at those hearings
3. Represent the employer in employment law proceedings (e.g. Canadian Human Rights Commission, Public Service Commission, and Public Service Staff Relations Board)
4. Draft, or assist in the drafting of orders, regulations, memoranda of guidance, reports and correspondence.

At the NEB 11 level, the lawyer will typically act autonomously. Counsel at this level will act as sole Board counsel on routine regulatory hearings and assist more experienced counsel on complex hearings.

Intent of the process

A pool of candidates may be created. Qualified candidates may be used to staff other similar positions at an equivalent or lower level on a term, indeterminate or acting basis. Appointment of qualified candidates will be based on the assessment results of the essential or essential and asset qualifications and with regard to breadth and depth of experience.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 1,000 words (maximum)

Contact information for 3 references.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Diplôme en droit d’une école canadienne reconnue

Degree equivalency

Candidates must respond to the on-line application questions on how they meet each essential experience qualification and any asset qualifications (maximum 250 words for each essential experience and each asset qualification). Failure to provide sufficient information will result in applicants being screened out. This information will also be used to assess OC4 Written Communication.

As part of your application, candidates are required to provide a list of the proceedings and a description of their role in those proceedings as referred to in E1. Failure to provide sufficient information will result in applicants being screened out.

Experience:

E1 Recent administrative law or litigation experience acquired while practising as a lawyer with a private law firm, corporation or government department or agency, including some experience appearing orally before an administrative tribunal or court on energy, environment, aboriginal or administrative law issues.

E2 A minimum of two years practicing law since admission to a Canadian bar association.

Organization-wide and Business Competencies:

OC1 Leadership & Teamwork (Learn/Apply)
Develops and maintains respectful, collegial, collaborative and results oriented working relationships with staff and internal clients.

OC2 Accountability and Results Orientation (Apply)
Clearly articulates objectives, accountabilities and expectations.
Accepts responsibility and accountability for quality results.

OC3 Oral Communication (Apply)
Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively with co-workers and clients orally.

OC4 Written Communication (Apply)
Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively with co-workers and clients in writing.

Technical Competencies:

TC1 Principles of Administrative Law (Apply)
Ability to understand, interpret and apply principles of administrative law relevant to a quasi-judicial tribunal.

TC2 Legal Research and Analysis (Apply)
Ability to identify, analyze and solve relevant issues logically in writing.

TC3 Advocacy and Cross Examination (Apply)
Ability to provide clear articulate legal advice orally on relevant issues and question witnesses in a hearing.

Competency Level Definitions

Learn is defined as developing a basic knowledge of the competency and ability to apply.
Apply is defined as demonstrating sound understanding of the competency and ability to apply and contribute.
Guide is defined as thorough knowledge and capability of the competency. Able to influence and guide others in its application.
Shape is defined as recognized as an expert. Shapes direction of the NEB with regards to the competency.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

AQ1 Significant experience appearing orally before an energy regulatory tribunal

AQ2 Experience in environmental law

AQ3 Experience in Aboriginal law

AQ4 Experience in access to information /privacy law

AQ5 Experience in energy law

AQ6 Experience in pipeline tolls and tariffs as it relates to the NEB’s mandate

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Various language requirements-English Essential or Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

Membership in good standing in the Law Society of one of the provinces or territories in Canada and admission or qualifications to be admitted to the Law Society of Alberta.

Conditions of employment

1) Willingness to undergo, successfully pass and maintain a reliability status security clearance. Some positions may require a secret security clearance, which future incumbents will be required to undergo, successfully pass and maintain.

2) Compliance with the National Energy Board’s Code of Conduct is required.
Note: It is strongly recommended that potential applicants read and consider the NEB’s Code of Conduct prior to applying. This document is available on the NEB Website http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/code-of-conduct.

3) Must be willing and able to travel and to work overtime when required.

4) Must be willing to move within and between business units and teams, based on operational requirements and/or as individual development needs are identified.

Other information

1. The National Energy Board has a classification system that differs from the greater public service. This NEB-11 position is similar to a LA-2A in terms of salary range only. The benefits offered, including relocation assistance, may be significantly different than those offered in the greater public service. This position is subject to NEB’s Excluded Terms and Conditions.

2. Application Requirements: Applicants must submit, by the closing date, a resume and cover letter clearly demonstrating how they meet the essential qualifications of education and experience.


Candidates must respond to the on-line application questions on how they meet each essential experience qualification and any asset qualifications (maximum 250 words for each essential experience and each asset qualification). Failure to provide sufficient information will result in applicants being screened out. This information will also be used to assess OC4 Written Communication.

Candidates are also required to provide a list of the proceedings and a description of their role in those proceedings as referred to in E1. Failure to provide sufficient information will result in applicants being screened out.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. Our intention is to communicate with applicants by e mail for assessment purposes including sending invitations for written tests, interviews and issuing selection process results.

3. Assessment: You may be assessed using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentation, interview(s), reference checks, your application and interactions with internal staff during the process and personal knowledge. Top down selection may be used during any stage of the selection process.

4. Appointment Requirements: Candidates must meet each essential qualification and the conditions of employment to be appointed to the position. A person may be appointed to the position even though he/she does not meet any or all of the asset qualifications, organizational needs or operational requirements; however, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing right fit for appointment.

5. Salary: Effective 01/November/13 NEB-11 $95,458 to $116,140 (under review)

The National Energy Board has the following forms of additional compensation that are separate from base salary, the eligibility for which is determined, in accordance with the provisions in the collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment for the duration period specified:

• a Calgary Allowance in the amount of 4.95% of base salary, paid on a bi-weekly payroll basis
• annual performance pay which includes elements of individual performance (60% of payout) and corporate performance (40% of payout)
• annual market allowance which applies only to specified operational positions applies to this position; the allowance is paid in two semi-annualized payments
• The Terms & Conditions of Employment for Excluded Employees expired on 1 November 2014. Please note in the absence of the new Terms & Conditions of Employment, all provisions – including the allowances, remain in place until an update to the Terms & Conditions has been signed.

6. Terms of Employment: These positions have been allocated and apply to the NEB Terms and Conditions of Employment for Excluded Employees.

7. Proof of Education: Proof of education is required prior to appointment. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Please contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) for more information www.cicic.ca.
Equivalencies granted by the Canadian provincial authorities with respect to Applied (Bachelor's) Degrees by colleges and technical institutes (i.e. in Ontario, British-Columbia, Alberta & Manitoba) must always be accepted as equivalent to Bachelor Degrees granted by universities in the provinces concerned.

8. Career Ladder: This position is part of a career ladder and future promotion may occur upon successful completion of the training and development requirements and provided they meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment for each level of the career ladder without an advertised staffing process.

9. Organization Future Needs: The National Energy Board is committed to having a skilled and diversified workforce representative of the population we serve. In support of our strategy to achieve our employment equity goals, selection may be limited to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Women, Aboriginal Persons, Visible Minorities and Persons with Disability.

10. Head Office Location – Calgary, AB: 517, 10th Avenue SW

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.