Technical Specialist, Environment

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

We encourage Aboriginal persons to self-identify as preference may be given to this Employment Equity Group. An Aboriginal person is a North American Indian or a member of a First Nation, Métis or Inuit. North American Indians or members of a First Nation include treaty, status or registered Indians, as well as non-status and non-registered Indians. Please note that you will be required to complete the Affirmation of Aboriginal Affiliation Form.

The National Energy Board (NEB) is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada’s energy industry. It regulates pipelines, energy development and trade in the public interest with safety as its primary concern. The Minister of Natural Resources is responsible for this organization. The NEB was established by Parliament to regulate, 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, Vancouver and Yellowknife, the NEB has approximately 500 employees and annual budget of over $70 million.

The NEB is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in a national competition to determine which employers lead their industries in offering exceptional workplaces for their employees.

Duties

The Technical Specialist, Environment reports to a Director. The Specialist applies expert knowledge in providing advice to Board Members, Senior Management, and Board Staff with respect to environmental compliance matters related to the construction and operations of pipelines or environmental assessment of projects regulated by the National Energy Board (NEB). The Technical Specialist, Environment attends various external meeting with Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC) and sub-committees established by the federal government and represent the NEB at meetings involving Indigenous and other federal government representatives. They provide advice to senior management and support in the development and execution of environmental compliance and indigenous monitoring programs, including inspections, compliance meetings, emergency response to incidents, and incident remediation/reclamation. The Specialist needs to have a good understanding on how to confirm compliance with regulatory requirements for approved energy industry exploration, development, production, transportation and abandonment projects submitted under the NEBA and assess the potential impacts on the environment resulting from non-compliances. The Specialist will inform and contribute to the shaping of internal policy development, internal training programs and process and procedures which relate to the Environmental Protection Compliance and Indigenous Monitoring program.

The Technical Specialist provides technical leadership to other staff regarding technical and indigenous issues facing the Board, through:

• identifying potential issues or challenges;
• working collaboratively with Indigenous groups and NEB’s regulatory partners, providing options and recommendations for consideration by the NEB; and
• active sharing of expert knowledge within and between Teams and Business Units, including coaching, mentoring, and network activities.

The Technical Specialist is expected to consult frequently with external contacts including industry, government, indigenous organisations and professional and technical associations, to stay abreast of current and emerging issues of interest to the organization.

The Technical Specialist may be required to support or lead initiatives related to regulatory change, offsetting environmental impact, or monitoring and verifying compliance based on organizational need. The Specialist may also be requested to attend site visits in remote areas and attend external meetings requiring frequent travel. Travel associated with this position is expected to be, on average, eight days per month to attend meetings in large or medium sized cities. Field-based work to rural locations is expected to range between 3-5 days per month and varies seasonally.

Technical Specialists are required to work on several concurrent, complex projects at any given time, and to regularly present findings to Board Members, Senior Management, and Board Staff. The Technical Specialist may be expected to undertake the role of project manager for the oversight of major construction projects, or corporate projects.

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 1,200 words (maximum)

A response to a text question addressing the following:

• As one of Canada’s Top 100 employers, the National Energy Board wants to maximize our advertising efforts for future openings. Can you please tell us, where you heard about this job opportunity?

Contact information for 3 references.

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

Education:

University graduation with specialization in a related field (e.g. biological sciences, agricultural science, environmental science, physical science, economics, geography, rural/urban/regional planning).

Degree equivalency

Experience:

E1 Significant and recent experience leading environmental compliance for major natural resource or energy sector projects in Canada.

E2 Significant experience working within and contributing to the development and/or regulatory oversight of environmental protection management systems.

E3 Experience in co-developing solutions with Indigenous Organizations and Communities in the context of energy or resource development.

E4 Significant experience coaching and mentoring staff on environmental and indigenous matters at all levels throughout an organization.

Notes:
1. Significant means several years of substantively more progressive and complex responsibilities.
2. Recent is defined as having recent enough experience that the candidate is competent to take on the role with very little direction, having been acquired within the last five years.

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

Various language requirements
Various - English Essential, Bilingual Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

Organization-wide and Business Competencies OR Leadership Competencies:

OC1 Leadership & Teamwork - Proficiency level: Guide
• Coaches others to make timely and effective decisions and removes barriers that impede improvement.
• Identifies opportunities and initiates actions to create useful partnerships with other groups within and outside the Board.
• Takes a leadership role in team and partnership building.

OC2 Accountability and Results Orientation - Proficiency level: Guide/Shape
• Identifies desired outcomes, facilitates achievement of results and accepts accountability for achieving results.
• Analyzes and solves complex problems.
• Removes barriers that impede progress.

OC3 Initiative and Adaptability to Change - Proficiency level: Guide/Shape
• Analyzes and solves complex problems.
• Creates new concepts and theories, in response to new challenges.
• Facilitates cultural change initiatives and ensures quality management thinking is built into business-wide processes.

OC4 Process & Project Management – Proficiency level: Guide
• Determines project accountabilities, process priorities and resources allocations effectively.

OC5 Written Communication - Proficiency level: Guide
• Clearly articulates technical matters to senior level audiences in writing.
• Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively.

OC6 Oral Communication - Proficiency level: Guide
• Clearly articulates technical matters to senior level audiences verbally.
• Interprets complex and possibly contradictory messages and optimizes communication to achieve desired results.

Technical Competencies:

TC1 Compliance Principles and Techniques – Proficiency level: Guide
• Provides expert advice related to environmental compliance and follow up.
• Demonstrates solid professional judgement in a wide range of situations.

Competency Level Definitions

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.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Asset Qualifications:

AQ1 Experience briefing and advising senior government officials or equivalent on indigenous matters.
AQ2 Recent experience working within the federal context in Indigenous matters
AQ3 Significant environmental compliance experience related to oil or gas pipelines, exploration and production facilities or activities, or electrical transmission lines.

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: *Aboriginal Persons, Visible Minorities.

We encourage Aboriginal persons to self-identify as preference may be given to this Employment Equity Group.

*An Aboriginal person is a North American Indian or a member of a First Nation, Métis or Inuit. North American Indians or members of a First Nation include treaty, status or registered Indians, as well as non-status and non-registered Indians. Please note that you will be required to complete an Affirmation of Aboriginal Affiliation Form.

Conditions of employment

1) Willingness to undergo, successfully pass and maintain a reliability status security clearance.
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

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

1. The National Energy Board has a classification system that differs from the greater public service. This NEB-11 position is similar to a PC-05 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 Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada Collective Agreement.

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. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how they also meet the asset qualifications. Asset qualification(s) may be used at any point in the selection process (screening and/or assessment). 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 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 1 November 2017 NEB-(11), $101,324 to $123,278 (subject to revision)
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 may be paid on a bi-weekly payroll basis
• annual performance pay of up to $11,840 (maximum) 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 Collective Agreement between the NEB and PIPSC expired on 31 October 2018. Please note that all provisions – including the allowances remain in place until a new agreement has been signed and implemented.

6. Terms of Employment: These positions have been allocated and apply to the bargaining unit represented by the NEB Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

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. 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: *Aboriginal Persons, Visible Minorities

We encourage Aboriginal persons to self-identify as preference may be given to this Employment Equity Group.

*An Aboriginal person is a North American Indian or a member of a First Nation, Métis or Inuit. North American Indians or members of a First Nation include treaty, status or registered Indians, as well as non-status and non-registered Indians. Please note that you will be required to complete the Affirmation of Aboriginal Affiliation Form (AAAF) http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/plcy-pltq/eead-eeed/dg-gd/aaa-frm-eng.htm.

9. Head Office Location – Calgary, AB: 210, 517 10th Avenue SW

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

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