Technical Specialist, Economics/Financial Regulation

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 an 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

Reporting to a Director within the Energy Adjudication Business Unit, the Technical Specialist, Economics/Financial Regulation provides professional advice to Board staff, executives and Board Members on all matters pertaining to the economic and financial regulation of oil, gas and electrical industries regulated by the National Energy Board. The incumbent will be expected to provide guidance related to the Board’s Economics/Financial Regulatory discipline by displaying exemplary leadership in both the ongoing development of the program as well as support of colleagues and the job family as a whole. The Technical Specialist provides coaching to financial and economic professionals in addition to assisting the Business Unit Leadership Team with fostering teamwork and developing the expertise of others including reviewing of documents, developing and providing training.

The incumbent will be required to conduct rigorous analysis and provide recommendations related to the need for and economic feasibility of new energy facilities and tolls and tariffs matters for applications under Parts III, IV, V and VI of the NEB Act. The incumbent will provide such advice on financial resources matters for both pipelines and exploration and production activities for oil and gas.

The incumbent will be required to contribute to corporate documents, such as speeches and annual reports, and may be required to represent the Board at conferences and in presentations to representatives of foreign delegations.

The incumbent, as a Project Manager of major hearings or projects, is expected to plan and coordinate the activities of these hearings/projects. This involves working with professional and technical staff to ensure the timely and thorough review of complex applications or projects.

Intent of the process

Process Intent: 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: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 1,000 words (maximum)

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

Education: Graduation from a recognized university with a degree specializing in a related field such as business administration, commerce or economics.

Degree equivalency

Experience:

E1: Extensive and recent experience in providing economic or financial analysis and advice orally and in a variety of written formats related to tolls, tariffs or infrastructure related to the energy industry. Experience in other matters related to the energy industry may also be considered.

E2. Recent experience leading complex projects or teams involving the efforts of several people.

E3. Recent experience providing advice on technical matters in a regulatory energy hearing process.

Note: For the purposes of this process, extensive means several years of substantively more progressive and complex responsibilities. Recent is defined as having recent enough experience that the candidate is familiar with the latest practices and developments and is competent to take on the role with very little direction, typically acquired within the last 1-5 years.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Organization-wide and Business Competencies:

OC1 Leadership & Teamwork – Proficiency Level: Guide
• Coaches others to make timely and effective decisions and removes barriers that impede improvement.
• Personal suitability

OC2 Accountability & Results Orientation – Proficiency Level: Guide/Shape
• Identifies desired outcomes, facilitates achievement of results and accepts accountability for achieving results through teams.

OC3 Initiative and adaptability to change – Proficiency Level: Guide/Shape
• Improves processes and management systems by identifying better ways of doing things.

OC4 Oral Communication – Proficiency Level: Guide
• Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively with co-workers and clients verbally.

OC5 Written Communication – Proficiency Level: Guide
• Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively in writing.
• Interprets complex messages and clearly articulates technical matters to senior level audiences in writing.

OC6 NEB’s unique regulatory context – Proficiency Level: Guide
• Understands the NEB’s unique regulatory context and is able to apply this knowledge to recognize, interpret and address issues.

Technical Competencies:

TC1 Financial or Economic Principles - Proficiency level: Guide/Shape
• Ability to apply knowledge of financial, accounting and/or economics principles to regulatory issues that arise.

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 leading or working on a complex tolls and tariff regulatory hearing.

AQ2 Significant experience in conducting or leading audits and reporting on findings.

AQ3 Experience with cost of capital matters in a regulatory hearing.

AQ4 Experience providing analysis and advice on electricity matters in a regulatory hearing.

AQ5 Graduated from a recognized university at the Master’s level specializing in a related field such as business administration, finance or economics.

AQ6 Post-secondary studies such as having obtained or eligibility for a professional accounting or financial designation such as CFA or CPA.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, visible minorities

Information on employment equity

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 an EC-07 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. 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, oral presentation, interview, 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 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: This position has been allocated and applies 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 and Visible Minorities.

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.