Approvals Manager

Job Information

Job Title: Approvals Manager

Job Requisition ID: 88380

Ministry: Environment and Protected Areas

Location: Edmonton and Red Deer

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent (2 positions)

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: October 30, 2026

Classification: Senior Manager, Zone 1

Salary: $3,548.95 - $4,842.27 bi-weekly ($93,567 - $126,383/year)

The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities.

We support Albertans in being proud stewards of air, land, water, and biodiversity by leading the work required for desired environmental outcomes and sustainable development of natural resources.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is dedicated to safeguarding Albertas natural resource and ecosystems awhile balancing environmental and economic needs. We focus on wildlife conservation, managing protected areas, creating environmental policies, conducting research and engaging the public through educational initiatives. Our commitment is to sustainably, ensuring Alberta’s landscapes and resources are persevered and responsibly managed for future generations.

Please review Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas to learn more and what it has to offer.

Alberta’s Regulatory Assurance Framework sets and achieves the environmental, economic and social outcomes Albertans expect from sound land use planning, policy assurance, cumulative effects management and sustainable resource development for air, land, water and biodiversity. This is partly accomplished through the provision of informed authorizations to industry, stakeholders and the general Albertan public for access to, and the use of, Alberta’s natural resources.

Role Responsibilities

Are you an experienced approvals leader with a desire to guide a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team delivering timely, defensible and credible regulatory decisions? This is the position for you.

Reporting to the Regulatory Assurance Manager, the Approvals Manager carries delegated decision-making authority for activities under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA) and the Water Act (WA), and the accompanying regulations and policy, within their scope or district.

The Approvals Manager issues approvals and authorizations and ensures proposed activities that could cause an adverse impact on the environment, other resource users, or First Nations are reviewed with appropriate terms and conditions. The position assesses risks and implications associated with decisions, including high-risk or high-consequence matters affecting the environment or clients.

• Lead and direct delivery of the Approvals Program at a district level to support the health of Alberta’s environment and natural resources.
• Act as Statutory Decision Maker / Designated Director for approval decisions under applicable legislation and represent the department in appeal proceedings or judicial reviews when required.
• Ensure timely, defensible and credible regulatory decisions that align with legislation, policy, regional land-use plans and the Regulatory Assurance Framework.
• Provide direct supervision and leadership to a diverse group of senior professional and technical staff, including workload management, performance support, succession planning, and development of staff capability.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with applicants, industry, municipalities, First Nations, government partners, regulators, and the public to support open, transparent and integrated decision-making.
• Identify policy conflicts, knowledge gaps, emerging issues, trends and operational risks, and provide advice and recommendations to regional and divisional leadership.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Resource Stewardship, Lands Division, Alberta Energy Regulator, Alberta Utilities Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Board, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and other partners on integrated regulatory matters.
• Support continuous authorization management after authorizations are issued, including interpretation of approval clauses, amendment requests, and referral of non-compliant activities to Compliance when appropriate.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of approval processes, committees, working groups and emergency response support across the region and ministry.

The Job Description is provided for further details on 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.

Agility: You will anticipate, assess and adapt to changing priorities and complex issues while maintaining resilience in a regulatory environment where decisions can have environmental, social, economic and political implications.

Build Collaborative Environments: You will work across regions, divisions, ministries, regulatory bodies, First Nations, municipalities, industry and stakeholders to support integrated regulatory assurance and coordinated decision-making.

Drive for Results: You will ensure approval applications are processed in a timely, effective and defensible manner and that staff and resources are aligned to meet Ministry and regional priorities.

Systems Thinking: You will consider broader environmental, economic, social and cumulative effects impacts when assessing options, interpreting policy and making or recommending regulatory decisions.

Develop Self and Others: You will provide guidance, mentoring, performance support and development opportunities for approvals staff while building capability and clarity within the team.

Creative Problem Solving: You will assess options and implications in new ways to resolve contentious applications, stakeholder concerns, competing land and resource uses, and policy frameworks.

Qualifications

Required:

Completed University graduation (4 years) in a related field such as resource management, environmental sciences, engineering, general sciences, or business administration plus six (6) years of related experience in environmental regulatory management, including leadership of professional and/or technical staff and engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

Equivalency:

Directly related education or experience may be considered on the basis of: 1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Assets:

• Knowledge of GoA and ministry mandate, business goals and objectives.
• Applicable legislation, regulations, Codes of Practice, frameworks and guidelines (i.e.: Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Water Act, Alberta Lands Stewardship Act).
• Technical knowledge regarding water management, water quality, air quality, substance releases, land disturbance and land management with the associated environmental impacts and management principles.
• Knowledge of GoA and ministry decision-making processes, procedural fairness principals and applicable directives and policies.
• Environmental issues, environmental impacts, environmental media and sustainable development.
• Issues management, risk management and change management principles, methodologies and processes.
• Leadership experience in developing, administering and delivering regulatory programs related to environmental and/or natural resource management.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Edmonton and Red Deer, with standard weekly hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday.

Travel within the area and throughout the province will be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and other external stakeholders.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

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

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information
• Professional learning and development
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

How To Apply

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply online. Please see Job Application Resources for more information.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 - June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information.

It is also recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Jane McEwen at Jane.Mcewen@gov.ab.ca.