Job Description

Job Information
Job Title: Public Lands Policy Specialist
Job Requisition ID: 80802
Ministry: Forestry and Parks
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: March 30, 2026
Classification: Program Services 4
Salary: ​[$3,056.50] to [$4,006.62]] bi-weekly ($79,774 - $104,572/year)

As the Ministry of Forestry and Parks we are responsible for fostering Alberta’s environmentally responsible forest management practices, including management of wildfires. We preserve our provincial parks for the recreation and enjoyment of Albertans. As well as enabling access to public lands for recreational and commercial purposes while prioritizing conservation. Forestry and Parks also manages public lands and balances sustainable rangelands and grazing leases for Alberta producers.

The Forestry Division, within the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, works to enhance the economic, environmental, and social contributions of our forests and forested lands to Albertans. For more information about the Ministry of Forestry and Parks please visit our website at: https://www.alberta.ca/forestry-and-parks

Role Responsibilities

Public lands are at the heart of Alberta’s environmental stewardship, economic growth, and community well-being. We are seeking a highly skilled senior professional to lead the development of forward-thinking public land policies that balance environmental sustainability with economic prosperity. This is a unique opportunity to influence provincial policy, collaborate with diverse stakeholders, and play a pivotal role in shaping how Alberta’s public lands are managed for generations to come.

In this specialized senior role, you will lead the design, development, and implementation of policies, directives, and disturbance standards that guide activities on Alberta’s public lands. Working at the intersection of policy, science, and stakeholder engagement, you will manage complex projects from concept to implementation—including developing new policies, amending guidelines, preparing Ministerial Orders and supporting legislative updates when required.

You will play a critical role in addressing policy gaps and ensuring public land policies are aligned across government programs and departments. This position also leads the communication and training required to ensure both internal teams and external stakeholders understand and successfully implement new or updated policies. Through strong collaboration across government, industry, municipalities, Indigenous communities, and interest groups, your work will help support Alberta’s economic prosperity while promoting responsible stewardship of public lands.

Your key responsibilities include (and are not limited to):

• Leading the development and implementation of policies, directives, and disturbance standards governing activities on Alberta’s public lands.
• Managing complex policy projects from design through execution, including developing or amending policies, guidelines, ministerial orders and supporting legislation related to public lands.
• Conducting comprehensive assessments, jurisdictional reviews, and evidence-based analysis to develop scientifically sound policy recommendations.
• Providing strategic advice and specialized expertise to senior department officials, program areas, and partners to support regulatory transformation and policy alignment.
• Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with internal departments, Government of Alberta partners, federal and municipal governments, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and industry representatives.
• Facilitating engagement and collaboration among diverse stakeholders with competing perspectives on social, economic, and environmental issues.
• Coordinating and integrating provincial policy initiatives across departments to ensure alignment with broader government priorities.
• Delivering communication strategies, guidance, and training to internal and external stakeholders on new or amended public land policies.
• Supporting operational staff by providing expert advice and guidance related to effective management of activities on Alberta’s public lands.
  
  

Join a team committed to responsible stewardship and innovative policy leadership and help ensure Alberta’s public lands continue to support thriving ecosystems, communities, and industries.

Please click on this link to view the job description for 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.

Systems Thinking:
Integrates broader context into planning:

• Plans for how current situation is affected by broader trends
• Integrates issues, political environment and risks when considering possible actions
• Supports organization vision and goals through strategy
• Addresses behaviours that challenge progress
  
  

Agility:
Identifies and manages required change and the associated risks:

• Identifies alternative approaches and supports others to do the same
• Proactively explains impact of changes
• Anticipates and mitigates emotions of others
• Anticipates obstacles and stays focused on goals
• Makes decisions and acts in uncertain situations and creates a backup plan

Creative Problem Solving:
Engages the community and resources at hand to address issues:

• Engages perspective to seek root causes
• Finds ways to improve complex systems
• Employs resources from other areas to solve problems
• Engages others and encourages debate and idea generation to solve problems while addressing risks

Develop Networks:
Makes working with a wide range of parties an imperative:

• Creates impactful relationships with the right people
• Ensures needs of varying groups are represented
• Goes beyond to meet stakeholder needs
• Ensures all needs are heard and understood

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
University graduation in natural resources, public policy, or related field plus 4 years progressively responsible related experience ; or equivalent as described below

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience 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:

• Experience working with public land management frameworks, Crown land legislation, or regulatory systems.
• Familiarity with cross-government policy coordination within large public-sector organizations.
• Experience engaging with Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry groups, and external stakeholders on policy initiatives.
• Background in environmental science, natural resource management, public policy, or a related field.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards

Notes

This is a full-time permanent position in Edmonton with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday

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.

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

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.

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 for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, 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)(https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information ( https://canalliance.org/en/default.html).

It is 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. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

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