Director, Law, Strategy & Operations

Location: Calgary, Alberta, head office of the Alberta Energy Regulator

Employment Type: Full Time – Permanent

Salary Range: The final compensation for this position will be determined based on individual factors, including education, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Director, Law, Strategy & Operations

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Vice President (VP) & Associate General Counsel (AGC) of the branch, the Director, Law, Strategy & Operations, at the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), you will manage day-to-day law branch operations and provides leadership, direction, oversight, and development of Law branch staff. You will be part of the Leadership Team in the AER’s Law branch, provide legal and strategic advice to the AER on sensitive and senior level matters, and assist the VP, Law & AGC on strategic and legal issues of importance to the branch and the enterprise.

What your day-to-day will look like:

- Lead a team of senior lawyers as direct reports and provide clear direction so the team works as a cohesive unit. Develop team members through coaching, training, objective setting, providing ongoing feedback, and recognition. Manage people resources including delegation of work, Workday requests including time off, and recruiting. Lead employees through significant changes. Apply AER’s people management policies and programs within an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. Responsible for communication, knowledge transfer & succession planning, and providing leadership and guidance to legal practice groups.

- Work collaboratively with the VP, Law & AGC on branch planning and management including budgeting, forecasting, operational, and resource planning so that branch and enterprise needs are appropriately and effectively resourced. Ensure branch strategic, operational plans, and outcomes are achieved.

- Participate in key organizational strategic initiatives, and apply a risk informed approach to drive the design and implementation of innovative, streamlined, and integrated solutions to legal and process issues of importance to the enterprise.

- Provide high level strategic and legal advice and input on enterprise business, projects, and operations, particularly through membership in branch and inter-branch teams, committees, and strategic/enterprise initiatives, as required.

- Provide senior level legal and strategic advice to AER staff, including Hearing Commissioners and delegated decision makers, on all facets of the AER’s business and regulatory functions, in a collaborative manner. This includes legal analysis, interpretation, advice and opinions regarding AER administered legislation and legislation to which the AER is subject, AER rules and regulatory instruments, and policy development through AER internal processes.

- Prepare and/or oversee the preparation of pleadings for filing in the Court of Appeal of Alberta and other courts or tribunals and represents the AER in court and other proceedings.

- Act as a statutory decision maker on matters such as regulatory appeal requests, confidentiality requests under the AER Rules of Practice and other decisions as necessary and authorized.

What we’re looking for in you:

- Law degree or Juris Doctorate from a recognized university and must be a member in good standing of The Law Society of Alberta.

- 12+ years practising law in at least two of the following areas: administrative/regulatory law, litigation/appeals, energy/environmental law, bankruptcy & insolvency, aboriginal/constitutional law; combined with 5+ years people management experience.

- Ability to demonstrate strategic enterprise level thinking.

- Proven leadership skills, experience leading one or more teams of lawyers.

- Excellent understanding of policy and regulatory requirements and associated risks.

- Ability to prioritize and operate under tight deadlines.

- Excellent communication skills: ability to effectively communicate verbally and written to a diverse audience.

Additional Information:

- All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.

- This position will be subject to pre-employment background screening, including a criminal record check and a financial security check.

- Travel within province may be required from time to time for hearing related work, including overnight stays for hearings lasting more than a day.

- Should an individual with the required qualifications not be available, applicants with closely related qualifications may be considered. As a result, the position may be redesigned and/or reclassified.

- If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email

PeopleServices@aer.ca

. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

What we offer you:

- Great benefits from your first day of work

- Flexible Work Program - hybrid work and flexible hours

- Defined benefit pension plans

- Flexible benefits program options, including Personal & Health spending account(s)

- Generous vacation entitlement and flex days

More information about working at the AER’s including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website

https://www.aer.ca/providing-information/about-the-aer/careers/what-we-offer

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Our Commitment to Diversity:

At the AER, our values of Accountability, Collaboration, Transparency, and Trust & Respect are foundational to our culture – a culture where every individual, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected factors, thrives and contributes their unique perspectives.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion fuels innovation, creating a brighter, more sustainable Alberta for all. Join us in shaping this dynamic future.

Application closing date: September 5, 2025, at midnight