SEARCH PROFILE Executive Director Integrated Environmental and Analytics Prediction

Alberta Environment and Parks

Executive Manager 1

Salary Range: $125,318 - $164,691 ($4,801.47 - $6,310.03 bi-weekly)

Open Competition Job ID: 1039298 Closing Date: January 13, 2017

Alberta Environment and Parks

Overview Alberta Environment and Parks is committed to establishing Alberta as an environmental leader. As proud stewards of air, land, water and biodiversity, the ministry leads the achievement of desired environmental outcomes and sustainable development of natural resources for Albertans. For further information, visit the ministry website at http://aep.alberta.ca/

Position Summary The Environmental Monitoring and Science Division (EMSD) is dedicated to providing open and transparent public access to scientific data on the current and future condition of Alberta’s environment. The Executive Director, Integrated Environmental and Analytics Prediction Branch provides scientific oversight of predictive environmental modelling, data management and geospatially integrated analyses. Reporting to the Chief Scientist and Assistant Deputy Minister, you will have custody of provincial ambient environment data covering water, air, land and biodiversity. Your branch team will manage the life cycle of environmental data, including acquisition, quality assurance of data management processes, and governance of data systems. A recognized scientific expert and an integrative, crossdisciplinary thinker, you will lead complex evaluation and analytical processes that underpin the reporting of current cumulative environmental effects, and the prediction of future environmental conditions in Alberta. Key responsibilities also include delivery of a joint oil sands monitoring program in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Major Accountabilities Inspiring a vision that is supported by experts and stakeholders to develop a cohesive data management and cumulative effects assessment program. Overseeing the implementation of a cutting edge environmental data management framework that fulfils the legislated mandate to provide open and transparent access to scientific data and information on the condition of Alberta’s environment. Leading multi-year planning for data acquisition and assessments, and ensuring that data addresses the government’s monitoring, evaluation and reporting priorities as they relate to operations, policy development and the public’s need for information. Working in cooperation with Environment and Climate Change Canada in delivery of the Joint Oil Sands Monitoring program, by: -

providing overall coordination and management of Alberta data acquisition and assessment activity under the program,

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providing scientific leadership on the multi-year planning and execution of monitoring, and

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providing program/portfolio management including budget planning and expenditure tracking.

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Directing the establishment of clear, defensible and practical ground rules that set the standards for how data will be collected throughout the province by contracted and internal staff, and assessing new data collection methods and technologies for possible application in Alberta. Ensuring the establishment of integrated, open-source data management systems that are secure, strategically organized, provide high data integrity and quality, and are based on the cutting edge of environmental data management. Collaborating with data providers such as the Alberta Energy Regulator, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and other government ministries to develop a single federated data system to enable open and transparent access to searchable, multiple environment datasets by all stakeholders and the public. Leading complex processes to ensure that environmental change and cumulative effects are known and future change and effects are predicted across all environmental media and at spatial and temporal scales that are relevant to decision-making. Some of the key components include: -

integrating local and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) into the assessment, analysis and reporting of current and anticipated future condition of Alberta’s environment,

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developing and validating integrated environmental prediction models and analytical systems to assess environmental status and ecosystem condition,

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using geographic information systems in the analysis of spatial data,

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providing oversight of evaluations and assessments that examine the impacts of single multiple environmental drivers and stressors, including socio-economic drivers, on populations, species and ecosystems,

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identifying research and scientific knowledge gaps, interacting with the science community to fill the gaps, and promoting scientific and technical research for continuous improvement of models and geographic information systems.

Collaborating and maintaining effective relationships with senior representatives of the ministry, other departments and levels of government, the scientific community, private sector and stakeholder groups. Leading, coaching and mentoring multi-disciplinary scientific and technical teams to support development and the achievement of branch goals. Effectively managing financial and human resources to meet business plan objectives.

Authorities The Executive Director, Integrated Environmental and Analytics Prediction is involved with the administration of legislation relating to the business of the ministry and other legislation related to leadership responsibilities and delegated authorities including: Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (and S.15 in particular) Climate Change and Emissions Management Act Executive Search, Alberta Corporate Human Resources – 780-408-8460

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Water Act Financial Administration Act Fiscal Planning and Transparency Act Government Organization Act Public Service Act Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act

Organization Reporting to the Chief Scientist and Assistant Deputy Minister, EMSD, the Executive Director provides guidance and direction to a Science Program Advisor, and multi-disciplinary teams led by a Chief Information Officer and a head of Environmental Predication and Integrated Database Management.

Financial and Human Resource Management The Executive Director, Integrated Environmental and Analytics Prediction is responsible for the effective management of a staff complement of approximately 15 full-time equivalencies and an operating budget of approximately $3.3 million.

Contacts Internal contacts include the Chief Scientist and Assistant Deputy Minister, EDSD; the ministry executive team; other senior government officials; and staff within the ministry and in other ministries. External contacts include a wide variety of natural and agricultural resource industries; First Nation and Metis communities and other traditional ecological knowledge stakeholders; other jurisdictions and levels of government including Environment and Climate Change Canada; provincial, national and international monitoring and research organizations such as the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, and the Canadian Rivers Institute; academia and universities; consultants, contractors; stakeholder consortiums, alliances and advisory groups; and the general public.

Challenges and Opportunities Using creativity, persuasion, and extensive thinking in interactions with Environment and Climate Change Canada to address sensitive, high profile and often emotionally charged issues concerning the environment, which is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments. Conceptualizing a broad understanding of environmental data available and possible, and ensuring that it is available in multiple forms through various pathways to meet the needs and interests of the public and multiple other clients and stakeholders. Prioritizing resource deployment to achieve maximum benefit, in a field where there are numerous high profile environmental issues that need to be addressed. Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and citizen science into the scientific interpretation, analysis and reporting of data and information on Alberta’s environmental condition.

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The Person (1) Knowledge/Skills/Experience Scientific expertise and extensive related leadership experience in large scale data management and governance, environmental modelling and approaches, and the implementation of corporate geospatial information systems. Expert level knowledge and experience in managing and integrating very large, high performance, real time data acquisition and processing data systems, and the ability to lead active collaborative research. Extensive knowledge of monitoring program design and implementation methods; environmental data types (across air, water, land and biodiversity); data collection methods and procedures; analytical laboratory operational procedures; and internationally accepted data QA/QC standards/protocols and modern data decoding techniques. Extensive knowledge of integrated environmental and cumulative effects numerical modelling and various tools across media, as well as demonstrated strategic thinking around integrated predictive modelling. Experience in land use change projections and climate change scenario modelling, ideally with an understanding of Alberta’s Climate Change Leadership Plan. Experience operating in an interjurisdictional context in relation to environmental monitoring. Advanced knowledge of spatial data and analysis including geospatial information systems. Demonstrated strategic and systems thinking with strong analytical and synthesizing skills. Understanding of the integration of socioeconomic, natural and engineering sciences for policy, systems and decision-making. Strong communication and interpersonal skills to build collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, and to deliver key messages to senior executives. Proven track record in creating effective partnerships and leading initiatives involving multiple partners to achieve results. Demonstrated ability as a team leader with a commitment to create, support and sustain an environment to enhance engagement, enable staff to develop, and build organizational capacity. Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage a number of complex issues, projects and priorities while achieving outcomes.

(2) Academic Background 

A doctorate degree in a related discipline (e.g., water science, environmental science or engineering) is required.

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(3) Alberta Public Service (APS) Competencies Competencies are behaviours that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. The following competencies are drawn from the Alberta Public Service Competency Model to reflect government’s focus on planning, strategizing and leadership to accomplish goals. See link for more information on the competencies, http://www.chr.alberta.ca/apscompetencies.

Relationship

Thinking

Achievement

DEVELOP NETWORKS

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

AGILITY

Proactively building networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.

Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Ability to anticipate, assess and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.

Behaviours:  Identifies stakeholders  Builds relationships  Focuses on client  Communicates purposefully

Behaviours:  Seeks clarity  Challenges the process  Integrates perspectives  Identifies alternative solutions

SYSTEMS THINKING BUILD COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes. Behaviours:  Brings people together  Facilitates communication  Addresses conflict  Empowers others  Encourages diversity

DEVELOP SELF AND OTHERS

The work done in the APS is part of a larger integrated and interrelated environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems Thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind. Behaviours:  Looks beyond the immediate  Considers impacts  Understands connections  Provides clarity

Behaviours:  Seeks out new opportunities  Anticipates change  Emotional resilience  Supports change  Adapts

DRIVE FOR RESULTS

Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders. Behaviours:  Plans for results  Takes accountability  Takes risks  Focuses on outcomes

A commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the longterm capability of yourself and others. Behaviours:  Plans for development  Actions development  Supports others’ development  Develops staff

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