Location: Calgary preferred, Edmonton or other AER Office locations across Alberta will be considered.
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. This position may be eligible to receive a Northern Living allowance. Northern Living allowances are provided based on the location of the position and where an employee primarily works and resides.
Vice President, Regulatory Compliance
The Opportunity
The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is recruiting for a visionary operational leader to serve as Vice President to the Regulatory Compliance branch. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will lead one of the AER’s most operationally critical portfolios, with accountability for compliance, enforcement, emergency management, emissions, and liability management across the full energy lifecycle.
As a core member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will work closely with the CEO, COO and executive peers to integrate operational planning, workforce and resource strategies, data and technology enablement, and budgets. This includes translating legislative and policy direction into executable plans and measurable outcomes that protect public safety, the environment, and regulatory credibility. A challenging position where every day is meaningful in the service of Albertans and in facilitating Alberta's world-leading Oil and Gas industry.
To be successful in this role you will be an execution focused leader who balances big picture strategy with decisive action, brings strong operational judgment, and has the foresight to anticipate and navigate complex challenges guiding high impact decisions in a dynamic, public interest environment. Turning regulatory requirements into action, setting priorities, driving province wide execution, and ensuring regulatory programs are delivered consistently, defensibly, and at scale is a norm.
What your day-to-day will look like:
Lead, engage, and inspire a geographically dispersed branch of AER employees, including a team of five Directors, responsible for field operations (compliance and emergency response), emissions and compliance verification, and occupational health and safety.
Set clear strategic direction for the branch by developing, implementing, and overseeing the branch's portion of the enterprise's integrated annual plans and priorities, ensuring the right capabilities, resources, and performance measures are in place to deliver on the AER’s mandate.
Establish, monitor, and refine performance metrics that drive accountability and results, adjusting priorities as needed and supporting leaders to ensure successful execution of the branch's priorities and enterprise plans.
Develop, coach, and mentor Directors and managers to build leadership capability and support strong, sustainable succession planning through intentional development plans and credible performance assessment.
Oversee the effective stewardship of AER resources, including staff, financial allocations, equipment, and assets, to ensure responsible, efficient, and outcomes focused utilization.
Champion a culture where staff safety is paramount and innovation is encouraged, recognized, and embedded, addressing barriers to change and implementing practical strategies to support successful and lasting adoption.
Actively lead, sponsor, and champion significant regulatory and transformational change initiatives, both internal and external to the AER, including implementation of Alberta’s Liability Management Framework, the AER’s Integrated Decision Approach, mandate expansion, and Government of Alberta initiatives such as Red Tape Reduction and Regulatory Efficiency.
Partner with the CEO, COO, Vice Presidents, and the broader senior leadership team to advance the AER’s strategic priorities, manage enterprise level issues, and represent the organization in building strong, collaborative relationships with, government partners, industry, Indigenous communities and external stakeholders.
What we’re looking for in you:
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, sciences or a related discipline. Advanced or supplemental education in strategic management, leadership, regulatory, or enforcement disciplines, as is Incident Command System (ICS 400) certification is considered an asset.
15+ years of progressive operational leadership experience in the oil & gas industry; familiarity with aspects of the AER’s regulatory processes; have led a department or group greater than 200+ people within a large organization, coupled with 10 years of senior leadership experience, specifically leading transformational change.
Operational background in Oil & Gas or Energy industry with leadership of field staff and demonstrated experience across the entire energy lifecycle, with knowledge of compliance, enforcement, and liability frameworks. Familiarity with the AER mandate, compliance framework, and Liability Management programs is considered an asset.
Strong people leadership capabilities, including the ability to build trust, lead collaboratively with peers, and contribute effectively as a member of a senior leadership team through consensus building, sound judgment, and effective conflict resolution.
Experience leading in complex, risk informed environments, with the confidence to make well reasoned decisions informed by a broad, enterprise perspective and a forward-looking mindset.
A reputation for integrity, ethics, and values-based leadership, aligned with the organization’s values and expectations of public interest stewardship.
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 is required within the province often to support leaders in the field centres and industry engagement 10-20% of the time.
If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email [email protected]. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
What we offer you:
Opportunity to make a difference and be part of a performance driven team that is responsible for the efficient, safe, orderly and environmentally responsible development of Alberta’s Energy and Mineral Resources.
The opportunity to leverage your expertise and critical thinking skills to solve complex, wide-ranging challenges.
Robust Total Reward Packages including; competitive compensation program, defined benefit pension plan(s), flexible benefits, and wellness programs.
More information about working at the AER’s including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website.
Application closing date: Sunday June 28, 2026 at midnight.
