Regulatory Affairs Professional Spotlight

Regulatory Affairs Professionals ensure every regulatory requirement is addressed in their company’s proposals to make projects happen. Their work helps regulators determine if a project is of public interest – socially, environmentally and economically.

What a typical day looks like:

Regulatory Affairs Professionals work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders to help their company develop the elements for a coherent application for project approval from the regulators. But the work they do depends on their role:

Regulatory Specialists manage the input from multiple stakeholders in a project, considering environmental impacts, landowners and all relevant regulatory bodies.

Regulatory Permit Coordinators review plans for smaller projects, such as applying for a well license, for accuracy and completeness.

Regulatory Leads communicate directly with regulators, such as the National Energy Board and provincial regulatory agencies.

Legal Counsel provides advice and guidance on regulatory issues affecting the company and its assets.

Inspectors for Regulatory Compliance work with regulators to conduct inspections of oil and gas wells during operations, well servicing, well abandonment operations, enhanced oil recovery operations and pipelines.

Most Regulatory Affairs Professionals have the freedom to structure their own work and are prepared to work extra hours when required.

The kinds of problems Regulatory Affairs Professionals solve at work:

It could be a pipeline, a gas plant or new drilling project, but Regulatory Affairs Professionals always have the same problem to solve – get the project approved.

Skills used most on the job:

Regulatory Affairs Professionals are detail oriented, logical and inquisitive. They also enjoy interacting with people to learn a little about everything. Their job involves a lot of writing, bringing complex information into one understandable, coherent application.

For others, constantly seeking approval might be needy. But for a Regulatory Affairs Professional, it’s just another job well done.