Regulatory Affairs Professional

NOC #22231, #4112

  • Environment Primarily indoor/office work
  • Education Post-secondary diploma
  • Average salary $74,000 to $160,000

Career profile

Regulatory affairs professionals assist in the development and implementation of corporate regulatory strategy and policy, and provide support in project planning and operations to ensure compliance with relevant regulations. They also work with other teams across companies to develop solutions to problems if any part of a company’s operations is found to be in violation of applicable regulations which can include assuming a leading role in any emergency response situation. They coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals and registrations and contribute to submissions to regulatory agencies.

Specializations include:

  • Regulatory permit coordinators assist with permit applications, implementing permit approvals and maintaining compliance with permits. They also ensure that contractors have accurate and complete plans in place to obtain permits and approvals.
  • Regulatory specialists typically focus on regulatory compliance at a strategic level while supporting complicated projects with a large number of stakeholders involved.
  • Regulatory leads liaise with regulators such as the National Energy Board (NEB) and provincial regulatory agencies.
  • Legal counsel provides advice and guidance on regulatory issues affecting the company’s assets.
  • Inspectors for regulatory compliance work with regulators to conduct inspections of wells during operations, well servicing, well abandonment and enhanced oil recovery, as well as facilities and pipelines, in order to ensure compliance.
Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Pipelines, Oil sands, Offshore, Engineering, design and procurement, Construction, Contracted and turnaround maintenance, Start-up and commissioning, Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction, Well site decommissioning, Geothermal, Solar, Wind

When you start in this occupation activities may include:

  • Analyzing complaints and making recommendations regarding their reportability
  • Coordinating the preparation and submission of documents, reports and regulatory applications in compliance with applicable regulatory rules of practice and procedures
  • Recording permits against the established tracking process
  • Responding to emergencies as required and assuming the lead role during emergency response activities

As you advance in this career, you may take on additional tasks including:

  • Providing direction in relation to the company’s compliance with applicable federal, provincial and municipal regulatory laws
  • Recommending regulatory strategies for projects that require National Energy Board (NEB) or provincial agency approval
  • Assessing and managing technical and non-technical risks that arise during the regulatory process

Education

  • A post-secondary diploma or degree in a relevant field, such as business, economics, engineering, finance, law, policy, environmental sciences, biology or geology/hydrogeology (or a related discipline) is typically required. A law degree is required for a legal counsel role, and the person must be a member in good standing with the provincial Law Society. Individuals tend to work in their field to gain experience and leverage this experience to move to regulatory roles later in their career.

Certifications

  • Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements

Licensing

  • A professional engineering license may be required
  • A law degree and good standing with the provincial Law Society is required in a legal counsel role

  • Travel likely required
  • Primarily indoor/office work
  • Work not physically demanding

Detail-oriented and inquisitive, you thrive on challenge. A critical thinker and facilitator, you aren’t easily ruffled.

  • Attention to detail
  • Customer and personal service
  • Law and government
  • Critical thinking
  • Collaborative
  • Customer and personal service
  • Active listening
  • Complex problem solving
  • Negotiating
  • Leading and living the company vision and values