Tribunals & Committees Manager

ABOUT THE DIVISION:

The Legislative Services team ensures the effective operation of municipal governance. The department provides direct support to Mayor and Council, manages Council and Committee meetings and ensures legislative and procedural requirements are met in accordance with the Municipal Government Act and other legislation.

The team is also responsible for maintaining official records, administering municipal bylaws and policies, overseeing elections, and fostering transparency through access to information and privacy management. By upholding strong governance practices and ensuring accountability, Legislative Services helps build public trust and supports the Municipality in serving the region effectively.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
:

The Manager, Tribunals and Committees serves in a key leadership role and is accountable for ensuring the Municipality's legislative practices withstand public, legal, and political scrutiny, minimizing organizational risk and reinforcing public confidence in democratic processes. The incumbent oversees legislated municipal services, such as Council and Council Committee meetings and administrative tribunals, while ensuring compliance with operating budgets, policies, and procedures.

As a leader, the incumbent upholds the Municipality's organizational values and is accountable for fostering a healthy, safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. Leading by example, the Manager promotes the Municipality's cultural competencies of personal accountability, continuous improvement, effective communication, collaboration, excellence in customer service, and support for common goals. Primary responsibilities of this position include:

Branch Management:
Assists the Chief Legislative Officer and leads the Tribunals and Committees Branch in overall program service delivery. Manages through direct involvement in daily operations, budgeting, and strategic planning of the overall design and deployment of department initiatives. Establishes risk management frameworks and compliance standards for tribunals, committees, and elections to ensure consistent and defensible outcomes across all program areas. Ensures all programs are developed according to legislation, industry standards, and best practices.

Leadership:
Takes a lead role in developing and implementing innovative and practical approaches to department initiatives to ensure all employees are working proficiently and effectively in a productive environment. Recruits, trains, and mentors staff. Leads staff in the delivery of advice, recommendations, and decision support. Acts for the Chief Legislative Officer as required. Strategically manages, leads, and inspires a team of legislative professionals in the delivery of efficient and effective customer service by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with elected officials, all levels of administration, and external stakeholders.

Implementation of Strategies:
Implements innovative and practical approaches to Council/Committee management and tribunal administration to align the Municipality with best practices in the industry. Acts as the Municipality's Substitute Returning Officer and is ultimately accountable for the delivery of fair, transparent, and legally compliant municipal elections. This includes budget oversight, staff and contractor training, stakeholder communications, and risk mitigation. Provides leadership during by-elections and manages any challenges or appeals to protect the integrity of the electoral process. Oversees tribunal administration to ensure adherence to principles of administrative law, procedural fairness, and legislative requirements. Provides direction on policy interpretation, decision-writing standards, and record-keeping protocols.

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
• Ability to interpret various governing legislations (i.e. Municipal Government Act, Local Authorities Election Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act).
• Sound knowledge of municipal government functions, including parliamentary procedure, elections, tribunal administration, general legal process and interpreting legislation.
• Experience working with elected/governance officials and/or senior leadership, providing neutral support, advice, and recommendations as required.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, municipal administration, and external stakeholders; interacts in a manner that builds trust, credibility and rapport.
• Demonstrates strong political acumen, with a clear understanding of how to build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including elected officials, council appointed committees, Indigenous communities, and other orders of government, industry, business, and the social profit sector.
• Negotiation, conflict management, communication, interpersonal, investigation, mediation, and analytical skills.
• High emotional intelligence capacity, including the ability to deal effectively with ambiguity and remain calm and neutral in conflict situations.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to lead and empower people, and use innovative approaches in situations involving rapid change, shifting priorities and competing demands.
• Proven ability to work under own initiative and make sound decisions, often under stressful conditions.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with prioritizing workflow, managing projects and completing time sensitive tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of financial and budget processes in a public sector environment.
• Knowledge of a variety of computer software applications, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of strategic, contingency, and business planning concepts.

EDUCATION:

• Degree in Political Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, Legal Studies, or other related. Applied Management Certificate, National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration, or Local Government Certificate is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered.

EXPERIENCE:

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory capacity.
• Previous experience in a legislative environment is preferred.
• Experience working in a public sector environment with unionized and non-unionized employees considered an asset.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Provide a criminal record check for review and acceptance.
• May require use of personal vehicle for business travel.
• Availability to work outside of regular business hours such as evenings and weekends.

SAFETY:

As an employee of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, the incumbent is responsible and accountable for knowing and working in accordance with the Health and Safety Directive. As per section 2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the incumbent shall ensure while in the employ of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo the health and safety of employees, contractors and the public.

This position is employed in a supervisory capacity. As such the employee is required to obtain additional safety training in accordance with municipal procedures and directives.