25-41 Unlicensed Practice Manager

Want to be part of a team that makes a difference? Come be part of the change.

Since 1920, APEGA has been regulating the practices of engineering and geoscience to serve the public interest in Alberta.

We are looking for energetic people who thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, and challenging environment. You are committed to serving the community with integrity, accountability, and innovation, and capable of delivering exceptional service. If you reflect these values, have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to make a difference through your work, and are passionate about acting in the best interest of public safety – then come be a part of our diverse and inclusive team

Job Title: Unlicensed Practice Manager Job Family: Manager

Department: Unlicensed Practice Reports To: Director, Conduct & Legislation

Division: Regulatory Location: Edmonton

Competition: 25-41 Employment Indicator: Full-time, permanent

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director, Conduct & Legislation, the Unlicensed Practice Manager is responsible for the operational day-to-day delivery of the Unlicensed Practice unit. This position is responsible for supervising and providing support to the Unlicensed Practice team in the delivery of Unlicensed Practice regulatory processes, ensuring only registered members can practice as Engineers or Geoscientists within the province of Alberta and only permit holding companies are allowed to practice engineering or geoscience within the province of Alberta. This role ensures the Engineering and Geosciences Professions Act (the EGP Act) and regulations are complied with by dealing with individuals and companies that use reserved titles, represent entitlement to practice, or practice engineering or geoscience within the province of Alberta without an APEGA license or permit.

This includes overall management of cases using a risk-based framework, day-to-day oversight of complex Unlicensed Practice cases and making recommendations for continuous improvements on the process and related policies so the practices and procedures that lead to compliance protect the public and APEGA members. It will also include presentations to external stakeholder groups.

The Unlicensed Practice Manager provides support to the Enforcement Review Committee (ERC) to ensure the act and regulations are being upheld and enforced. This includes volunteer management of the ERC.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership of Unlicensed Practice Team

• Provide day-to-day leadership of the Unlicensed Practice team through day-to-day work load allocation and supervision. This includes recruitment, coaching, mentoring, and performance management (up to and including disciplinary action) of the team. This includes
• oversight of cases, research, interaction, documentation, and closure of cases.
• oversight and preparation of defensible case documentation that are suitable for affidavit and obtaining court injunctions
• providing direction and support to the team in resolving more complex case issues.
• Completing the initial risk evaluation on complaints and prioritizing cases based on the potential risk to public safety

Unlicensed Practice Caseload and Escalations

• The position carries a case load including acting as Case Specialist, dealing with case escalations and/or more complex cases to assist the team with workload, and as a mechanism to stay current on issues and the efficiency, fairness, and defensibility of the process. This includes
• developing case discussion materials, carrying out technical discussions with violators on determination of Engineering/Geoscience practice within the purview of the EGP Act and reviewing and editing legally defensible letters, affidavits, and injunction documents to be released under the signature of Director, Conduct & Legislation.
• Preparing briefing notes and related documentation for APEGA Council in preparation for decision to proceed with legal action on cases and for providing updates on cases with legal counsel.
• Reviewing evidence, making findings of fact, and making decisions on potential violations of the EGP Act.
• Deals with questions received internally and externally regarding the Unlicensed Practice process. Generally, explains rationale when required and resolves these issues. Escalations sometimes require an interpretation of policy or the act to violators when they do not understand who is entitled to practice engineering or geoscience in the province of Alberta and what constitutes engineering and geoscience work. In rare instances some cases will be forwarded to the Director, Conduct & Legislation.
• As the Unlicensed Practice Manager, this role will work with legal counsel and provide clarification for obtaining injunction and pursuing Contempt of Court issues.

Operational Planning and Strategic Direction

• Reviews, revises, creates, and maintains processes and procedures supporting Unlicensed Practice policies.
• Captures, reports on, and analyzes Unlicensed Practice complaint and case statistics.
• Provides input and support to Director, Conduct & Legislation on strategic direction and operational planning of the department. This includes policy development, and handbook revisions etc.
• Develops and communicates key messages to target audiences regarding reserved practice and reserved title provisions of the EGP Act, and the consequences of non-compliance with an aim of increasing awareness of compliance to Part 1 (and related sections) of the EGP Act.
• Ensures the Unlicensed Practice external communications are maintained through reviews, revisions, and creating new content related to Unlicensed Practice and the work done by this team.

Competencies, Skills & Attributes

Competencies Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Core:

• Exemplifying Integrity
• Fostering Communication
• Results Orientation
• Service Excellence
• Teamwork

Functional:

• Enforcement
• Legislation & Compliance

Core Leadership:

• Decision Making
• Ensuring Accountability
• Inspiring Others
• The Engineering and Geosciences Professions Act, Regulations, and Bylaws, statutory obligations including a thorough understanding of a wide variety of Unlicensed Practice and disciplinary issues within the profession.
• Operational planning, program development and budgeting and human resource management.
• Thorough understanding of what is and what is not engineering/geoscience work combined with the ability to articulate it clearly and explain it. Specifically, the difference between professional engineering work and technologist work.
• Working knowledge of the judiciary system, administrative law, and rules of admissibility of evidence.
• Core competencies: exemplifying integrity, fostering communication, results orientation, service excellence, and teamwork
• Functional competencies: decision making, ensuring accountability, inspiring others, enforcement, legislation and compliance
• Ability to influence others in decision making capacity through sound knowledge, understanding and experience dealing with the engineering/geoscience professions and the required credentials and the Unlicensed Practice process.
• Solid managerial and interpersonal skills in dealing and communicating with the public and professionals across diverse functional areas including technical specialists, senior management, boards and committees, and other provincial bodies.
• Ability to empathize with broad/diverse groups of stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing. Effective editing skills while reviewing legal documents.
• Solid human relations including coaching, team building, and motivation skills.
• Technical problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and conflict management skills.

Qualifications

• Professional Engineer or Geoscientist registered with APEGA or eligible for membership in APEGA
• 10 years of engineering or geoscience related experience in progressively more responsible roles including project management and/or operational oversight of engineering related work.
• Experience supervising teams in a professional environment is required.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have worked in environments working with legislation, regulations or where policies or rules govern practice apply.
• Equivalencies may be considered.

Closing Date: Until successful candidate is found.

We acknowledge all candidates working in their area of expertise may build their knowledge, skills, and competencies in several ways. We welcome candidates from a breadth of backgrounds, who may have equivalent skills and competencies to the ones listed above. There may be APEGA positions posted that have specific regulatory requirements, and in keeping with those requirements, APEGA will follow the guidelines that we are bound by. All candidates are considered with the objective to enhance APEGA's people and culture.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your cover letter and resume directly through our company website ).

Thank you for your interest in APEGA.

Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.