Alberta Energy Regulator Looking for Economist at Calgary, AB Full Time

Locations): Calgary Head Office and Edmonton Regional Office
Employment Type: Full Time – Permanent

Economist

The Opportunity
Come join us at the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), you will be a part of the AER’s powerhouse for developing and delivering technical excellence in the organization.

As the newest addition in the Technical Science & External Innovation branch, you will be a key member of the Economics group. This team of experts lends its technical knowledge to conduct regulatory analysis that supports industry competitiveness and investment in the province – through safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly practices. As an Economist, you will provide expertise in the areas of: economic analysis and data management; regulatory impact assessments (RIAs), and; socio-economic impact assessments (SEIAs).

Reporting to the Principal Economist, you will be responsible for analyzing and reporting on energy and economic statistics, and you will be using your skills to identify trends and develop forecasts. This includes gathering economic intelligence, updating and maintaining datasets and models, and preparing analysis.

The Economist role also supports the completion of regulatory and socio-economic impact assessments. This requires participation in multidisciplinary teams and collaboration with diverse stakeholders – both internally and externally.
As a new but experienced member of the team, the Economist in this role will also coach, support, and guide junior staff – all while continuing to develop their own technical expertise.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze key historical data for energy commodities and develop projections on energy supply and demand in Alberta. Draft reports and presentations on findings related to historical trends and projected scenarios.

• Develop, update, and maintain economic and forecasting models. Verify the assumptions used to ensure models are defensible. Use in-house models to understand the impact of future resource development on social, environmental, and economic outcomes.

• Collaborate with stakeholders on data gathering and analysis for RIAs and SEIAs.

• Formulate and develop analytical methods to integrate and estimate the economic, environmental, and social impacts of regulatory proposals while ensuring RIAs and SEIAs use defensible assumptions and models. Lead the modelling, reporting, and presenting activities related to estimated impacts.

• Develop, gather, maintain, and update high-quality energy, environmental, social and economic datasets related to energy development, and ensure statistics are readily available for modelling, forecasting, and RIAs / SEIAs uses.

• Provide responses to routine data requests on energy information or insights on RIAs / SEIAs. Support senior staff in preparing responses to complex requests. Ensure responses are accurate, timely, and relevant.

• Collaborate with stakeholders and complete economic evaluations for asset transfers, applications, and hearings. Attend hearings as a subject matter expert.

• Review, support, guide, and mentor junior staff on technical work.

• Prepare and provide briefings and presentations to senior leadership.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics (with a focus on energy and/or environment), or Bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines

• Five to seven years of relevant and progressive working experience with demonstrated statistical modelling knowledge – including the use of econometric forecasting, cost and benefit analysis, and scenario-based analytical tools.

• Energy industry knowledge and experience with evaluating environmental, social, and economic impacts.

• Strong communication (oral and written), teamwork, multitasking, and time management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to train and mentor junior staff

• Advanced MS Excel (e.g., macros/VBA) and @RISK software skills are an asset

Additional Requirements and Information:

• All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.

AER Hybrid Work Program
To honour our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, enhance employee attraction and retention and increase environmental sustainability, the AER offers a flexible work framework that provides for hybrid work and flexible hours.
What does our hybrid work model look like?

• Combination of in-office and remote work based on your preference and business needs!

• Flexible work hours, while committing to being available during our core hours of 9:00am – 3:00pm

If you choose to participate in the hybrid program, you will:

• Be provided with an AER computer or laptop when working in the office.

• Need to have access to a personal computer when working from home (unless assigned an AER laptop – dependant on business need).

• Have a high-speed internet connection with a minimum of 50 Mbps for downloads and 30 Mbps for uploads when working remotely.

Benefits at the AER

• Defined benefit pension plan(s)

• Personal spending account

• Flexible benefits program

• Work/Life Balance time off programs

• Healthcare spending account

• Voluntary Group Savings Programs

• Employee & Family Assistance Program

• Visit our careers page

for more details on all the AER has to offer!

For Internal Applicants Only

• Under the AER’s Classification Framework this position is a SP3, Level 5

• In the event a current AER employee would like to apply for an internal posting, the employee will inform their leader prior to submitting their application.

• Please note: Should an individual with the required qualifications not be available, applicants with closely related qualifications may be considered. As a result, the position may be redesigned and/or reclassified.

Please note, this job advertisement will close on January 02, 2023 at midnight.

Job Type: Full-time