Executive Advisor – Development & Ecosystem Competitiveness

Sturgeon County is recruiting for a senior advisor to be responsible for continually improving Sturgeon County’s competitive position with emphasis on industrial development areas and Energy Value Chain / ecosystem evolution and development.

This position will be responsible for identifying and implementing strategies, tactics, and policy needed for profound investment in value-added energy and energy transition development typologies. Emphasis will be placed on fostering a transitioned energy ecosystem which includes the supply and demand of value-added energy products including blue/green hydrogen; blue/green ammonia; petrochemical derivatives; conversion industry and others. Development areas of primary focus will include Sturgeon County’s portion of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, the Sturgeon Industrial Park, and the Villeneuve Airport Area.

Interested? Please click on the following link to apply on our website: Executive Advisor - Development & Ecosystem Competitiveness

Key Responsibilities Include:

Job Duties:

Strategic Initiative Management

Develop strategic recommendations to position Sturgeon County’s Industrial Heartland area and other key industrial development areas for rapid development, including costed implementation plans considering legal, policy, regulatory and competitiveness factors. As well as supporting the Ecosystem approach to development in Sturgeon County. Includes but not limited to:
- Growth hurdles
- Infrastructure requirements
- Pipeline corridor development (below and above ground)
- Electrical infrastructure rights of way, design specifications
- Roadway basin development
- Development Levy procedures, policies
- Energy value chain and associated infrastructure development processes and workflows.
- Utility rights of way, Utility service reach and service offering
- Overweight / oversized infrastructure corridors (Heavy Haul Routes) – provincial and municipal
- Actions to increase revenue, cut costs, and promote growth related to energy value chain development.
- Designated Industrial Zone and Alberta Industrial Heartland initiatives
- Utility collaboration models
- Identifying opportunities for private industry co-location and cooperation
- Rail network development and access
- Internal / cross departmental collaboration initiatives and coordination
- Identify Community Wellness (ESG) contribution opportunities to provide for community connection and to embed new investors into the Sturgeon County Community.

Develop strategic recommendations to position Sturgeon County as an international scale Integrated Clean Energy Ecosystem and a jurisdiction at the forefront of net zero development and new energy economies. This includes consideration of the whole of the County and its partnerships. Includes but not limited to:
- Partner engagement, including regional hubs and accelerator
- Communications and marketing and thought leadership
- Policy improvements
- Market research and integration requirements
- Infrastructure requirements
- Workforce development initiatives
- Utility collaboration models
- Regulatory framework modernization
- Mapping, site selection and process steps
- Cross departmental collaboration initiatives and coordination

Contribute to the development and sustainment of a Sturgeon County Economic Development Strategy based on key recommendations, and lead implementation activities for all provided recommendations in areas of focus.

Lead or support other departmental or corporate initiatives, where required.

Executive Advisory and Reporting

Develop materials that provide timely information on emergent issues relating to focus areas including stakeholder changes, new legislative/regulatory changes, communication impacts, and other items of importance.

Develop comprehensive Request for Decision documents and briefings the department, executive management, and Council consideration.

Recommend the delegation of incoming issues to staff within the Division who have the appropriate knowledge of the issue. Monitor whether deadlines and objectives are being met and recommend interim actions in response to obstacles that may impact the ability to meet tight deadlines.

Provide regular executive updates and support corporate reporting requirements (including Council and committee meetings, where required).

Support ecosystem efforts of the organization with reporting, monitoring, and evaluation of activities as well as adjustments to implementation planning.

Analysis, Representation and Relationships

Engagement with current and potential investors, and other stakeholders, to understand their needs and expectations and recommendations for driving investment in Sturgeon County.

Conducting market research and studying market trends, incorporating best practices into Sturgeon County practices, procedures, and regulatory frameworks. Specific support of ecosystem efforts will be required from this position.

Evaluating the practices and market behavior of industry (and municipal) competitors.

Reviewing and analyzing the efficacy of revised business strategies as they are implemented and utilized.

Where required, represent the organization on external committees, engagements, or interfaces, working to actively observe, evaluate, articulate, and report on matters of importance.

Support relationships that promote the reputation of Sturgeon County as a trusted partner with industry and other external partners (trade associations, industry associations, and others).

Support relationships within the Division and organization that demonstrate a positive, accountable, and future-focused orientation.

Liaise regularly with administrative personnel at multiple levels to solicit feedback, support, and to facilitate interdepartmental collaboration.

Other Related Responsibilities

Maintain high awareness of applicable documents, including:
- Council’s Strategic Plan
- Sturgeon County Business Plan
- Economic Development Strategies
- Area Structure Plans
- Utility Servicing Plans
- Infrastructure Master Plan
- Heartland Incentive Bylaw
- Sturgeon County Capital Plan
- Land Use Bylaw
- Schedule of Fees and Charges
- Road Use Agreements
- Pipeline Crossing Agreements
- Existing Rights-Of-Way (ROW) Agreements
- Lead Track Agreements

Develop and recommend detailed project plans including project scope, timing, resourcing, governance, communications, and other requirements.

Assemble and manage project teams and external services which includes timely and constructive feedback to support internal and external project team members.

Obtain and interpret legal or other internal / external advice when applicable.

Provide direct oversight and reporting on project financials and resourcing requirements.

Develop policies and processes to document and advance divisional business practices.

Adhere to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System.

Requirements:

Job Skills:

The ability to plan and implement multiple and often unstructured projects concurrently.

Strong proactivity and self-starter tendency, with the ability to work effectively whether independently or in groups.

High-level communication skills to create and deliver verbal presentations, prepare written materials (briefings, reports, and publications), and achieve buy-in and agreement.

Sound interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with a wide variety of stakeholders.

Well-developed research, business analysis, and project management skills.

Ability to set priorities, identify tasks, set achievable timelines.

Detailed knowledge of Energy and conversion industry trends and market behavior.

Detailed knowledge of Canada’s Energy Transition opportunity and public and private sector frameworks.

Excellent interpersonal and communication (written, verbal) skills.

Sound knowledge of financial analysis and municipal legislation.

Solid business acumen with the ability to think critically and recognize and anticipate issues that could have a significant impact on the division, organization, and community.

The ability to exercise sound judgment and be discrete in relation to sensitive matters.

Comprehensive knowledge and practical experience dealing with public policies, procedures as well as key functions and operations of municipal government.

Facilitation skills with the ability to effectively include stakeholders in the process of information sharing, planning and decision making.

Experience integrating cross-functional processes. Ability to navigate well throughout organization; analyze financial, operational, and business environment information.

Experience innovating to respond to new expectations from residents and businesses.

Well-developed conceptual and problem-solving skills.

Strong initiative, proactive planning, and time management skills and ability to respond to often heavy and shifting workloads. Must be able to communicate status of program work plans and represent program decision points.

Ability to perform the duties of this position remotely with some office environment and municipal travel required from time-to-time.

Job Qualifications:

Post secondary credentials in public/business administration, economic development, communications, project management, and policy development or another related field plus 10+ years related experience in both private and government settings (or a suitable combination of experience and education).

Ability to provide and maintain a home-based office as a condition of employment, with the ability to work from a Sturgeon County office from time to time.

Prior experience in business development and/or economic development with specialization in Petrochemical, Energy, or conversion industry (Manufacturing).

Demonstrated knowledge of and engagement with Federal, Provincial, and Municipal policy an asset.

Ability to demonstrate successful project management skills, having projects on time and on budget.

Fully competent in using Microsoft Office suite applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

A driver’s license is required, with the ability to travel outside the community when needed. Ability to work outside normal business hours, if needed.

Additional Job Information:

Posted Date: Mar 14, 2022
Closing Date: Apr 01, 2022