- Environmental, Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement
- Regulatory Affairs Professional
- NOCs #22231, #4112
Regulatory Affairs Professional
Your project knowledge is all about the regulatory requirements. You help make energy projects happen by ensuring that every possible regulatory requirement is considered and addressed all the while demonstrating the project’s greater benefits to a community.
Regulatory affairs professionals assist in the development and implementation of corporate regulatory strategy and policy, and provide support for the resolution of issues within regulatory parameters. They coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals and registrations.
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.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Pipelines, Oil sands, Offshore
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $53,000 to $171,000
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
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
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- 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
- Sub-sector Engineering, design and procurement, Construction, Contracted and turnaround maintenance, Start-up and commissioning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A regulatory affairs professional in oil and natural gas considering a career change to industrial construction and maintenance in energy may need to complete some minor upskilling for a successful transition. Strong working knowledge of regulatory standards related to all phases of industrial construction is likely required.
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
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Career development fostered/supported (engineering, design and procurement | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Urban location (engineering, design and procurement | construction | contracted and turnaround maintenance | start-up and commissioning)
- Potentially unionized (engineering, design and procurement)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- 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
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction, Well site decommissioning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
The skills gained as a regulatory affairs professional in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the CCUS and well site decommissioning sub-sectors of cleantech. A worker considering a career change from oil and gas to the emissions reduction sub-sector of cleantech may need to complete some minor upskilling for a successful transition. Gaining a strong understanding of regulatory standards, governmental infrastructure and processes in relation to energy projects may be required.
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
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Urban location (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- 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
The cleantech sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
CCUS
- Transferability: Direct
- Skills upgrade: None
Emissions reduction
- Transferability: Refocus
- Skills upgrade: Minor
Well site decommissioning
- Transferability: Direct
- Skills upgrade: None
What does this mean for workers?
Workers will find that the ease of a career change from oil and natural gas into cleantech may vary by sub-sector. There could be differences in the need to upskill, gain knowledge and experience and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a regulatory affairs professional in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to LNG facility operation.
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
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Potential for relocation
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- 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
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skilled gained as a regulatory affairs professional in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to petrochemicals and refining.
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
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- 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
- Sub-sector Geothermal, Solar, Wind
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A regulatory affairs professional in oil and natural gas considering a career change to renewables may need to complete some minor upskilling for a successful transition. Gaining knowledge of regulatory standards in the geothermal, solar and wind sub-sectors may be required. A worker transitioning to geothermal may expect to earn an average salary range similar to that of oil and natural gas, however, workers in solar and wind may earn an average salary range lower than an average oil and natural gas salary range.
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
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Primarily indoor/office work (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Less formal organizational structure (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Transition to a similar level (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Urban location (geothermal | solar | wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- 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
The renewables sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
Geothermal
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Solar
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
Wind
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
There could be differences in the expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
