Advisor, Policy and Governance

Regional-Municipality-of-Wood-Buffal; Fort McMurray; On-site; CAD 108,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo seeks a policy and governance advisor to lead governance framework development, revision, and compliance with statutory requirements. The role supports Mayor and Council, coordinates cross-functional teams, and manages documentation across municipal governance processes.

The incumbent ensures policy alignment with the Municipal Government Act and internal frameworks, enabling transparent, accountable governance and effective program delivery.

Qualifications

• Five years of progressive policy development and documents management experience.
• Experience interpreting legislation and governance documents.
• Municipal government/public sector experience is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develops, revises, and maintains governance documents in alignment with the Policy Management Framework.
• Prepares Council Reports, briefing notes and other supporting materials.
• Leads or participates in cross-functional policy development groups and coordinates stakeholder input.
• Maintains records and archives milestone documents; supports by drafting municipal bylaws as required.

Skills

Excellent communication

Relationship building

Governance knowledge

Project management

Technical writing

Analytical thinking

Confidentiality

Independent work

Team collaboration

MS Office proficiency

Education

Business/Public Administration/Legal studies degree

Legislative drafting training asset

PMI/Project management training asset

GBA+ or related analysis training asset

Facilitation training asset

Tools

SharePoint

Job description

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Requisition ID:4510
Affiliation: Exempt
Position Type: Temporary Full Time
Fixed Term Duration:Anticipated to end June 30, 2027
Number of Openings: 1
Bi-weekly Working Hours: 70 hours bi-weekly
Shift/Work Schedule:Monday - Friday
Department/ Branch: Legislative Services, Policy & Governance
Job Location: Fort McMurray

Starting Salary Range*:$107,582.00 - $117,668.00 (Pay Band F)

*The Municipality offers competitive compensation. The starting salary for this position will be within the range listed above and dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.

We strive to make our hiring process accessible to all candidates. If you require accommodation for the interview or any other part of the application process, please let us know.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

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 Advisor, Policy and Governance facilitates the development, design, and continuous improvement of governance frameworks and policy documents to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with Council direction and organizational objectives. As the Municipality’s primary resource for developing, revising, and maintaining governance documents, the incumbent upholds and advances the Policy Management Framework by ensuring all governance documents are legislatively compliant, strategically aligned, and developed in accordance with recognized best practices. In addition to core governance leadership, the position contributes significant cross-functional expertise to prioritize corporate initiatives and special projects—such as municipal elections—ensuring consistent, high-quality, and compliant outcomes across all service areas. Primary responsibilities of this position include:

Policy Management Framework

Ensures that policy development and revision activities are carried out in accordance with the Municipality’s Policy Management Framework. Reviews governance documents to ensure they are consistent, legally compliant, and aligned with best practices. Prepares final versions of Administrative Directives, Administrative Procedures, and supporting materials for submission to the CAO for approval and implementation. Prepares final versions of Council Policies and supporting materials for Council review and approval. Conducts regular audits to assess whether governance documents are current, effective, and complete, and to identify critical issues and gaps. Updates Policy Calendar and prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual Policy Calendar updates for senior leaders. Updates internal and external policy webpages to maintain current and accurate public and employee-facing information.

Research and Document Creation

Conducts research and analysis related to benchmarking, emerging issues, and best practices, and prepares recommendations that inform the development and refinement of governance documents. Supports all stages of the policy drafting process, including document preparation, editing, and integration of stakeholder feedback and legal opinions. Prepares Council Reports, briefing notes, and other supporting materials, as required. Maintains complete and accurate records of workflow activities and archives all milestone documents. Assists with drafting of municipal bylaws in accordance with the Municipal Government Act and applicable legislation. Prepares reports, presentations, and general ad hoc information as required.

Stakeholder Management and Coordination

Leads or participates in cross-functional working groups during policy development and revision, and facilitates discussion across different departments to enhance development, decision making, and integration. Facilitates review process, coordinates input, and consolidates feedback from diverse internal and external stakeholders. Sets up and monitors centralized collaboration sites using eScribe, Document Locator, SharePoint, and other relevant software packages and tools. Provides specialized technical and functional guidance and training on the development and revision of governance documents and adherence to the Policy Management Framework. Builds and strengthens positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, municipal departments, and senior leaders to ensure a collaborative and inclusive approach to policy management. Engages with policy professionals across Alberta and Canada to keep informed on emerging practices and to contribute to the advancement of a shared body of knowledge

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships in a manner that fosters trust, credibility, and rapport.
• Ability to think and act with sensitivity to the unique challenges of a public and political environment and to maintain confidentiality.
• Planning, organizational, time management, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong technical writing, editing, and proofreading skills.
• Ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Advanced research, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of policy development and legislative drafting principles.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Municipal Government Act.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Strong presentation, training, and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office.
• Proficiency in using enterprise information management tools, such as SharePoint, is an asset.

EDUCATION

• Degree in Business or Public Administration, Legal Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences or Humanities, Records and Information Management, or related discipline.
• Completion of, or willingness to complete, training in legislative drafting is an asset.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or training in project management is an asset.
• Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+), or similar intersectional analysis training, is an asset.
• Training in facilitation is an asset.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

EXPERIENCE

• Five (5) years of progressive experience in policy development, document management, records and information management, project management, or legal field.
• Experience interpreting and applying relevant legislation and governance documents.
• Experience working in a municipal government or other public-sector environment with unionised and non-unionised employees is an asset.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Position works primarily in a fast-paced, politically sensitive office environment but may require minor business travel within the Municipality. Scheduling flexibility is required to ensure compliance with legislated deadlines
• Criminal Record Check: is required as per organization policy for employment upon hiring.

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