Senior Specialist, Geoscience Data Management and Governance

Location: Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta preferred; Other AER locations will be considered.

Employment Type: Full Time – Permanent

Salary Range: T4, Level 6, $130,050- $153,000 per year. The final compensation for this position will be determined based on individual factors, including education, qualifications, experience, and internal equity. This position may be eligible to receive a Northern Living allowance. Northern Living allowances are provided based on the location of the position and where an employee primarily works and resides.

Senior Specialist, Geoscience Data Management and Governance – Hybrid

The Opportunity­­

The Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) is recruiting for a Geoscience Data Management and Governance, Senior Specialist position. This role provides leadership in the development, implementation, and governance of geoscience data and standards across our branch, ensuring consistent, accurate, and trusted data aligned with regulatory requirements, industry best practices, and organizational objectives. As the data steward for AGS, you will be accountable for the management and governance of surface, subsurface, water, seismic, and other types of geological data.

This position will lead both strategic and hands-on work across the full geoscience data lifecycle, including data standards, quality, metadata, storage, analysis, and use across AGS. This role will work closely with geoscientists, regulatory specialists, business stakeholders, and IT partners to translate decision-making needs into scalable data management and technical solutions, while supporting the long-term stewardship and effective use of AGS geoscience data assets.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Lead the development and maintenance of geoscience data standards, definitions, policies, naming conventions, and governance processes to ensure geoscience data are securely stored, described, and managed to support our long-term data management strategy and architecture.

• Oversee and advise on surface, subsurface, and geospatial data holdings, reviewing data content and applying quality assurance practices to ensure our geoscience data are accurate, consistent, and stored according to best-practice standards.

• Develop and apply data quality assurance methods to evaluate, maintain, and improve geoscience and geospatial datasets, supporting trusted data and complex analytical use.

• Design, develop, and advise on data solutions and designs, including databases, data models, scripts, macros, queries, and analytics, ensuring solutions are scalable, efficient, and fit for purpose.

• Manage geological datasets in Azure Cloud, including linkages to various geoscience applications, analytical tools, custom dashboards and web applications, to ensure that up-to-date information is available to AGS geoscientists.

• Apply a modern, cloud-first approach to geoscience data management and governance, including the design and governance of cloud-native geoscience data architectures to tabular, spatial, raster, and 3D data.

• Maintain and enhance metadata and documentation to ensure geoscience data are discoverable, accurate, and supported by clear lifecycle management practices.

• Lead and contribute to data management initiatives and projects, providing technical guidance on data solutions and designs.

• Collaborate with our IT team to align geoscience data management practices with enterprise platform strategies, architecture, and technology standards.

• Communicate complex data solutions, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders to support data literacy and responsible data use across AGS.

What we’re looking for in you:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, geoscience, or geoscience related discipline is required.

• 7+ years in the energy industry managing geological datasets and resources, database development and maintenance, and programming skills.

• Expert knowledge and experience in geological data validation, manipulation, visualization, and presentation, including full-cycle system and database development and maintenance.

• Proven technical expertise managing surface, subsurface, and operational geoscience data such as geological datasets, well completions data, LAS files, and related resources.

• Experience managing geoscience data using PostgreSQL/PostGIS, including spatial data modeling and querying, and integrating cloud‑native approaches such as STAC for cataloging, discovery, and access to raster and geospatial datasets within cloud‑based analytics platforms (including Posit Connect, Databricks, AzureML).

• Awareness of integration of data and its relation to geoscience applications (e.g. Schlumberger Petrel and Studio, IHS Accumap and Kingdom, LASWorx, ESRI ArcGIS Pro, etc.).

• Strong technical proficiency with SQL, XML, Python, R, or other high-level programming languages and software tools used to support data management and analytics.

• Database Administrator certification, Enterprise Architect certification, Azure Cloud certification, and Azure Database Administrator certification are considered assets.

• Ability to manage multiple initiatives concurrently, adapt to changing priorities with limited direction, and communicate complex data concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Information:

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

• 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.

• If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email [email protected]. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

What we offer you:

• Great benefits from your first day of work

• Flexible Work Program - hybrid work and flexible hours

• Edmonton: Hybrid work - employees located in Edmonton will work in office two days per week

• All other locations: Hybrid work - employees may work remotely up to five days per calendar month, with a limit of two remote days per week

• Defined benefit pension plan(s)

• Flexible benefits program options, including Personal & Health spending account(s)

• Generous vacation entitlement and flex days

More information about working at the AER’s including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website.

Our Commitment to Diversity:

At the AER, our values of Accountability, Collaboration, Transparency, and Trust & Respect are foundational to our culture – a culture where every individual, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected factors, thrives and contributes their unique perspectives.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion fuels innovation, creating a brighter, more sustainable Alberta for all. Join us in shaping this dynamic future.

Application closing date: May 3, 2026, at midnight

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