Tourism and Lands Policy Advisor

Job Information
Job Title: Tourism and Lands Policy Advisor
Job Requisition ID: 89106
Ministry: Tourism and Sport
Location: Calgary
Full or Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 18, 2026
Classification: Program Services 4
Salary: $3,148.20 - $4,126.82 bi-weekly ($82,168 - $107,710/year)
The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding career opportunities.
Tourism and Sport works with communities, businesses and Travel Alberta to showcase the beauty of Alberta and propel our tourism and sport industries to new heights. One of the Government of Alberta’s most exciting ministries! We lead the development, sustainability and growth of Alberta’s visitor economy. We also lead the growth of Alberta’s non-profit sport system as well as promoting safe and welcoming environments for sport, physical activity and recreation.
Higher Ground - A Tourism Sector Strategy guides government actions over 10 years to drive growth of Alberta's visitor economy to $25 billion in annual visitor expenditures by 2035 – growth of 150%.
The visitor economy represents the money and jobs created when people travel to or within Alberta to visit, like spending at hotels, restaurants, and attractions.
Tourism contributes significantly to Alberta’s prosperity. It boosts local economies, preserves cultures and languages, and raises international awareness of Alberta as a competitive destination to visit, play, work and invest.
The Sport, Tourism and Recreation (STAR) Division leads programming for the department. The Division is comprised of the Assistant Deputy Minister's office; the Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation (SPAR) Branch; the Tourism Policy and Strategy (TPS) Branch, and the All-Season Resorts (ASR) Branch. The STAR Division collaborates with many Governments of Alberta Ministries and with a broad range of tourism, sport, physical activity and recreation stakeholders.
To learn more about Tourism Policy and Strategy and what it has to offer, follow this link: Tourism and Sport.

Role Responsibilities

Shape the future of Alberta’s visitor economy by ensuring tourism and outdoor recreation are embedded in how the province plans, manages, and activates its Crown Lands.
This role is a strategic driver in advancing Alberta’s tourism and outdoor recreation priorities through land‑use planning, policy development, and cross‑government collaboration. As a subject‑matter expert, you will champion tourism considerations in regional and provincial planning processes, identify and remove barriers to commercial activity on Crown Lands, and help deliver on Alberta’s goal of growing annual visitor spending to $25 billion by 2035. You will build strong partnerships across ministries, Travel Alberta, municipalities, and industry stakeholders to unlock new opportunities, support sustainable development, and shape policies that strengthen Alberta’s visitor economy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Participate actively in regional, sub-regional, and trail planning across the government - preparing written submissions, analyzing maps and GIS data, supporting townhalls and public engagements, and identifying site-based opportunities for tourism and recreation.
• Outside of formal land-use planning processes, collaborate across the government and external stakeholders to find solutions that enable site-based tourism and recreation opportunities.
• Where appropriate, support the implementation of cross-government strategies impacting tourism and recreation.
• Support the diversification of Alberta's economy by developing policy solutions to minimize impediments to commercial activity on Crown Lands.
• Policy development and administration.
• Information requests/action requests/briefs.
• Stakeholder Engagements.
• Grant Support.

The Job Description is provided for further details on this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

• Drive for Results: Works to exceed goals and partner with others to achieve objectives. Plans based on experience. Holds self and others responsible for results. Partners with groups to achieve outcomes. Aims to exceed expectations.
• Develop Networks: Builds trust to fairly represent every party: Uses network to identify opportunities. Establishes credibility and common purpose with a range of people. Actively represents needs and varying groups. Creates strategic impression by inspiring and connecting with values and beliefs.
• Agility: Understands need for change and manages own emotions. Uses common sense and experience to approach ambiguous problems. Prevents emotions from affecting others negatively. Looks for information on changes. Open to new ideas and helping co-workers.
• Systems Thinking: Observes and understands larger impact of role. Sees impact of work on organization; anticipates change in own area based on activities in other areas. Considers how own work impacts others and vice versa. Ask questions to understand broader goals. Aware of how organization adds value for clients and stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required: University degree in a related field, PLUS 4 years related experience or equivalent as described

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of 1 year of education for 1 year of experience, or 1 year of experience for 1 year of education
For Example:

• Related 1 year certificate PLUS a minimum 7 years of experience.
• Related 2-year diploma PLUS a minimum 6 years of experience.
• Related minimum 8 years of experience.

The successful candidate MUST also have:

• Knowledge of land use planning and policy processes and frameworks.

Assets:

• Knowledge of provincial, municipal, and federal legislation, policies, and programs/supports that relate to tourism and outdoor recreation.
• Knowledge of the tourism sector.
• Experience drafting correspondence including briefing notes.
• Knowledge of policy development processes and practices.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

Term of Employment: Permanent Full-time position

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Location: Calgary, on-site

Written Assessments: Candidates may be required to complete a written assessment and presentation to further evaluate their skills, knowledge, and experience related to the role.

Final candidates may be required to undergo a security screening

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.
Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP)
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

How To Apply

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply online. Please see Job Application Resources for more information.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 - June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information.

It is also recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Tomasz Gruszka at Tomasz.Gruszka@gov.ab.ca.