Manager, Land Administration

Trans Mountain operates Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil products to the West Coast. We deliver approximately 300,000 barrels of petroleum products each day through 1,150 kilometres of pipeline in Alberta and British Columbia, and 111 kilometres of pipeline in Washington state.

As the Manager, Land Administration with Trans Mountain, you’ll have the opportunity to work with a progressive and fast-paced group of experts in Land and Right of Way department. This position is based in our Calgary Head Office.

Reporting to the Director, Land, this position is accountable for land rights maintenance in all areas of land administration ensuring access to land, regulatory and legal compliance, and direct land administration support to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project including business readiness.

This position delivers land administration to Trans Mountain and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (The Project) by overseeing the execution of the project related programs including roads and crossings, payments and invoices, agreements and permits identifying data management requirements and working with IT to develop solutions, ensuring land related project payments are made and trackable.  The role also will provide land related information about the project corridor and landowners as requested. In addition to these responsibilities, the Manager, Land Administration manages the work of land contractors used for land administration activities; supports internal project teams; and maintains knowledge of relevant Canadian legislative and regulatory requirements. Business readiness requirements relating to land administration will also be managed by this role, including records and data transfer to base business along with ensuring operational readiness of the Trans Mountain operations land department.

While this position will support the Trans Mountain Expansion Project to start, the role will eventually transition to cover Land Administration, operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, guidance, direction, and oversight to direct reports supporting the project land department, resolving issues or further escalating those issues that can’t be resolved at this level
• Manages and maintains all current forms of agreement (including but not limited to; right-of-way agreements, temporary workspace agreements, leases, damage releases, CER related notices, valve site agreements, crossing agreements) and manages the development and approvals required for any nonstandard agreements
• Ensure the database management system continues to meet project requirements, identifying shortcomings and working with IT and the Senior Analyst, Land in support of department requirements Ensure the payments process is in a mature state so that all land related payments are made and able to be tracked, meeting corporate commitments included in our negotiated agreements with landowners
• Accountable for the Roads Program, giving direction to the road acquisition team, including the Roads Program Coordinator and all third-party vendors
• Advise and participate in the Borealis system implementation for the Trans Mountain operations land department to ensure successful migration of the Project land records and data
• Provide timely and accurate land related information as requested by the Project related to the project footprint, including landowner information, legal locations, copies of certificates of title or public land standing reports, survey plans etc.
• Develop a process for review of agreements, establishing QA / QC to ensure land rights are protected and regulatory needs are met
• Accountable for the Crossings Program, giving direction to the crossings team and stepping in where required to support and or manage complex, high impact and critical crossings required for the Project
• Provide support and direction for the operational readiness activities underway to transition the Project land files into the operational land department
• Advise and participate in the operational readiness initiative underway in the TM operations land department including the cataloguing and digitization of records and the implementation of operational management system (ISLMS)
• Represent Land at project meetings at a senior level, reporting on deliverables and helping to ensure our clients’ business needs are met
• Ensure efficient and effective land administration support and expertise to our internal project land agents and third-party vendors

Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Commerce or Extensive years of industry experience
• Petroleum Land Administration certificate, or Diploma in Land management.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience
• Complete understanding of surface rights, land administration and senior level understanding of records management
• Knowledge of relevant Canadian legislative and regulatory requirements
• An understanding of pipeline projects, operations, damage prevention and public awareness and how these areas work together
• Experience with managing and understanding land title processes and requirements for Alberta and British Columbia
• Excellent analytical skills to ensure contractual agreements are favorable to the Project and are within any applicable bounds of legislation
• An advanced working knowledge of regulatory documentation and governing body regulations (including fines, audits and guidance documents); understanding of the relationship between the Project and all levels of government in relation to land
• Proficiency in land administration programs and data resources, land data bases, GIS programs, full understanding of all general computing software (MS tools, Word, Excel, etc.)
• Thorough knowledge of the CER’s filing manual: acquisition and permitting requirements as well as the requirements of provincial regulators
• Experience with records management and maintenance of data integrity
• Resourceful, possess strong initiative, and have the ability to work independently; a self-starter able to work with a minimum of supervision
• Ability to work in a multi tasked, time sensitive environment

Other Requirements and Information

• Up to 25% travel will be required 

We Build Careers and Pipelines That Last

Our story is about determination, resourcefulness and resilience. It’s about charting our own course, finding innovative solutions to challenging problems and doing the right thing. It was true when Trans Mountain became a company in 1951 and it’s just as true today. We welcome new members to our team that embrace the qualities in our story, that thrive on the new path and directions we take.  Our culture is one of care and taking our responsibilities seriously. If you would like to contribute to our culture, then join our journey.

At rewarding opportunity:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits programs including flexible benefits, pension and savings plans
• Focus on health, safety and mental well-being of our workforce

In keeping with Trans Mountain’s commitment to maximize benefits for communities, priority will be given to qualified candidates from Indigenous, local and regional communities along the Trans Mountain existing, and expansion, pipeline corridor.

In Alberta, the existing pipeline system spans the traditional territories of Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4).

In British Columbia, the system crosses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations that are affiliated with the Secwepemc, Dakelh (Carrier), Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, Interior and Coast Salish, Stó:lo, as well as the Métis.

Trans Mountain also operates through 15 First Nation Reserves located within the region spanning the BC interior through Fraser Valley.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Trans Mountain is committed to supporting diversity and individual differences.  The diverse viewpoints and cultural knowledge that our employees bring to work enrich our organization’s collective cultural understanding, which is reflected in the work we do every day.  Trans Mountain welcomes new team members from traditionally underrepresented groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities.