Senior Public Engagement Specialist
About The Position
This is an opportunity to play a senior, visible leadership role in shaping how communities, governments, and organizations engage on complex and meaningful issues across Canada. As a Senior Public Engagement Specialist, you will lead high‑impact engagement and facilitation initiatives that influence decision‑making on infrastructure, environment, climate resilience, policy, and strategic planning projects. Based out of WSP’s Edmonton office, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams locally and nationally, working at the intersection of technical expertise, public values, and community trust. You will bring depth of experience, sound professional judgment, and a passion for inclusive engagement to projects that span sectors and geographies. In this role, you will not only deliver best‑in‑class engagement programs, but also help advance engagement practice within WSP—through mentoring, thought leadership, and contribution to professional standards such as IAP2. This is a role for a seasoned engagement professional who is motivated by impact, leadership, and the opportunity to shape outcomes that matter.
Requirements
- Senior-level engagement/facilitation experience with leadership roles in both the public and private sectors.
- Engagement and facilitation project experience across Canada, including complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
- IAP2 Certificate in Public Participation (P2) (mandatory)
- Experience working across environmental, climate, policy, infrastructure, energy, and strategic planning project contexts.
Nice To Haves
- Additional IAP2 training is an asset.
- Certified Public Engagement Professional (CP3) designation preferred.
- Accredited and/or licensed engagement trainer status; IAP2 Licensed Trainer strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated IAP2 leadership and volunteer experience within the engagement profession.
- A technical background such as Registered Professional Planner (RPP) or Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) is considered an asset.
Responsibilities
- Lead public engagement and facilitation projects across Canada, delivering inclusive, transparent, and defensible outcomes for complex initiatives.
- Apply and champion IAP2 Core Values, Code of Ethics, Best Practices, and the Spectrum to design and deliver high‑quality engagement programs.
- Serve diverse client organizations—including industry, community, Indigenous organizations, municipal and provincial governments, academia, and economic entities—tailoring approaches to context and culture.
- Drive impact across a wide range of project types such as environmental assessments, climate resilience, policy development, water and wastewater management, energy and resources, and strategic planning.
- Provide leadership through mentoring, coaching, and guiding project teams, contributing to both public and private sector engagement excellence.
- Strengthen capability by contributing to IAP2 leadership, volunteer activities, and continuous improvement of engagement practices.
- Leverage technical insight (e.g., RPP, CET or similar background) to integrate engagement with planning, engineering, and advisory workstreams.
Benefits
- Flexible work, real balance – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
