Crown Prosecutor

Role Responsibilities

The Alberta Crown Prosecution Services Division (ACPS) has an opportunity for an innovative and energetic prosecutor to join the Regulatory Unit in the Appeals and Specialized Prosecutions Office in Edmonton or Calgary, Alberta, in the Occupational Health and Safety portfolio (OHS)

Occupational Health and Safety legislation is public welfare legislation, and offences are strict liability, public welfare offences. Prosecutions are intended to enforce minimum standards of care and ensure regulated parties, such as employers, prime contractors, supervisors and workers, meet legislated standards. Most cases involve fatalities or serious, life altering injuries. 

The OHS prosecutor is responsible for conducting prosecutions pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated regulations. This includes pre-charge advice on legal issues arising out of investigations; reviewing completed investigation files to determine suitability for prosecution and recommending charge wording; and where charges are laid conducting all aspects of the prosecution, including summary resolution, pre-trial applications (particulars, quashing, disclosure) and trial. 

OHS prosecutors also may provide advice on and handle cases involving the following: criminal negligence causing bodily harm or death where the underlying act or omission is workplace related; conduct that violates the Workers’ Compensation Act and accompanying regulations, even where that conduct may also constitute a Criminal Code offence, such as cases involving fraudulent Workers’ Compensation Board claims; and other regulatory offence prosecutions or Criminal Code prosecutions that are within the mandate of the Specialized Prosecutions Office.

A significant component of the work in Specialized Prosecutions and the OHS Unit is pre-charge advice to investigative agencies. Trials are generally multi-day and typically range from 1 to 3 weeks. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Strong litigation skills, with a preference for prior experience conducting criminal or other regulatory prosecutions.
• Strong knowledge of criminal procedure and disclosure obligations.
• Strong knowledge of Occupational Health and Safety legislation or an interest therein and willingness to learn. 
• Experience analyzing and calling expert evidence.
• Strong independent decision-making skills, the ability to adapt readily to change, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• The ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, including OHS, injured workers and non-profit safety organizations.
• Strong problem-solving skills and experience responding to unexpected challenges during trial.
• The ability to independently manage your case load and prioritize cases based on limitation date and public interest factors.

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.

• Agility - Must be able to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience, and work effectively in changing environments
• Drive for Results - Sets goals and prioritizes work to accomplish them.  Follows through on duties and tasks and reports on progress.
• Develop Self and Others – Desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of self and others
• Build Collaborative Environments - Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Develop Networks – Proactively builds networks, connects and build trust in relationships with different stakeholders
• Systems Thinking – Understands how work contributes to the achievement of departmental goals.  Anticipates changes in own area based on activities in other areas.
• Creative Problem Solving – Have the ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Position specific competencies:

• Organizational Awareness: Understanding business plan goals, and a commitment to act upon them
• Communication skills: ability to effectively convey, receive, and interpret information in various forms, whether verbally, non-verbally, or in writing
• Teamwork: Working cooperatively with others toward agreed goals.
• Leadership: The ability to influence others to follow one’s business plan.
• Innovation: Ability to adapt to change and proceed toward revealed goals.
• Self-management: An on-going effort to improve one’s own performance.
• Resource Management: Effectively management internal and external resources to achieve organizational goals.

Qualifications

A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD), and active membership or immediate eligibility for membership with the Law Society of Alberta is required.

• Crown Prosecutor 1: a minimum of 0-4 years legal experience is required.
• Crown Prosecutor 2: a minimum of 4 years legal experience is required.
• Crown Prosecutor 3: a minimum of 11 years legal experience is required.

Other requirement

• For Law degrees obtained outside Canada, proof of accreditation from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is required.
• A valid Alberta Motor Vehicle Operators License and travel within the province.
• In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter briefly outlining your criminal law experience and your bar call date (applications without the Cover Letter may not be considered).  

Asset 

Criminal law experience and previous experience as a prosecutor and experience in regulatory prosecutions are preferred.

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

Notes

This opportunity is located in Edmonton or Calgary.

The Hours of Work are 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Travel within Alberta to circuit court locations is a requirement for this role.

Final candidates for this position will be asked to undergo security screening. Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate.

This competition may be used to fill future permanent, temporary, full time and part-time vacancies.

Successful candidate(s) may be eligible for relocation expenses up to $10,000.00  

The Alberta Public Service is a great place to work!

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) 
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs
• Crown Prosecutors get one earned day off per month for excess hours worked.