Following the formation of the first Peter Lougheed Progressive Conservative government in 1971, Orman served as executive assistant to two successive Alberta energy and resources ministers from 1972 to 1975.

In 1983 Orman ran unsuccessfully for the Federal Progressive Conservative nomination in Calgary Centre, finishing second to incumbent Harvie Andre.

In 1992 Orman ran in a field of nine candidates for the Progressive Conservative leadership and placed third to eventual winner Environment Minister and former Calgary Mayor Ralph Klein.

[2] The committee followed up with an open assembly of province-wide small "c" conservatives concerned with vote splitting by the two right of centre parties (PC's and Wild Rose).

[3] Orman was appointed Co-Chair of the 2024 UCP Leaders Dinner Committee.There were 1,300 attendees at the sold-out event held at the BMO Centre April 3, 2024.

During his tenure, Orman was responsible for the Human Rights Commission and implemented major changes to the Labour Relations Code.

Orman led many of Alberta's energy negotiations and took part in frequent speaking engagements on both national and international stages.

As Minister of Energy he was actively involved in the natural gas pricing contract dispute between Alberta producers and California Public Utilities Commission.

He also played a leading role in organizing and co-chairing the first federal-provincial energy and environment ministers joint meeting on Climate Change held in Kananaskis, Alberta.

He was founder, director and chief executive of NOR Energy AS from 2005 to 2011, a private company with assets in the North Sea, Tanzania, Australia and Czech Republic.

From April 26, 2016 to August 1, 2023 Orman was an independent non-executive director of Persta Resources Inc.(Hong Kong Stock Exchange).

[4] Orman has been deeply involved in the Alberta volunteer community beginning with the YWCA, where he worked with inner-city children as a teen.

He has provided provincial and federal political commentary on the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, Global Television, CTV and the CKUA Radio Network.