Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To support the development of all Forest Management Plans within the district to provide for the sustainability of forest ecosystems.
To develop and monitor for compliance and effectiveness the implementation of the forest management component of the Crown and, where appropriate, the private land resource management programs within the district.
To provide professional forestry expertise in support of the district integrated resource management programs and forestry advice to the general public, local forest industry and other external agencies.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Contributing to the achievement of MNR's goal of ecological sustainability by acquiring, sharing and applying knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of resource and ecosystem planning and management, ecological sustainability and MNR strategic direction; interpreting, advising on and applying resource-based legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines in the development of forest management plans for the district.
Communicating government/ministry direction and priorities to stakeholders/interest groups who engage in local FMP process to facilitate understanding and acceptance of ecological and sustainable management principles.
2. Providing expert forest management advice to other district and regional program areas on a landscape basis and to private landowners as required.
Strengthening relationships with district resource users/stakeholders and aboriginal communities in relation to forest management; monitoring public, LCC, aboriginal and stakeholder consultation efforts in the district to ensure they are effective and fully satisfy legal obligations. Drafting briefing notes and correspondence related to issues arising from forest management planning and forest operations.
Providing support to integrated regional forest planning teams by advising the District Resource Management Supervisor with respect to staffing, resourcing and scheduling in order to satisfy relevant legislation, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines. Providing guidance and professional forestry expertise to district and regional resource planning teams; promoting professionalism, achievement of high standards and encouraging innovation and continual improvement.
4. Supporting the preparation of district forest management plans including Local Citizens? Committee and Aboriginal involvement in the plan and supporting the planning of operations. Supporting the review of major amendment requests for district forest management plans and leading the review and approval of minor and administrative amendments.
5. Leading and supporting the implementation of district forest management plans by analyzing and reviewing annual work schedules developed by sustainable licence holders, making recommendations for additions or modifications; auditing the implementation of the annual work schedule for compliance with the planned work and determining the effectiveness of the silvicultural treatments; and coordinating the preparation of annual forest management planning requirements, including amendments to the forest management plan, for Crown Management Units.
6. Working with regional staff on the development of Aboriginal Background Information Reports, management or stakeholder issues and the formal FMP Issue Resolution process; providing advice and recommendations on the resolution of complex and contentious resource management and allocation issues and/or dispute resolution.
7. Preparing/reviewing annual reports which detail forest depletion, wood utilization, forest renewal and maintenance and tree improvement to assess sustainability. Supporting the preparation and review of overlapping licence agreements and forest resource licences within the district; reviewing and providing advice on annual forest renewal rates.
8. Leading the silvicultural and other effectiveness monitoring programs related to forest management activities, and making recommendations for improvements where necessary. Providing support to regionally led or coordinated forest management and forest management planning initiatives.
9. Other duties: Management has right to assign other duties.

Staffing and Licencing :

Registered Professional Forester (RPF) designation from Ontario Professional Foresters Association required.

Knowledge :

Knowledge of forest management planning requirements and practices to lead the development of forest management plans.
Knowledge of theories, methodologies and practices of forest resource management to provide expert forest management advice to other district/regional program areas on a landscape basis, to private landowners, general public, local forest industry and other external agencies to achieve MNR's goal of ecological sustainability.
Knowledge of Ontario's forest legislation, regulations and policies (e.g. Crown Forest Sustainability Act, Forest Management Planning Manual, Forest Information Manual, Forest Operations and Silviculture Manual), programs and regulatory mechanisms to coordinate the development of forest management plans and related forest planning products.
Knowledge of Ontario's forest industry and government policies related to the forest industry to ensure Forest Management Plan requirements are fully satisfied prior to recommending plan approval.
Knowledge of legal obligation matters related to forest management and aboriginal aspects, including legal duty to consult to develop and coordinate effective methods of communication, consultation and record-keeping.
Knowledge of personal computers, internet, database management and a variety of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, communication, spatial analysis and modelling software to prepare briefing materials, correspondence, reports, etc. and to assess forest management plans by
analyzing/verifying data and making recommendations.
Knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and current technologies.
Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and those regulations made under the Act that apply to the workplace and work being performed.

Skills :

Organizational, coordination, project management and leadership skills to direct planning teams and coordinate Local Citizen Committee meetings by liaising with chairperson, setting up meetings and often making presentations on matters like updates on forest management plan, plan amendments, forest compliance and effectiveness of plan components like silviculture and road use strategies.
Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to lead team members, provide advice/recommendations on staffing, resourcing and scheduling in order to satisfy relevant legislation, policies, procedures, prepare submissions, briefing/communication materials and make presentations.
Reasoning, analytical, facilitation and consensus building skills to analyse, review and make recommendations related to major amendment requests/minor and administrative amendments to district forest management plans; analysing and reviewing annual work schedules developed by sustainable licence holders, making recommendations for additions or modifications; analysing annual reports on forest depletion, wood utilization,
forest renewal, maintenance and tree improvement to assess/report on sustainability; auditing/analysing and determining the effectiveness of the silvicultural treatments and monitoring program; and for effective problem solving (recommending solutions to resource management issues based on local knowledge of the forest and local stakeholders), conflict resolution and team building.
Ability to work under pressure while motivating other team members to achieve assigned objectives within strict timelines.

Freedom of Action :

Work is performed under the general supervision of District Resources Management Supervisor. Job requires operating within ministry and government legislation, established policies, guidelines, directives, procedures and established forest management principles, practices and procedures.
Job exercises latitude in decision making by providing expertise and professional guidance to integrated district and/or regional planning teams on landscape basis; by reviewing/analysing major/minor amendments to district forest management plans; by auditing the implementation of the annual work schedule for compliance with the planned work, determining the effectiveness of the silvicultural treatments, silvicultural and other effectiveness monitoring programs; by providing advice on annual forest renewal rates; and preparing reports, submissions and briefing materials.
Job requires making minor adjustments to established information process to ensure data and information is relevant, up-to-date and responsive to practitioners and corporate needs.
Job requires providing analyses and advice to management, ministry staff and external stakeholders on the interpretation and review of existing legislation, policies, guidelines and procedures related to forest management planning objectives and the resolution of related contentious issues, including recommending appropriate method for issue resolution.
Job requires arranging meetings and working to meet deadlines.