Job Specification

Purpose :

To manage program delivery and monitor compliance with legislated standards and branch goals, ensure public safety and maintain industry best practices within a geographic region.

To participate in the development of branch policies and the development, communication and consistent application of operational practices, standards and guidelines.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Leads and manages the regional delivery of designated programs within legislative requirements under applicable program-related acts and regulations and ensures the consistent delivery of enforcement programs, case and records management policy and guidelines; manages the resolution of service delivery issues, restorative justice approaches, compliance matters, and complaints relating to program area.
2. Analyzes reports of operations, technical analyses, and service delivery issues; develops and monitors methods for continuous improvement and corrective action.
3. Works with program managers in the interpretation of legislation and branch policies and the development, communication and consistent application of operational practices, standards and guidelines. Identifies regional trends and issues impacting ministry programs and policies and recommends changes to policies and legislation.
4. Evaluates the delivery of program activities within the region to ensure activities conducted by enforcement staff are planned, monitored and tracked to ensure compliance with relevant acts, regulations and guidelines.
5. Ensures the program is planned and delivered in an environment of competing timelines and resources and utilizes science risk-based programs, information technology systems, strategic and business branch plans and interactive feedback from enforcement staff to allocate resources.
6. Monitors the work of the regional program through the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative occurrence reports to ensure compliance with legislative standards and prepares risk management and impact reports based on findings. Identifies and recommends methods for performance improvement by officers.
7. Manages contentious and sensitive issues, including incident investigation and ensures senior management is appropriately briefed as necessary.

Managerial Responsibilities :

1. Leads and manages a team(s) in the delivery of a program or service operation and contributes to financial, business, strategic planning and evaluation processes.
2. Identifies financial, material and human resources needs, manages and controls the operational/program/project or activities budget. Contributes to long term financial and resource planning.
3. Promotes a values-based and inclusive team through employee engagement, communicating program deliverables, setting and evaluating performance standards, recommends merit increases, identifies staffing needs, and makes hiring decisions, recommends discipline where required, and promptly addresses employee relations matters.
4. Develops and sustains internal and external stakeholder relationships to coordinate shared interests.
5. Responsible for ensuring compliance with regulatory, legal, financial, collective agreements and ministry policy commitments and advising senior management of sensitive issues/matters.

Qualifications :

Appointment as a Conservation Officer.

Pass psychological/physical assessments to determine suitability and fitness for the position.
Hold a valid Ontario Driver's License or equivalent as recognized by the Province of Ontario.
Valid Standard First Aid and CPR certificate.
Valid Pleasure Craft Operator's Card.
Pass the Ontario Hunting Licence Examination.
Successful completion and pass of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
Successful completion and pass of the 13 week training course at the Ontario Police College
Successful completion of the annual recertifications (e.g., use of sidearm, shotguns, batons, oleoresin capsicum aerosol spray, and empty hand self-defence techniques).
Enhanced-level screening check under the OPS Employment Screening Checks Policy which includes a criminal record check, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) check, local police record check, and credit check.

Knowledge :

Knowledge
Ministry strategic directions, policies, programs and service delivery models, to provide operational management of a program area, service or initiative, to determine and plan for program resource requirements and to ensure alignment of programs/projects with corporate, division and branch goals and objectives.

Human resources practices, policies, directives and collective agreements in relation to recruitment, training and development and labour relations to support an inclusive and engaged team; address employee issues and to support talent management.

Government and ministry financial and administrative procedures, to manage and control allocated financial and material resources, including developing annual budgets, and managing assets and contract service providers.

Expertise in project management principles and methodologies to manage the delivery of program plans, initiatives and goals.

Inspection and enforcement activities, and the relevant principles, practices and procedures pertaining to the policy or legislation to manage the delivery of the program for a designated region.

Intent and interpretation applicable acts, regulations and guidelines to monitor and ensure compliance, ensure consistent interpretation and application.

Enforcement and inspection techniques pertaining to program delivery and familiarity with quality standards to analyze reports of daily operations to identify and resolve technical issues.

Scientific and technological advances in support of increased efficiency of enforcement delivery including identifying opportunities for maximizing technology to improve efficiency of business practices.

Current regional issues, trends and developments to report on trends and their impact on ministry programs and policies.

Understanding of cultural diversity to deliver program mandate.

Understanding of factors and issues impacting and influencing Indigenous communities/peoples. Understanding of the concepts, barriers and principles for engaging, consulting and building relationships with Indigenous partners, communities and organizations.

Analytical Thinking :

Identifies trends and emerging issues and their political implications or program impact and makes recommendations for changes to policy and legislation.

Evaluates quantitative and qualitative occurrence reports to ensure compliance and in identifying methods for performance improvement by Officers.

Identifies and manages contentious issues; prepares risk management and impact reports; ensures senior management is briefed on issues.

Analytical and investigative skills are required in evaluating safety hazards and determining appropriate corrective measures to manage and minimize risks.

Planning / Coordinating :

Coordinates and plans the delivery of a program, operation, service or project considering the strategy and mandate of the branch and ministry.

Determines financial, material and human resources needs, coordinates operations with other areas of the branch and division, and organizes work to meet program objectives. Participates in divisional results based and strategic planning, processes.

Coordinates consultation and advisory meetings relating to program/service initiative with external and internal stakeholders, partners and consultants.

Plans and coordinates the delivery of enforcement programs in accordance with legislated requirements to protect public health and safety, protect natural resources, while maintaining industry best practices.

Consolidates and develops reports on annual regional compliance and enforcement plans / performance measures and coordinates the associated regional unit's investigative enforcement priorities to achieve ministry and divisional goals for environmental protection and to ensure the most effective use of resources.

Coordinates program delivery in multiple areas of the region to ensure consistent interpretation and application of the legislation.


Leadership / Guidance
Manages its team(s) by communicating values, strategies, expectations, and promotes an engaged and inclusive environment.

Ensures that identified organizational standards and operational goals are met by: contributing to succession planning; establishing performance standards; conducting regular performance management reviews; recommending merit increases; determining the organization of the work unit and by building individual and team competencies

Identifies and recommends staffing needs, conducts recruitment and selection activities, manages orientation/training, develops remedial plans; addresses employee/labour relations/employee matters.

Independence of Action :

Works under the general direction of the manager /management team and within the framework of ministry, division, branch policies, directives, guidelines and objectives.

Exercises independence of action in participating and providing program/service recommendations as a member of the management team. Provides expert opinions/briefings, advice to senior management on identified and emerging issues impacting program or service goals, outcomes or efficiencies.

Exercises discretion and independent judgement to determine and manage work activities where past practices may not exist.

Performs work under general direction and within ministry legislative authorities, acts, regulations, and policies of the area and makes considerable contributions to the establishment of strategic direction in the development of regional enforcement procedures and responses to corporate priorities.

Resolves service delivery issues and identifies trends and issues impacting ministry compliance and enforcement programs and policies. Identifies contentious issues and ensures senior management is briefed.

Ensures consistent application of enforcement with legislated standards prepares risk management and impact reports and determines corrective measures to manage and minimize risks.

Interpersonal/Communication :

Communicates with ministry and inter-ministry colleagues and specialists to exchange information, provide and obtain advice, interpret policy, make recommendations for policy development and coordinate efforts to ensure uniform program delivery and case management.

Consults with representatives from multiple industrial associations, non-government stakeholder groups, provincial and federal agencies, government, Indigenous communities, and police services (e.g. Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels) to collaborate on joint enforcement initiatives and provide advice on policies and programs.

Represents the region with other branches, divisions, ministries, media, and clients to promote programs and advice on policies and programs to meet ministry requirements.

Prepares reports and resource materials, briefing and information notes, and drafts correspondence for the Minister, Deputy Minister and other senior ministry staff.

Develops positive regional level relationships with stakeholders (e.g. municipal communities, police services, etc.) to builds strategic long term partnerships in support of enforcement programs.

Maintains relationships with Indigenous partners (e.g., organizations, community leaders), to discuss matters of mutual concern.

Physical Effort / Sensory Effort :

Most of the time is spent in an office environment with frequent opportunity to move about.

May be exposed to extreme weather conditions, rough terrain, and rough lake conditions when engaged with front-line enforcement activities.

Required to complete annual, physically demanding certifications (i.e. use of force and firearms certification).

Occasional heavy lifting, bending, twisting, climbing difficult terrain, and long periods of walking when attending on-site visits with staff.

Requires visual attention and concentration (i.e. reading without interruption) to develop and examine details of reports.

Requires concentrated effort to analyze complex issues and when attending meetings with ministry stakeholders.

Working Conditions :

Work is performed in a combination of a typical office environment, and frequent travel throughout the province.

May be exposed to extreme weather conditions, difficult terrain, utilizing a variety of equipment, snowmobiles, ATV's, boats and motors, aircraft.

Potential exposure to erratic behavior, verbal abuse, and the potential for physical danger when conducting searches and seizures.