Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide operational leadership and direction to an operating provincial park.

To plan, implement and monitor capital program projects and provide capital development expertise to park leadership.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Provides operational leadership and direction to an operating park located including the planning and implementing existing and new capital construction projects and coordinating and implementing alternative service delivery options for supplying requirements for operations, maintenance and capital development in provincial parks.
2. Assists with the coordination of the capital budget by priority setting and preparing the multi-year capital business plan, developing and implementing the park operational and capital portion of the work plan, managing assigned budget allocations and ensuring compliance with administrative guidelines. Prepares the annual work plan and provides leadership in revenue and cost recovery analysis and direction as it relates to revenue generation and operating efficiencies.
3. Coordinates and establishes priorities for capital maintenance and development plans for the park, including developing joint government/partner capital ventures to replace ministry facilities, which require major capital investment. Oversees the implementation of the capital plan, manages the capital allocation and ensures compliance with administrative and financial policies, procedures and guidelines.
4. Coordinates budget submissions and alternate funding sources for the acquisition of vehicles and equipment, the development of roads, sewage treatment facilities, buildings, water systems, hydro, to ensure optimum use of available funding to deliver the quality and quantity infrastructure, including capital funding sources, other revenue sources generated through partnerships, and sale of merchandise to the public.
5. Provides leadership for land management in the park, including the interpretation of legislation and policies for permitted uses. Provides direction regarding unauthorized occupations, work permit requirements, allocation of funding, etc. for custodial management. Assists in the identification, review, interpretation or development of operational policies, procedures, standards and guidelines related to the provincial parks (e.g. emergency management, confined spaces regulations, land management, enforcement, park operational budget reviews, and requirements for persons with disabilities).
6. Ensures projects and activities associated with park operations, capital development and land management are consistent with the objective of maintaining or restoring ecological integrity consistent with the principles of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and Ontario Heritage Act; ensures initiatives are screened and are compliant with the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Protection Act.
7. Maintains strong communications and linkages with Ontario Parks' staff, District and program staff (e.g. Fish and Wildlife, Land Use Planning, Operations & Development, Emergency Planning); other clients and ministries and partners to ensure that capital construction projects and park operations are in compliance with ministry legislation, policies, procedures, provincial standards and guidelines while ensuring public/staff safety and ecological integrity are maintained.
8. Participates on provincial task teams for the development of policy and legislation for provincial park operations, development and enforcement. Assists with issues management, including preparing briefing notes/materials/presentations on sensitive or contentious issues, drafting communication responses to stakeholders.
9. Provides operational and resource management advice to senior management, peers, field staff, partners and clients, on policy and program initiatives and issues. Identifies new policy, resource management, and infrastructure development and new design needs required to support policy and program development (e.g. alternative energy and green initiatives, waste and water reduction projects).
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 :

Valid Driver's Licence.

Factors :

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.

Ministry strategic direction, business plans and service/program delivery models to ensure programs support ministry plans and directions.

Relevant resource management policies on heritage, conservation, and tourism (e.g. Our Sustainable Future, the Strategic Plan for Ontario Parks, Ontario Parks Green Strategy) and related federal and provincial legislation (Ontario Heritage Act) and policy development procedures to lead the development and implementation of policies, standards, guidelines that are consistent with current direction and legislative requirements.

Park management operations, including new and existing capital development programs (e.g. road, bridges, trails, buildings, water and sewage systems, electrical systems, etc.); land management (e.g. work permits and tenure); and resource management, including potential impact of operations and capital on the natural environment; to provide operational leadership and direction to park superintendents and provide advice/interpretation of legislation and policy matters.

Emergency planning requirements to coordinate/develop emergency plans to ensure park continuity in the event of an emergency.

Program Responsibility :

Responsible for providing operational and land management leadership and direction to an operating provincial park within a specific geographical region within the province.

Responsible for the planning and implementation of the capital program, for assisting in the identification, review, interpretation or development of operational policies, procedures, standards and guidelines related to the provincial park and for providing operational and resource management advice/materials on policy and program initiatives and issues.

Responsible for ensuring projects and activities associated with park operations, capital development and land management are consistent with the objective of maintaining or restoring ecological integrity.

Responsible for maintaining strong communications and linkages with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that capital construction projects and park operations are in compliance with legislation, policies, procedures, provincial standards and guidelines while maintaining or restoring historical and ecological integrity and ensuring public/staff safety.

Analytical Thinking :

Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, programs and management actions by managing information.

Establishes priorities for capital maintenance and development plans for the provincial park.

Analyzes and examines issues and recommends and develops innovative solutions to resource issues or policies.

Conducts revenue and cost recovery analysis and direction as it relates to revenue generation and operating efficiencies.

Evaluates the consequences of applying/revising guidelines, standards or new processes related to provincial park operations and ensuring that all projects/activities are consistent with objectives/principles of relevant legislation and policies.

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 implements existing and new capital construction projects and coordinates the implementing of alternative service delivery options for supplying requirements for operations, maintenance and capital development in provincial parks.

Coordinates and establishes priorities for capital maintenance and development plans for provincial parks, including developing joint government/partner capital ventures to replace ministry facilities, which require major capital investment.

Coordinates budget submissions and alternate funding sources for the acquisition of vehicles and equipment, the development of roads, sewage treatment facilities, buildings, water systems, hydro, to ensure optimum use of available funding.

Coordinates the identification, review, interpretation or development of operational policies, procedures, standards and guidelines related to the provincial park.

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.

Works under general direction and within the framework of relevant legislation, ministry policies, procedures and guidelines.

Provides leadership and expert advice relating to existing and new capital construction projects, operations and land management of the park, including identifying or responding to immediate policy and program issues and taking action to ensure delivery of a consistent park program to minimize risk and avoid government criticism.

Prepares the multi-year capital business plan and the annual work plan and provides leadership in revenue and cost recovery analysis and direction as it relates to revenue generation and operating efficiencies.

Establishes priorities for capital maintenance and development plans for provincial parks, including developing joint government/partner capital ventures to replace ministry facilities, which require major capital investment.

Accountable for providing operational and land management leadership and direction to an operating provincial park, to comply with provincial legislation, policy and procedures and maintain ecological integrity.

Interpersonal/Communication :

Liaises with senior ministry officials to obtain input, seek direction, recommend courses of action, and communicate progress of capital projects.

Engages with managers to discuss local issues, obtain input to identify capital program priorities, for the development of annual work plan, business cases and provide support for the tender process and the resolution of operational issues.

Discusses/resolves issues around priorities and the capital allocation and to discuss policy application with internal staff and managers in other main office.

Provides information and presentations on initiatives to staff and managers of other ministries (MTO, MOE, OMAFRA, MOL, MGS, and Tourism), organizations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Conservation Authorities, local Public Health Units and other stakeholder organizations such as cottage associations.

Represents the park on provincial teams.

Develops a variety of materials such as business cases, project proposals, briefing materials, correspondence and presentations.

Communicates with community partners and tourism stakeholders to support the organization's directives.

Physical Effort :

Requires moving/lifting objects such as artifacts during event set-up and delivery.

Sensory Effort :

Requires visual attention and concentration (i.e. reading without interruption) to develop and examine details of reports and develop operational and capital plans. Requires concentrated effort to listen in order to resolve complaints from the public.

Working Conditions :

There is frequent travel to historical sites to deliver special events and public programs, 7 days/week. Routinely inspects park and capital projects in all types of weather conditions.