Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To assist in the development and effective delivery and administration of the Ministry/Governments policies, practices and procedures governing environmentally responsible land-use and mineral exploration and development. To provide advice and guidance to municipalities, agencies and others involved in or affected by land-use planning regarding mineral resource-related issues.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Working in a regional office, supporting the Resident Geologist Program, the incumbent is responsible for:

1. Assisting in the development and implementation of Ministry/Government land-use regulations, policies, practices, procedures to optimize access to and the use of Ontario's landbase for mineral resource interests. Providing policy and operational advice to Ontario's negotiators on Aboriginal land claim discussions and settlements.

2. Representing the Ministry on interministerial regional land-use planning initiatives and land-use management strategies, interministerial +/- First Nation +/- mineral sector +/- other stakeholder committees and working groups, and advising management/senior Ministry officials on related contentious issues. Actively participates at open houses, mineral industry conferences, public and community forums, etc., concerning land-use issues.

3. Developing communication materials (e.g. brochures, briefing notes), and providing guidance and advice to internal/external stakeholders; explaining Ministry/Government policies, regulations, guidelines and prescriptions that govern mineral exploration & development activities in identified environmentally sensitive/protected areas.

4. Reviewing and providing input and recommendations on Official Plans and Official Plan Amendments, gathering input/materials from other Resident Geologist Program staff, and incorporating into Ministry responses and recommendations to planning authorities on related contentious issues.

5. Organizing and delivering training sessions to planners and others (e.g. MNRF/MAH/municipal planning authorities/LCC mineral sector representatives on forest management planning teams) concerning their roles and responsibilities in interpreting and applying minerals-related provisions (e.g. the Provincial Policy Statement under the Planning Act) to planning activities and initiatives on private and public lands.

6. Leading in coordinating, prioritizing, and generating regional requirements for mineral resource assessments (MRAs), and other relevant information regarding land use on private and public lands in the region. Presenting/defending such information at interministerial/stakeholder meetings and working group sessions, First Nation communities and at Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearings as required.

7. Issuing work permits for mineral exploration activities within regionally identified environmentally sensitive areas as required (e.g. Temagami) as a designated officer under the Public Lands Act (PLA) and working in conjunction with staff in other ministries (principally the MNRF).

8. Monitor, document and report on industrial minerals and aggregate producers initiatives and activities in Southern Ontario, and assist in mitigating land-use planning issues that may impact on current and future mineral extraction operations within the region.

9. Manager has the right to assign additional duties as required.

Staffing and Licensing :

• Member of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO)

• Valid Ontario driver's licence

Knowledge :

• Geoscientific principles, theories and practices and mineral exploration and development practices and procedures, normally acquired through a degree in geology and considerable work-related experience.

• Relevant Ministry/provincial and federal government land-use administration and planning legislation, policies, practices and procedures related to both public and private lands in Ontario, (e.g. Mining Act, Public Lands Act, Parks Act, Planning Act, Aggregate Resources Act, Endangered Species Act).

• Land-use issues affecting mineral exploration and development in Ontario and awareness of related First Nation issues and concerns.

• Operational familiarity with Ministry communication and word-processing programs (e.g. Word, PowerPoint) and with the management and use of digital geospatial data.

Skills :

Job requires negotiating, inter-personal, consultation and diplomacy skills to:
• Negotiate and mitigate disputes and conflicts that may arise concerning the development and implementation of Ministerial/interministerial land-use and land-access policies, guidelines and procedures and/or disputes and conflicts between mineral industry clients and other stakeholders/third party interests.

Job requires reasoning/ analytical skills to:
• Assist in the development of Ministry/Government land-use regulations, policies, practices, and procedures.
• Review and provide critical input and recommendations on land-use related plans, regulations, policies, practices, and procedures.

Job requires written communication skills and organizational skills to:
• Prepare reports, briefing materials and Ministers/senior Ministry officials correspondence, make presentations.
• Prioritize work assignments and regional requirements for mineral resource assessments.

Job requires computer skills to:
• Prepare reports, briefing materials and correspondence and training materials.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires the incumbent to work within established program/Ministry policies, procedures, practices and guidelines.

Job requires working under the direction of management &/or the Ministry's Land Use Planning and Policy Coordinator.

Job requires notifying management/senior Ministry officials through verbal discussions, written briefing materials, reports and recommendations where other Ministries (e.g. MNRF, MAH) policies and related operations conflict with ENDM policies, operations and goals, and seek accommodation with appropriate staff in other Ministries in such situations.