Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide project and policy advice and recommendations for the research, analysis and development of legislation, regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines and planning requirements related to the sustainable management of Crown forests for the ministry.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Policy and Program Development:
Develops policy advice, options, and recommendations based on research and analysis and government's strategic objectives/direction for the delivery of the section's program areas including the Crown Forest Sustainability Act and its supporting regulations, Ontario's environmental assessment requirements for forestry management and forest management planning; ensures that policy recommendations are consistent with government/ministry strategic policy direction on Crown forest management.
Provide support and policy advice to management/staff In ministry branches/divisions and district field offices and to other ministries related to the development, interpretation and application of policies and processes related to Crown forest management to ensure consistent approach.
Reviews established policy to ensure relevance and effectiveness, leads or facilitates issue identification, and analyzes policy issues; reviews and coordinates response to policy proposals and products developed by other ministry programs or government agencies and assesses their impacts.
Leads and/or conducts research and analysis in support of policy initiatives; prepares research reports, summaries, risk analyses and statistics to assist senior policy advisors, senior management and project teams In the development/enhancement of policy and processes.
Proactively provide policy advice by monitoring and evaluating early outcomes; by identifying and assessing threats and opportunities to the section's program areas; and by providing advice to team lead/senior policy advisor and management on how mitigate/take advantage of those threats and opportunities.
Maintains an awareness of developments, emerging trends, issues, new information/knowledge, scientific and technological advancements, practices in other jurisdictions, and conducts environmental, social, cultural and economic analysis as a basis for developing recommendations.
Leads and/or participates on branch/division/ministry/ government special projects and provincial and/or cross ministry policy committees.

2. Stakeholder Partnerships:
Develops and builds partnerships with program areas in the ministry, other ministries and with key stakeholders to ensure effective linkages between policy/program development initiatives.
Develops and prepares discussion papers, materials, presentations and information packages to support the consultation, education and engagement strategies and initiatives with stakeholder groups.
Participates in inter-disciplinary working groups, committees with cross-program mandates by making presentations, providing input/comments and acting as liaison between these forums and the policy and program management and staff; participates in inter-ministry meetings to provide input.

3. Project Management:
Contributes to or leads, assigned projects and/or work teams, develops project plans and protocols, determines project methods, monitors project progress, prepares project reports and resolves issues related to the project.
Provides updates and reports to management on project status and advises on policy development issues and opportunities.

4. Issues Management:
Responds to non-routine or policy and program enquiries.
Prepares and/or contributes to the preparation of briefing notes, house notes, contentious issue notes, issues management plans, and communications materials In response to issues impacting the section's policy flies.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skill in:
Policy and legislative process, government and ministry strategic directions and priorities, division mandate, existing legislation (e.g. Crown Forest Sustainability Act, Environmental Assessment Act.), regulations, policies and program knowledge (e.g. practical knowledge of the Forest Management Planning Manual) to lead and/or conduct projects related to Crown forest management in order to formulate and support policy/program development.
Policy and program development expertise, principles and techniques and government/ministry decision-making and approvals processes to lead and/or participates in the development of policies and programs related to Crown forests.
Advanced research, analytical, and investigative techniques, including determining appropriate data and information sources, survey techniques, analyzing and summarizing quantitative and qualitative research and environmental scans from multijurisdictional sources, trends analyses and preparing analytical reports to provide research and analytical services In support of policy decision-making.
Project management methodologies, techniques to lead/participate on branch/division/ministry/government projects.
Written and oral communication skills to prepare technical reports, briefing materials, recommendations, correspondence and other materials; to lead meetings, conduct briefings and carry out training; and to describe technical and specialized concepts, processes and Information In terms that are easily understood by a variety of audiences.
Standard computer applications (Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Adobe Acrobat, MS Project, Outlook, Internet search tools.).

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

Relationship management and consultation skills to encourage consensus when working with both staff and stakeholders on the development of solutions to issues/problems.
Consultation and persuasion skills to engage and seek advice on policy proposals from within the government, other jurisdictions, industry, stakeholders, and indigenous organizations, and to develop support for planning initiatives.
Communication, facilitation, and presentation skills to present Information, consult with and explain policy proposals, or approved policies, to diverse internal and external audiences.
Advisory, consultation, and conflict resolution skills to contribute to and/or lead project teams; to exchange information, discuss and seek resolution of Issues; to gain support and liaise with other branches/ministries/stakeholders on policy Issues/development.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyze complex Crown forest management policy and planning issues in order to recommend appropriate strategies.
Analyze policy proposals to determine the potential implications for ministry policy and program areas, and recommend appropriate responses.
Review and assess the existing policies and practices of the ministry in order to identify priority areas for improvement.
Plan/conduct policy research involving monitoring of trends, direction and issues, analysis of multiple sources of Information/data, consideration of qualitative and quantitative factors to assess and make recommendations; research policies and practices of other ministries and jurisdictions, in order to develop/formulate options and recommendations for issue resolution.
Process and organize information from numerous Internal and external sources; distill salient points from policy research and present them in a meaningful and convincing format.
Advance ministry and government goals and anticipate potential impacts, implications, and reactions to policy Ideas and recommendations; to link daily tasks to long-term objectives and outcomes; to understand policy Issues from multiple, competing perspectives.
Analyze and assess issues/problems to assess the relevance and effectiveness of established policies and procedures; to monitor and evaluate early outcomes, recommending corrective action where outcomes differ from those anticipated.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
Developing project plans and monitoring the progress of policy development and reviews projects.
Leading/conducting consultation processes with branch/regional/division/ministry management/staff, other ministries and a broad range of external stakeholders.
Interpreting Ontario policies and objectives and providing briefings/advice and policy recommendations to program area senior advisors and/or branch management.
Developing policy options and recommendations, providing advice to branch/division/ministry management on policy issues.
Has latitude to provide advice on policy interpretation, to a broad range of ministry staff, and to develop policy options and approaches that reflect best practices and consider Integration and alignment of cross-Jurisdictional planning policy and practices.
Decisions are guided by the provincial and ministry strategic direction, mandate, and objectives, existing legislative/regulatory and policy framework, and best practices, government directives, and procedures.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

Branch/division/ministry management/staff to consult on policy and program development process and to provide project leadership and policy expertise; to provide briefings, policy advice and recommendations.
Staff in own and other ministries to build linkages and analyze trends; to exchange policy ideas and information; and to lead policy development projects.
Key stakeholders to lead/participate in consultation processes to provide Information on policy and receive input to policy recommendations, and to address the concerns/issues of such groups in policy documents, reports and communications.
Contact with external consultants to direct their efforts on assigned projects.

Guidance / Supervision :

Provides project/technical/ leadership for research, development and implementation of plans, policy options and recommendations, procedures and guidelines.
Provides guidance to staff in the ministry and other ministries on a project basis.
Provides advice and recommendations to program area senior policy advisors, and management on current and proposed policy framework for management of Crown forests.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

Occasionally required to deal with unexpected project changes or modifications to deadlines on short notice to address urgent issues and to take on new projects.
Frequently required to respond to immediate requests for information or to develop/modify briefing materials, options, house notes, recommendations, and correspondence for team senior policy advisors and management.
Regular travel in the province for consultations and meetings.

Mental / Sensory :

Frequently required to read and write without interruption and to concentrate intently to carry out detailed reviews of documents and to participate in meetings that may last several hours.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment, with occasional trips to other offices around the province and at times outside of province.