Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To lead and provide biological expertise/input to resource management reviews and planning processes across the region on the ecology and management of fish and wildlife, wetland, water management and forest management. To represent the regional or landscape perspective in the development, transfer, and implementation of legislation, policy and guides related to forest management, fisheries zone management, and other planning processes (e.g. wildlife management planning). To provide a biological perspective at the appropriate scale (e.g. landscape level), watersheds for some renewable energy projects, etc.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Job requires:
1. Contributing to the achievement of Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) goal of ecological sustainability by providing biologist expertise, training and input in the conduct of regional resource and ecosystem planning and management activities in accordance with MNRF strategic directions across the region (e.g. preparing plans for Fisheries Management Zones, contributing to forest management planning, providing advice to district/regional management and staff on a landscape basis).

2. Providing leadership to and participating on integrated regional resource management planning teams by organizing and coordinating the efforts and contributions of assigned staff, prioritizing demands, reviewing workloads to ensure planning requirements, standards and schedules are met.

3. Participating and/or leading the development or review of resource management plans for fish, wildlife, wetlands, water, forest and watersheds across the region by providing input to and coordinating the development and approval of planning processes, timelines, advisory councils and planning team terms of reference (e.g. preparing public notices, EBR postings, summaries of public consultation, etc.).

4. Supporting public advisory councils and resource management planning teams (e.g. Fisheries Management Zone plans, forest management plans, wildlife management plans, water management plans), by providing input on plan development and approval processes, anticipating and intervening to resolve problems and arranging for resource advisors or additional technical/professional help as required.

5. Providing expertise and advice to the Regional Resources Planning Supervisor, Regional Resources Manager and District Managers on the development and management of review and planning processes, management, policies, procedures and tools and/or stakeholder issues and making recommendations on formal issue resolution processes (e.g. fish and wildlife issues associated with forest management plans).

6. Developing and coordinating effective methods of communication, consultation and record-keeping by coordinating and monitoring public, aboriginal and stakeholder consultation efforts to ensure that they are effective and satisfy legal obligations with respect to fish, wildlife, wetlands, water, watersheds and renewable energy plans.

7. Preparing technical reports for district management, regional management, clients and partners on the biological aspects of resource management plans and preparing briefing notes for the Minister and/or Deputy Minister on issues such as resource development, conservation and ecosystem sustainability.

8. Representing MNRF on inter-agency planning and task teams (e.g., fisheries, wildlife and watershed committees) to ensure resource management plans are consistent with the sustainability of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, provincial legislation, policies and strategies.

9. Other duties: Management has right to assign other duties.

Knowledge :

Job requires:
Knowledge of the theory, principles and practices of biology as related to resource management planning and integrated land use planning to provide expertise, guidance and context for analysis of data and resource management options to district staff, clients and partners to ensure that resource management practices provide for the sustainability of ecosystems.
Knowledge of natural resource planning requirements and practices to participate and/or lead the development of fisheries management plans, water management plans, wildlife strategies, state of the resource reports and to participate in the development and review of forest management plans.
Knowledge of legislation (e.g. Crown Forest Sustainability Act, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, Endangered Species Act), regulations and policies pertaining to fish and wildlife, wetlands, forest management, water management, renewable energy and environmental assessment programs and regulatory mechanisms to coordinate the development of resource management plans and related planning products.
Knowledge of tourism, renewable energy and forest industries and government policies related to these and other industries (e.g. non-timber forest products) to ensure resource management plan requirements are fully satisfied prior to recommending plan approval.
Knowledge of legal obligations with regard to resource management and aboriginal treaties and agreements, including legal duty to consult, trapping requirements, resource agreements, etc. to develop and coordinate effective methods of communication, consultation and record-keeping.
Knowledge of biological modelling tools and applications, design of fish and wildlife surveys, wildlife harvest regulation systems, procedures and techniques to ensure that fish and wildlife resources are managed for optimum sustainability.
Knowledge of personal computers, internet, database management and a variety of word processing, spread sheet, presentation, communication, statistical, spatial, population and habitat modelling software to prepare briefing materials, correspondence, reports, etc. and to assess resource management plans and proposals by analyzing/verifying data and making recommendations. Knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and current telemetry technologies (e.g. radio, acoustic).
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 :

The job requires:

Organizational, coordination and project management skills to lead and develop plans for fish, wildlife, wetlands, water, watersheds and renewable energy projects and to coordinate the development and approval of planning processes, timelines, advisory councils and planning.

Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to provide expertise and guidance to planning teams, supervisors and district staff on the biological aspects of resource management plans, lead assigned team members, prepare submissions, briefing materials, reports and make presentations.

Leadership and relationship management skills to support planning teams, develop and maintain effective relationships on behalf of the region with public, aboriginal and stakeholders and participate on inter-agency planning and task teams.

Reasoning, analytical and problem-solving skills to review and plan processes, respond to stakeholder issues and review resolutions in order to further the development of policies, procedures and tools to enhance biological management planning capabilities and provide options for resolution of issues.

Facilitation and consensus building skills for effective team building, problem solving and conflict resolution (e.g. to develop resource management solutions that consider the varied interests; to participate in issue resolution as a member of multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder teams).

Ability to work under pressure while motivating other team members to achieve assigned objectives within strict timelines.

Freedom of Action :

Skills:
The job requires:
Organizational, coordination and project management skills to lead and develop plans for fish, wildlife, wetlands, water, watersheds and renewable energy projects and to coordinate the development and approval of planning processes, timelines, advisory councils and planning.
Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to provide expertise and guidance to planning teams, supervisors and district staff on the biological aspects of resource management plans, lead assigned team members, prepare submissions, briefing materials, reports and make presentations.
Leadership and relationship management skills to support planning teams, develop and maintain effective relationships on behalf of the region with public, aboriginal and stakeholders and participate on inter-agency planning and task teams.
Reasoning, analytical and problem-solving skills to review and plan processes, respond to stakeholder issues and review resolutions in order to further the development of policies, procedures and tools to enhance biological management planning capabilities and provide options for resolution of issues.
Facilitation and consensus building skills for effective team building, problem solving and conflict resolution (e.g. to develop resource management solutions that consider the varied interests; to participate in issue resolution as a member of multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder teams).
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 Regional Resources Planning Supervisor. Job requires working within ministry and government legislation, established policies, guidelines, directives, procedures and established biological and scientific principles, practices and procedures to make resource decisions (e.g. determining management objectives and strategies for fish and wildlife populations and their habitats in resource management plans). Job exercises latitude in decision making by providing expert biological advice/input for resource management reviews and planning processes across the region and in the development of plans for fish, wildlife, wetlands, water and watersheds, coordinating the approval of planning processes, timelines, advisory councils and representing the ministry on committees and with stakeholders.
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 resource management planning objectives and the resolution of related contentious issues.
Job requires arranging meetings and working to meet deadlines.
Job requires recommending appropriate method for issue resolution referring only situations which involve unusual technical or financial considerations such as requirements for increased budget or inability to carry out projects as planned or situations/decisions which may become contentious or have implications beyond regional boundaries.