Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide micro- and macro-economic analysis and advice on mining sector, commodity, and natural resource management as well as related socio-economic issues and to lead and provide technical direction to multi-disciplinary socio-economic/assessment studies project teams.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Economic Policy Analysis and Research:
- Plans and conducts economic research using quantitative methods to test feasibility/impact of policy options and develops creative solutions and proposals in response to emerging issues and policy/program changes in other jurisdictions relating to the protection, management and sustainable use of mineral sector resources.
- Assesses key indicators, analyzes trade-offs, conducts comparative data studies and projects trends for use in supporting senior level decision-making, and in preparing presentations for Cabinet and/or Cabinet committees.
- Provides analysis, advice and options on impact of new and existing government policies, programs and business cases/plans and other initiatives from other ministries and private sector proponents to the Minister, Deputy Minister, Ministry senior management and peers in other ministries.
- Develops and maintains socio-economic computer models, databases and other tools to support economic analysis and the development of options/recommendations.
- Prepares reports, correspondence, memoranda and analyses for the Minister/Deputy Minister and senior management on mineral sector resources management and socio-economic issues and advises on their impact on the economy.
- Maintains awareness of related socio-economic developments, data sources, models and theories by conducting
research on other jurisdictions, reviewing literature and developing, maintaining and interpreting a wide range of data sources.
- Tracks and analyzes current and long-term developments of domestic and international issues and policy proposals on Ontario's metals sector and developing trend and forecast indicators using statistical and strategic information overseeing the development, management and maintenance of data.
- Presents reports, discussion papers, briefing notes, and presentation materials illustrating benchmarking, environmental scanning and research findings; provides socio-economic advice on ministry policy development relating to the mining sector for use in Cabinet Submissions, Management Board submissions and the ministry
multi-year plan, as required.
2. Project / Team Leadership
- Leads multi-disciplinary projects teams in developing strategic options for socio-economic projects and assessment studies related to mining sector resources management, environmental protection and sustainability, and associated socioeconomic trends/developments; and, coordinates the development of study designs and terms of reference.
- Provides technical direction to Minerals Sector Issues Analysts and the Statistics Analyst; assigns and evaluates work; estimates and coordinates project budgets; conducts cost analyses of socio-economic planning/analysis options and recommends cost effective alternatives.
3. Stakeholder Consultation:
- Develops networks, joint initiatives, projects and partnerships with other ministries, consultants, researchers, other levels of governments (e.g., federal/provincial/municipal), academia and the business community, to exchange information on the protection, management and sustainable use of natural resources, and the impact of proposed policies, programs, trends and developments.
- Leads and collaborates with other Branches/Divisions/Ministries in the development of socio-economic analyses and policy option papers by contributing natural resource expertise, advice, impact analyses and alternative options/recommendations.
- Chairs and/or represents the ministry on inter-ministerial and inter-jurisdictional committees and task forces; advises management on competing interests of resource harvesting, resource sustainability/protection and local economic development; and negotiates agreement/consensus on issues.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Micro/macro economic theory; natural resource/mining sector economic theory, research methods and analytical techniques, and knowledge of natural resources issues and their relationship to the provincial economy to conduct socio-economic assessments, identify environmental and provincial trends and issues, and determine impact on government/private sector natural resources interests and policy/program requirements, and to provide analyses and advice to ministry senior management and contribute to the policy/program development process.
- Quantitative/statistical/econometric techniques to gather, evaluate, interpret, analyze and extract relevant economic data to support the policy development process.
- Understanding of links between social and economic issues, public participation/decision-making context and role of other jurisdictions and academics to develop socio-economic concepts and designs with positive impact on Ontario's economy.
- Knowledge of government/ministry budget cycle, and policy and program development and government decision-making processes, to participate in the development of policy/program options/proposals.
- Research and economic/statistical analysis skills to design specific research methodology for projects, interpret data, conduct research projects and qualitative/quantitative analysis involving a range of socio-economic,
inter-ministerial and inter-jurisdictional factors, and to develop comparative analysis of options, impacts and best practices.
- Project management techniques and methodology to lead major multi-disciplinary socio-economic analysis projects, estimate/coordinate resources and control budget expenditures.
- Communication skills to prepare reports, correspondence, memoranda and analyses, and contribute to the development of briefing notes, presentations, budget papers and Cabinet documents.
- Computer applications for word processing, spreadsheets, graphics and databases, including computer modeling techniques, to prepare analyses, briefing materials, reports, presentations, correspondence and research and policy/program development materials.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Consultation skills to develop contacts in areas of natural resource management expertise including peers in
own/other Ministries and government and private sector representatives regarding development/implementation/impact of policies and programs, and information exchange on impact to Ontario's economy.
- Facilitation skills to establish networks with partners and represent the ministry on interministerial/jurisdictional committees.
- Negotiation skills to participate and/or lead consultations with committees and task forces, and to align ministry priorities with those of partners/stakeholders by negotiating agreement on joint initiatives among competing or conflicting interests.
- Presentation and persuasion skills to provide advice and briefings to support senior management, including the Minister and Deputy Minister, decision-making on issues with broad socio-economic policy and political implications.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical and problem-solving skills to:
- Design specific research methodology and analysis approaches for projects.
- Plan and conduct research projects and uses qualitative/quantitative analysis involving a range of socioeconomic, inter-ministerial and inter-jurisdictional factors.
- Develop comparative analysis of options, impacts and best practices.
- Analyze and evaluate key indicators and trade-offs, conduct comparative data studies, and interpret results as they relate to current and/or potential policy options.
- Identify natural resource management/mining sector issues, trends and developments, and associated socio-economic issues.
- Assess the potential impact of issues on Ministry policies and programs, and make recommendations to Branch/senior management on appropriate actions.
- Conduct literature research and provide advice, interpretation and technical expertise regarding methodology, applicability and value of research findings for the Ministry.
- Interpret economic data to contribute analytical expertise into the development of recommendations and Cabinet submissions.
- Develop socio-economic computer models, databases and other tools to support economic analysis and the development of options/recommendations

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Providing analyses, advice and recommendations for policy options/changes that impact on Ontario's mining sector natural resources, and ministry policies and programs.
- Conducting economic research and developing solutions and proposals in response to emerging issues and changes in other jurisdictions relating to the protection, management and sustainable use of natural resources.
- Leading multi-disciplinary projects teams in developing strategic options elated to mining sector/natural resources management, environmental protection and sustainability, and associated socio-economic trends/developments - Identifying socio-economic issues and trends in the natural resources private sector and other jurisdictions, and
advising on impact for ministry direction and government natural resource development policies.
- Developing adjustment strategies to address changing government/ministry directions.
- Preparing material to inform submissions to Cabinet and/or Cabinet Committees.
- Develops networks, joint initiatives, projects and partnerships with other ministries, consultants, academics, researchers, other levels of governments, and negotiates agreement/consensus among competing interests.
- Has latitude to: provide advice and recommendations to senior management; determine best approach to: undertake research projects; assess the relevance of data/information; determine data sources and methodology to support analysis, impact assessments and policy development; and determine the presentation of briefing materials and data/information to senior management.
- Decisions are guided by provincial and ministry strategic directions, existing legislative/regulatory and policy framework, best practices and government directives and procedures.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Senior management in ministry to provide analyses and advice, discuss policy/planning issues, and present reports and information, correspondence and briefing materials on socio-economic matters.
- Peers in own/other ministries to consult/exchange data/information, provide advice on issues and policies, and coordinate joint projects.
- Federal/municipal/provincial governments and business representatives to exchange information and discuss the impact of government policies, initiatives, trends and developments.
- Socio-economic academic and industry experts and stakeholders to assess socio-economic related research, and to discuss agreements/consensus on issues.
- Inter-ministerial and inter-jurisdictional committees and task forces to discuss competing interests of resource
harvesting, resource sustainability/protection and local economic development, and negotiate agreement/consensus on issues.
- Consultants to explain project requirements and monitor project progress.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides leadership to multi-disciplinary project teams of staff in developing strategic options for socioeconomic projects and assessment studies related to mining sector/natural resources management, protection and sustainability, and associated socio-economic trends/development.
- Coordinates the development of study designs and terms of reference.
- Provides technical direction to Mineral Sector Issues Analysts and Statistics Analyst with the responsibility to assign and evaluate work.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequently required to respond to requests within time frames and short deadlines, e.g., requests from the Offices of the Minister, Deputy Minster.
- Frequently required to deal with conflicting deadlines which are subject to change without notice, priorities that are not anticipated or contentious.

Mental / Sensory :

Continuous requirement to concentrate when reading materials, analyzing data, documents and research, and when drafting reports, briefing notes and policy related materials.

Conditions / Environment :

Work is performed in a typical office environment.