Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

Reporting directly to the Program Coordinator, Natural Hazards, to provide professional expertise and advice and recommend options in the development, implementation and transfer of provincial strategies, policies, programs, agreements and guidelines in support of the water resources program. To provide strategic guidance and advice in resolving water resource management interests especially in the support of the implementation of provincial water resource policies and legislation.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Providing expert professional advice in the development and transfer or review of provincial water related resource management strategies, policies, positions, legislation, inter-jurisdictional and inter-agency agreements, programs and guidelines which support the sustainable management of the province's water resources, including the waters Ontario shares with neighboring jurisdictions.

2. Participating in the review and development of policies and guidelines related to water resources, and coordinating implementation and integration into business planning, program priority-setting, program work planning guidelines, and program evaluation.

3. Coordinating and conducting research and analysis to support the review or development of water-related resource management strategies, policies, positions, legislation, agreements, programs, guidelines and communications products; and to resolve issues related to water resource management.

4. Providing policy and program advice and expertise to senior management, field operations, management partners and client groups related to the transfer, interpretation and application of existing and proposed strategic direction, policies, legislation, guidelines and agreements; and the resolution of water management issues.

5. Representing provincial or Ministry water resources interests on multi-disciplinary ministerial, inter-ministerial, Inter-jurisdictional, inter-agency (e.g. MOE, CO, CA) committees, and working groups, and liaising with other provincial Ministries (e.g., MMAH, MOE, MMAH, PIR, MEDT, MNDM), agencies, partners and clients to promote policy and program integration and coordination, resolve shared mandates and foster partnerships.

6. Coordinating and conducting efforts to engage stakeholders, indigenous communities and the public in the development or review of provincial water resource management strategies, policies, positions, legislation, agreements, programs and guidelines.

7. Other duties as assigned, including:
• preparing Briefing Notes and House Notes and related analytical background material;
• drafting Cabinet Submissions, business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and business planning, and;
• responding to information requests (e.g., Freedom of Information, outside stakeholders, clients, other government and non-government agencies) by researching and synthesizing relevant source material (e.g. files, reports, program specialists within and beyond NDMNRF, etc.) and preparing written response.

NOTE: The incumbent shall, while in the workplace, conduct themselves in compliance with the OH&S Act and any workplace practices as directed by their immediate supervisor, and in accordance with the Internal Responsibility System as outlined in the OH&S Act.

Knowledge :

- Expert knowledge of current government strategic direction; existing water related legislation (e.g. Conservation Authorities Act, Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act, Provincial Planning Act, Municipal Act,) policies (e.g., Provincial Policy Statement, Ontario's Natural Hazard Technical Guides), programs (e.g. Ontario Low Water Response Program, Flood Forecasting and Warning Program etc.), strategies, and agreements and policy development and strategic planning techniques and procedures in order to address water management issues and support the objective of sustainable water management practices.

- Expert knowledge of water resource management and ecological and hydrologic concepts, principles, management practices and planning
approaches; and hydrologic systems and functions in order to develop effective strategies, policies, guidelines, and legislation.

- Expert knowledge of social, economic, environmental and political trends and environmental scanning techniques, in order to develop effective strategies, policies, guidelines, and legislation.

- Knowledge of analytical, problem-solving techniques, data and information analysis and interpretation techniques and software such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, and project management tools in order to support policy, program, and strategic development and the provision of related policy advice.

- Knowledge of project management techniques, team leadership and participation, group facilitation and communication, consultation techniques and negotiation in order to provide effective input to water-related policy and strategic development initiatives in a multi-disciplinary team environment.

- Knowledge of worker responsibilities as outlined in the OH&S Act.

Skills :

- Well-developed analytical and evaluation skills for evaluating and recommending policies and programs in the context of changing trends in water resource management.

- Well-developed problem-solving skills when exploring policy options and making recommendations.

- Well-developed verbal communication skills (e.g., judgement, tact and diplomacy) to gather and exchange information on and explain program/policy issues and initiatives when conducting research, consulting with stakeholders and liaising with staff from other ministries. agencies and jurisdictions.

- Well-developed writing skills to prepare summaries of research and findings, develop reports and briefing materials on recommended program/policy options and implementation and communication strategies.

- Well-developed interpersonal skills to present, expand upon and illustrate program/policy options to other Section staff, project team members, managers and senior managers.

Freedom of Action :

Working within recognized practices and methods of water resource management legislation, policies, programs, strategic directions in the provision of policy interpretation and advice to senior management, field operations staff and management partners.
Exercises latitude for decision-making by: determining scope of research required to address program/policy issues; determining technical parameters of research and techniques required/ appropriate to conducting analyses of data and developing findings and conclusions in the development of recommended policy, strategic and program directions.
Work is reviewed by program coordinator, other senior staff specialists, or manager for soundness of research and analytical methods selected, timeframes identified for carrying out research and reasonableness of findings and conclusions.
Refers to program coordinator or manager situations such as impact of inadequate resources on progress or research and analysis, findings which may have significant implications for existing programs/policies (e.g., negative assessment of initiative identified during post-implementation evaluation) and need for clarification of overall project/program goals and objectives.