Job Specification

Purpose :

- To Provide team leadership and coordination of mitigation, fire management agreements, and FireSmart activities for the ministry's wildland fire mitigation program.
- To provide the primary source of Ministry-wide expert interpretation, analysis and advice related to wildland fire mitigation and related legislation in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
- Initiate, lead and coordinate the development of legislation/regulations, policy, procedures and directives, and strategic direction; practices and policy pertaining to protection and sustainability of Ontario's natural resources; integrated delivery of risk and hazard mitigation activities, fire management agreements and FireSmart activities within the ministry.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Team Leadership - Planning, Operational and Technical Direction, Policy Development
- Leads, plans, manages and coordinates activities of multi-disciplinary internal and external staff in the conduct of wildland fire mitigation, FireSmart and fire management agreement planning, implementation and strategic planning in support of ministry core business. Coordinates and integrates with other internal and external projects.
- Develops project terms of reference, estimates resource requirements and operational impacts to ministry, other ministries, and external stakeholders; reviews project expenditures, coordinates the development and assignment of project teams, ensures completion within budget limits. Provides technical advice and direction to staff, reviews work fore adherence to project goals and methods, provides input to performance appraisals.

2. Legislation and Policy Development and Review:
- Lead all aspects of policy research and development of existing services/programs and delivery models, issue identification, stakeholder consultations, system and financial modelling, impact analysis. Leads the development of options and recommendations, and operational guidelines/benchmarks for the implementation of new policies, procedures, guidelines and standards for the Ministry's wildland fire mitigation, FireSmart and fire management agreement program.
- Reviews, analyzes and evaluates all existing and proposed legislation, policy and procedures relating to
Ontario's natural resources, and public safety from an inspections, investigations and enforcement perspective, to determine enforceability, compatibility, liability and efficiency.
- Evaluates proposed changes to legislation, policies and procedures; develops recommendations based on the analysis, and leads development of changes to legislation, policies and procedures. Conducts reviews of policies and standard operating procedures in other jurisdictions, to provide a comparative analysis and consideration of all possible options.
- Initiates and develops new strategic and operational policies, procedures, guidelines and standards for the Ministry's wildland fire mitigation and fire management agreement program. Liaises with other OPS ministries and other natural resources jurisdictions (federal, provincial and international) to evaluate proposed changes legislation, policy and procedures, and provides recommendations and support the development of changes to legislation, policies and procedures.
3. Interpretation and Advice:
- Provides advice, guidance and direction on confidential/sensitive material and issues as well as the interpretation and application of legislation, regulations, policy, agreements and contracts, including Indigenous and treaty rights, to ensure legal inspections, investigations and enforcement activities, and the protection of rights.
- Analyzes government wide initiatives, business plans, budgets and domestic and global environmental scans to forecast priorities and influence ongoing, annual and multi-year ministry risk-based compliance planning and other strategic planning processes that contribute to the achievement of the broader government objectives.
- Reviews and analyzes mitigation and fire management agreement issues with senior staff, to determine problem areas, priorities, and solutions..
- Develop in-depth analyses and evidence based analytical reports; issue documents such as briefing notes and house notes, and policy/procedure options presenting recommendations to senior management for decision making purposes related to mitigation, FireSmart and fire management agreements.
4. Program Evaluation, Improvements and Support:
- Develops and initiates audit standards to evaluate current Ministry mitigation and fire management agreement activities, to ensure uniform interpretation and application of legislation.
- Leads and participates in the development and delivery of training for Ministry staff and external stakeholders in FireSmart and mitigation programs, as well as training associated with fire management and suppression agreements.
- Functions as the link between the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services Branch and Ministry programs, and between the Ministry and external groups, with respect to wildland fire mitigation and fire management agreements. Develops, facilitates and fosters relationships between program areas/stakeholders/partners and OPS Ministries with fire management agreements and FireSmart activities.
- Initiates project and manage project teams, identifying resources for priority projects, monitoring and reporting progress. Reviews quality of work to ensure timely delivery of products and services. Provide direction to project staff that includes ministry, other OPS or external consultants, oversees scheduling of work, provides technical direction, resolves project issues, and prepares and presents reports to management on project status and results.
- Reviews and analyzes broader Ministry and government business plans, budget and environmental scans, to forecast and influence Ministry planning.
- Coordinates the preparation of policy, cabinet submissions and recommendations for integration/linkages with other presentations to senior program, Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister, and Minister.
5. Stakeholder and Issues Management:
- Identify, coordinate, analyze and prioritize concurrent contentious, sensitive and confidential issues for executive and senior management's attention and providing recommendations and options for resolution.
- Prepare and coordinate responses such as Minister's letters and briefing notes, for Branch Director, Assistant Deputy Minister, Deputy Minister, and Premier and provide input to similar responses for other program areas within the Ministry.
- Establishes and maintains liaison and partnerships with colleagues, stakeholders, other jurisdictions, external agencies and governments.
- Make presentations to other jurisdictions, national and international conferences to advise on provincial wildland fire mitigation and FireSmart program activities and developments.
- Chair/Serves on multi-jurisdictional committees to review and assess trends, develop and recommend implementation of policy, coordinates reports and recommendations for senior management.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and skills in:
- Policy and program development principals, techniques and processes, and government legislative development, promulgation and decision making processes to develop standards, policy and regulatory options for mitigation, FireSmart and fire management agreements.
- Political and business acuity to anticipate potential issues, opportunities and consequences and initiate/develop strategic plans/business processes, provide advice and solutions to senior management.
- Various sources of law, resource management, and the construction of legislation, to develop legislation and policy, which are both enforceable and serve resource management objectives.
- Risk management theory, techniques, and tools to identify and assess risk factors and receptors for integrated compliance planning, quality assurance, and resolution of problems associated with complex issues across all Ministry program areas with inspection investigation and enforcement functions.
- Project management methodology, theories, principles and practices to move innovative ideas from concept to completion.
- Economic theory, principles, and financial analysis skills to quantitatively estimate impacts of proposed business practices, standards, policy and legislative options.
- Legislation, regulations and policy, to advise staff and recommend appropriate changes or guidance on fire management agreements and mitigation programs and activities.
- Recreational and business uses of natural resources, by industry and individuals, to develop legislation and policy, which will focus behaviour towards responsible and wise resource use and ensure public safety.
- Relevant case law, to apply it to the development of Ministry policy and legislation.
- Standard desktop computing tools in a Windows environment. specialized software used to research, analyze and to aid in providing advice, guidance, direction, interpretation and training.
- Oral communication skill to present the Ministry's policies, directives and program initiatives to senior management, field enforcement staff, other Ministry staff, external agencies, and the public.
- Written communications skills to plan, develop and author manuals, policies, directives, training plans and training materials, legislation, briefing notes, interpretations, reports and other documentation.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Negotiation skills to lead consultations between the Ministry and stakeholders, to resolve issues related to compliance with and enforcement of Ministry policies and legislation.
- Persuasion skills to achieve acceptance within the Ministry of alternate approaches and solutions.
- Conflict resolution and facilitation skills to lead Ministry consultations sessions with stakeholders.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analytical skills to and problem solving skills to:
- Interpret, assess and advise on legislation, regulations, policy, procedures, agreements, standards, and contracts, including Indigenous and treaty rights, to ensure legal enforcement that protects the rights of the public and respects Ministry requirements.
- Research, audit, investigate and assess agreement issues, to determine problem areas, priorities, and recommend solutions.
- Research, review and evaluate existing and proposed legislation, policies and procedures, to determine enforceability, appropriateness, and need for change.
- Identify and assess mitigation and agreement training programs for suitability and effectiveness.
- Comprehend the relationship among diverse processes and develop/coordinate strategic plans.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Providing advice regarding activities and accurate interpretations across program areas to prevent loss or degradation of natural resources and public safety, while respecting individual rights.
- Developing and presenting advice, options and briefings to senior management and staff regarding enforcement of legislation, regulations, policy and standards, related to the protection of natural resources and public safety.
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- Developing and reviewing legislation, policy and mitigation programs for the protection of natural resources and public safety.
Has latitude to:
- Represent and communicate the interests and position of the Ministry during internal/external negotiations and dialogue where the objective is to arrive at a mutually beneficial and binding solution.
- Develop changes to legislation, regulations, policy, and mitigation and agreement programs related to the
protection of natural resources and public safety.
- Interpret legislation, operating standards and policy and advise ministry staff and other stakeholders on that interpretation and appropriate action.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Premier, Minister, Deputy Minister, ADMs and senior management, mitigation staff, to provide advices and guidance regarding fire management agreement, FireSmart program and mitigation issues.
- Ministry managers, supervisors and staff across program areas to provide advice and direction regarding mitigation and fire management agreement issues.
- Policy counterparts in own and other ministries to consult on policy development, research policy issues, and collaborate on resolution.
- Other government agencies and external organizations, to provide information, advice and guidance on mitigation and fire management agreement issues.
- Indigenous groups, to provide information, explain policies, answer queries, and discuss issues.
- Stakeholder groups and the public, to exchange information.
- Media and general public to provide information on government policy and participate in public meetings.- Vendors, contractors, service providers, partners to negotiate MOUs, contracts, financial and service level agreements.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides leadership to Branch, cross program and Ministry wide project teams and/or committees in the development of new legislation, policy and standards.
- Provides information and guidance to ministry management, other policy advisors and project teams to ensure effective linkages on related research and policy development projects and ensure the proper implementation of provincial resources.
- Provides technical guidance regarding mitigation, FireSmart and fire management agreements to program staff within the Ministry and the broader OPS.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequent requirement to respond to conflicting and urgent work requirements.
- Frequent requirement to provide urgent mitigation and fire management agreement advice, which results in fire response or policy action.
- Common requirement to work outside normal working hours.
- Frequent unexpected work demands on short notice and to tight time lines; e.g. responses requested by senior management, stakeholders.
- Frequently required to work on multiple files, confidential and sensitive issues with strict deadlines; e.g. concurrent projects all requiring coordination or linkages with other areas..

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequent requirement to concentrate for long periods, and resume work after multiple interruptions.
- Frequent requirement to concentrate intently and observe carefully the behaviour of others.
- Frequent requirement to provide direction and instructions to others.

Conditions / Environment :

- Work is performed partly in a typical office environment, and partly in the field.
- Regular requirements to travel and meet with stakeholders or participate in committees and meetings across the province.