Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To develop, co-ordinate, conduct and/or provide scientific leadership and guidance for independent and multidisciplinary, localized, regional or provincial-based geological surveys in the Precambrian Shield of Ontario and perform related services.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Job is delivered mainly through leadership of independent, multidisciplinary and/or inter-jurisdictional field-based frontier and non-frontier projects by:

1. Planning, designing, coordinating, implementing and/or participating in regional and provincial-scale geoscience projects in the Precambrian Shield through field, laboratory and computational activities including defining project scope, developing work plans, monitoring project progress and quality, overseeing field camps and providing field crew team leadership (e.g. assignment of work, technical guidance, safety compliance).

2. Preparing inventory reports & databases, geological maps & graphics and making presentations to communicate Precambrian geoscience to a variety of audiences (e.g. government, mineral industry, academia & public).

3. Coordinating and reviewing project planning for OGS geoscientists; leading and/or participating in multidisciplinary and inter-jurisdictional teams; collaborating with the mineral industry and mapping school programs; providing scientific leadership; overseeing field work; providing technical input into performance assessment and development plans of team members; determining validity of deliverables for OGS projects.

4. Developing new models, theories or hypotheses that advance Precambrian geoscience and metallogeny including collaborating with Ontario Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada, other provincial geological surveys, OPS ministries, academia and mineral industry geoscientists; preparing geological survey/research proposals for administrative approval.

5. Providing scientific advice on local, regional and provincial geoscience related technical issues to OGS staff, the public, mineral industry, governments, academia, First Nations.

6. Manager has the right to assign additional duties.

Staffing and Licencing :

Registered as a Professional Geoscientist with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO). Valid driver's license.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of:
- Current scientific theories, practices and techniques directly related to the discipline of geology combined with research skills in relevant disciplines of geoscience (e.g. sedimentology, physical volcanology, structural geology, metamorphic petrology, lithogeochemistry) that are applicable to bedrock mapping in the Precambrian Shield and normally acquired from a university of recognized standing to provide scientific leadership and guidance; conduct regional and provincial-scale geoscience projects in the Precambrian Shield; and to develop new models, theories or hypotheses that advance Precambrian geoscience and metallogeny.
- Bedrock mapping techniques and processes to make primary field-based geological observations, to construct and produce geological maps and make written interpretations based upon knowledge of local, regional or provincial geological relationships and several geoscience sub-disciplines.
- Accretionary tectonics to interpret geotectonic environments, tectonic histories and magma fractionation histories in the Precambrian using knowledge of relevant disciplines of geoscience (e.g. structural geology, isotope chemistry, stratigraphy, lithogeochemistry and geochronology).
- Geophysics to interpret the presence and distribution of rock types; local, regional and provincial structures; patterns relevant to regional metallogeny; patterns relevant to regional and provincial tectonics.
- Orienteering, GPS technology and air photo interpretation to ensure accurate location of field observations and safe travel in remote wilderness areas.
- Applicable computer software and hardware used for geoscience applications such as collection of field data during mapping, map construction, data organization, manipulation and interpretation, databases, spreadsheet and word processing.
- Effective communication techniques to organize and present diverse geoscience information; to facilitate a productive team environment; and to communicate effectively in multidisciplinary and inter-jurisdictional teams.
- Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations and knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health and safety that apply to the workplace to ensure compliance and safety when leading field crews.

Skills :

Job requires analytical and evaluation skills to:
- Develop and implement local, regional and provincial-scale geological projects including organization, interpretation and synthesis of project-related geoscience data and observations.
- Interpret a wide variety of structural, mineralogical, lithogeochemical, isotope and geochronology data to develop local, regional and provincial-scale interpretations and models regarding rock types, magma histories, alteration histories, structural and metamorphic histories, metallogeny and geotectonics.
- Interpret, in collaboration with Geophysicist, a variety of geophysical data at local, regional and provincial scales.

Job requires planning and organizational skills to develop, implement and complete geoscience projects within guidelines and timeframes.

Job requires communication skills to:
- Produce geological maps and reports
- Develop and conduct presentations and relate, clarify and exchange information verbally or in writing with colleagues and peers, the public, government, First Nations and academic and mineral industry clients.

Job requires interpersonal and leadership skills to:
- Lead multidisciplinary and inter-jurisdictional teams; provide coaching/mentoring; delegating and directing challenging work opportunities; motivating and encouraging team members to contribute to the objectives of the team and share technical ideas.
- Interact with and provide advice to the public, government and mineral exploration industry clients.
- Direct the work of field crews and resolve issues from field crew staff.

Job requires computer software skills to organize and store data, produce maps, reports and data releases, communicate with clients, research issues and develop presentations (e.g. posters, talks).

Job requires ability to operate road/water vehicles (e.g. 4-wheel drive trucks, ATVs, boats, canoes), orienteer, navigate and camp in remote areas to conduct and/or participate in geological survey field investigations.

Job requires planning and organizational skills to plan, organize and lead focussed bedrock mapping or research projects and broad multidisciplinary teams.

Freedom of Action :

Ontario Geological Survey guidelines, procedures and scientific methods; within OPS and MNDM ethical guidelines and standards; and within the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario's ethical guidelines and standards.

Job has freedom to:
- Upon project approval, determine initiative or project direction within the strategic plan of the Precambrian Geoscience Program and design, plan and implement projects as part of multidisciplinary and inter-jurisdictional initiatives.
- Scope project-related problems and proceed on appropriate course of action.
- Provide scientific expertise to other OGS geoscience projects; mentor and coach staff; provide leadership to field crews.
- Consult with OGS, mineral industry and academic geoscientists to resolve scientific problems.
- Provide geological expertise to government, mineral exploration industry clients and the public on local, regional and provincial-scale including recommendations for exploration, land use planning and public health and safety issues, results of analytical work and significance of research findings.

Job requires incumbent to organize own work and methods to achieve desired results; overcome all problems of a technical or subject matter nature governed by the plans, standards, policies, procedures and purposes of the defined area of work; advising manager of project progress and referring unusual operational issues to manager.