Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

Under the general supervision of the Manager, Industry Development Section, Business Development Branch, the position will provide expert advice and analysis on issues and decisions related to the Ministry's business arrangements, relationships and investments in the Ontario Forest Industry and act as a primary liaison with the forest industry on matters related to new investments, new mills, mill closures or mill re-configuration.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under, the general direction of the Manager, Investment Programs, the job requires:

• Reviewing, evaluating, analyzing and monitoring projects to deliver programs including a loan portfolio in the Forestry Fund, the Forest Sector Prosperity Fund and the Loan Guarantee program.
• Interpreting the strategic significance of forest/company/industry developments which may impact the volume or type of wood fibre consumed using discipline analysis and assessment methods and providing advice and proposed directions to ministry decision makers.
• Developing, administering and managing systems to manage information and track programs.
• Conducting business and financial analysis to provide advice and recommendations regarding assistance from various government programs, including Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation line ministry reviews, the Innovation Demonstration Fund and Opportunities Ontario, to maximize leverage and benefit to the forest sector.
• Leading evaluation, reviewing, advice, recommendations and presentations related to investments directly administered by the Ministry including Forestry Fund loans, loan guarantees and grants.
• Assisting forest sector project proponents by liaising with various levels of government to facilitate project development and implementation.
• Interpreting the strategic significance of the forest/company/industry developments which may impact the volume or type of wood fibre consumed using discipline analysis and assessment methods and providing advice and proposed directions to ministry decision makers.
• Leading the regional review of forest company business plans and proposals respecting facility and or operations changes from the perspective of government programs and collaborate with other Forests Division staff, staff in other divisions of the Ministry, staff in other ministries and liaise with other levels of government.
• Conducting ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the state of the forest industry within the regional terms of economic health and trends and providing updates to the Business Development Branch management.
• Participating on special task teams formed to resolve complex forest company/industry related issues including tenure systems and wood supply allocation by providing strategic advice and by assisting in negotiation or other issue resolution approaches.
• Providing regional economic impact analysis relating to existing and proposed forest resource legislation and regulations relating to the forest industry and communities and collaborating with experts in other regions and other ministries.
• Providing advice and recommendations regarding government financial support including NOHFC.
• Preparing Ministers' and House briefing notes, special project reports and official Ministry correspondence.
• Advising on the priorities for multi-year, fiscal year and in-year forestry program initiatives.

The incumbent shall, while in the workplace, conduct themselves in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, and any workplace policies, procedures or practices as directed by their immediate supervisor, report any hazards of which they are aware to their immediate supervisor, report all work related injuries and illnesses to their immediate supervisor.

Managers have the right to assign additional duties.

Staffing and Licencing :

Job requires a valid Driver's License.

Knowledge :

• Knowledge of business practices, financial analysis and economic theory and tools on which to base, advice and recommendations including economic modeling and wood supply/demand modeling.
• Knowledge of the forest industry, its economic significance, emerging trends and competitiveness, economic modeling and wood supply/demand modeling in order to interpret the strategic significance of forest company/industry developments which may impact the volume or type of wood consumed to provide advice to management.
• Knowledge of the government investment programs and processes associated with program delivery.
• Knowledge of the forest industry, products, production processes, markets, economic significance regionally and provincially, emerging trends and competitiveness in order to interpret the strategic significance of forest company/industry developments which may impact the volume or type of wood fibre consumed and to provide advice and propose direction to management.
• Knowledge of Ministry legislation, regulation policies, procedures and programs applicable to the forest sector.
• Knowledge of computer application to apply tools and modeling.
• Knowledge of economic development and investment practices related to manufacturing and marketing forest and value added wood products.
• Knowledge of business research techniques in order to conduct research into areas such as economic and investment development issues and sector development issues in support of the Branch's business development activities.
• Knowledge of project management, team building, communication, negotiating and consensus building.
• Knowledge of computers and standard software, e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, presentation packages and databases and ability to use computerized data/information searches and sources.
• Knowledge of the worker responsibilities as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Skills :

• Financial and business analysis skills to interpret and analyze business and investment proposals and make recommendations to management.
• Interpersonal, written, oral communication and facilitation skills and high standard of professionalism are required to effectively present ideas and issues to senior Ministry and Business Development Branch staff and achieve results working with partners and stakeholders.
• Analytical and problem solving skills in order to provide the required accurate interpretations and sound recommendations related to business plan submissions, forest sector developments and issues; to assess the scope and complexity of research required to gather, organize and consolidate data/information from wide ranging and diverse sources related to the forest product sector; to research and define how to develop an approach to address a given problem, develop guidelines and or recommendations,
• Project management, strategic thinking skills and demonstrated innovation in development and completion of initiatives.
• Negotiation skills to achieve effective solutions and satisfy Ministry objectives.
• Leadership skills in group settings with public officials, company officials and the general public.
• Organizational skills to execute concurrent research projects and organize competing priorities.
• Computer skills such as, word processing, spreadsheets, data management and power point.
• Time management skills and commitment to deadlines.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires recommending and developing new policies, regulations and legislation. Job requires working within Ministry standards, policies and directives. Job exercises considerable latitude in setting the approach to deliver duties and responsibilities. Job requires significant and ongoing interface with Ministry staff, clients and partners. Job requires a significant degree of judgement in determining the items and level of detail to be communicated to senior management for information and seeking direction purposes. Job requires making decisions on the substance and content of key Ministry submissions related to funding approvals. The job requires significant interfacing with senior Ministry clients and managing potential issues, disputes and conflicts.