Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide water quantity support to the regional water programs. To evaluate existing and anticipated impacts and make recommendations for the protection, conservation and management of regional water resources. To maintain the IDS Permit To Take Water (PTTW) module in Northern Region. To log, process and track permit applications and coordinate reviews. To assist regional staff, senior surface and/or groundwater staff with field surveys and inspections (downloading of data loggers, sample collection and processing, conducting surveys, etc.). To support senior staff in their role as a Provincial Officer and Regional expert on compliance/non-compliance issues related to water takings.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under the general supervision of the Supervisor in a regional office section providing scientific expertise to district and regional office. The job requires:

1. Evaluating Category 1 (non-complex) permit applications (e.g. straight renewals, dugout ponds, name changes etc.) and developing/selecting conditions for draft permits and correspondence for signature by the Supervisor or the OWRA Section 34 Director.

2. Reviewing non complex technical reports and evaluating hydrological and ecological impacts of proposed and existing activities (e.g. review monitoring reports, advising/processing Permit to Take Water applications) on regional water resources by analyzing and synthesizing submitted information, data and information from own field investigations and file material, technical/scientific studies and literature, and providing reports on findings, including recommendations for approval.

3. Receiving, logging and coordinating the processing and review of Permit To Take Water (PTTW) applications for the region and providing assistance, guidance, advice and support to applicants, unit and ministry staff, municipalities, the public and the media, including presenting at public meetings.

4. Soliciting comments from internal and external sources, including regional and district office staff, and staff from non-MOE government offices on PTTW applications. Assessing, reviewing, and evaluating comments and responses to EBR postings and in conjunction with MOE legislation, policies, guidelines and procedures apply appropriate draft conditions for the permits.

5. Carrying out field studies and/or interpreting results of water field studies (e.g. with respect to environmental risk, exceedance of health-based standards) to provide support to district offices, make approvals/recommendations, assess compliance with relevant legal instruments and environmental legislation/regulations, and/or to collect evidence for court cases and hearings. Analysing and synthesizing all relevant material (technical reports, submitted scientific information, field survey/sample data, inspection/investigation reports and photographs, file material, scientific literature) and preparing reports describing potential environmental impacts, including exceedance of health/environmental-based standards and guidelines and making appropriate recommendations.

6. Maintaining, adjusting or amending the electronic records and tracking the status of permit applications as they proceed through the approval process. Maintaining any relational databases or GIS system to record the particulars of permits issued or refused by the Ministry and produce required reports.

7. Supporting PTTW non-compliance activities by reviewing submissions and initiating incident reports; supporting enforcement actions by providing information at legal proceedings with respect to the Ministry's PTTW program.

8. Complying with all health and safety legislation, policies and procedures and reporting all unsafe equipment and conditions to the supervisor.

9. Other duties as assigned.

Staffing and Licencing :

Job requires a degree with specialization in a natural science discipline such as Hydrology, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Physical Geography or Water Resources.

Job requires a valid Class G Ontario Driver's licence.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of:

Hydrological, chemical and/or biological methods and techniques with specialization in water resources management and ecology, in order to provide support in the assessment of environmental data and information and suggest action to senior staff to prevent/resolve adverse impacts on regional water and/or aquatic life due to current development (e.g. applications for Permits to Take Water) by collecting field information and data, conducting mathematical analysis of the information, determining the scientific validity of the analysis, assessing potential environmental impact on compliance with ministry requirements.

Environmental legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines (e.g. Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act) to determine that proposals (e.g. PTTW applications) comply with legal and other established ministry requirements by assessing practical viability of proposal, suggesting ministry requirements for the specific proposal and determining whether proposal complies with requirements.

Job requires knowledge of:

Field investigation and water resource management theories, principles and practices to respond to and assess field situations (e.g. interference complaints, spills) by collecting field samples, observations and information, interpreting the information, identifying potential for environmental and health impact through comparison with water quality standards.

Operation of water monitoring equipment and techniques to track the movement of spilled material (e.g. movement of waterborne contamination towards a drinking water source) and to validate and interpret data, make decisions and to undertake water studies, collecting samples, assessing data and developing recommendations for the need to take abatement action such as ordering an industry to construct further controls.

Computer modelling and other software applications to utilize technologies to support data analysis, evaluation and report preparation activities.

Principles of groundwater management to refer problem water issues which will affect groundwater to appropriate staff to ensure that water management decisions will not adversely impact the resource (e.g. reducing stream flow for recharging an aquifer).

Environmental Bill of Rights posting requirements and procedures for Permits to Take Water to comply with legal posting of applications and decisions.

Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations that apply to the work; knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health and safety in the workplace to ensure compliance.

Divisional initiatives and the Ministry Business Plan to understand the role in meeting unit priorities to reflect Regional Work Plan initiatives.

Skills :

Job requires:

Analytical and project management skills to: design field approaches for non complex situations to assess and evaluate environmental issues, confirm compliance, conduct the collection of data during field studies; perform scientific/technical studies to support the resolution of issues concerning complaints, and spills.

Analytical and problem solving skills to support studies, evaluations and recommendations to senior staff supervisor policy/scientific which support approaches for addressing issues arising from field studies.

Analytical and problem solving skills to prepare objectives within a policy/scientific context, create divisional guidance documents, evaluate alternatives, consolidate research and information, develop options and recommendations and report on findings.

Reasoning skills to participate in discussions involving conflicting approaches or scientific opinion in order to arrive at a consensus position.

Job requires:

Analytical skills to evaluate hydrological, chemical, and/or biological data and other findings from scientific investigative work; evaluate impact of development proposals on regional water sources; assess applications for non complex approvals.

Written and verbal communications skills to prepare and present technical assessments/recommendations and scientific reports and to present Ministry position. Technical and creative writing skills to draft Ministers correspondence, briefing notes, other documents. Oral communication and presentation skills to present scientific information to other staff or at public meetings.

Computer skills to use a variety of software applications.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires freedom to:

Assist in projects and provide input into decisions (approach, work assignments, scientific requirements) while the assignment is in progress.

Provide input into the design of field investigative procedures and approaches relating to the scientific area for unit and regional projects.

Exercise sound judgement in consultation with the Group Leader or Supervisor, to prevent irreparable damage to the environment or human health, significant monetary loss to private individuals, the ministry, other levels of government and industries or detrimental impacts to the ministry's credibility.

Work within environmental legislation, regulations and guidelines governing water resources management in the region, and within applicable scientific/technical methods, procedures and principles.

Job requires freedom to:

Suggest the scope of field investigation work and analysis required to effectively assess potential water impacts and the level of restoration required to resolve potential or existing problems.

Make decisions on the validity of results and is responsible for identifying suspect data.

Job is accountable for the accuracy and scientific validity of results to be reviewed upon completion.

Job requires keeping the group leader apprised of progress/conflicting priorities and contentious issues.

Job requires referring issues such as recommendations on sensitive issues (e.g. recommend refusal of a PTTW application) and situations involving conflicting policy to group leader/supervisor.

Job is accountable for making recommendations and drawing conclusions on non-complex water reviews.