Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide forest management planning expertise in the preparation, review and approval of Forest Management Plans within the region to ensure sustainability of forest ecosystems. To provide forest management planning leadership to planning team members and represent the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on all forest management planning teams and Independent Forest Audit requirements.

Duties / Responsibilities :

1. Contributing to the achievement of MNR's goal of ecological sustainability by providing forest management planning (FMP) expertise and input in the conduct of resource and ecosystem planning and management in support of ecological sustainability and achievement of MNR strategic directions. Communicating government/ministry direction and priorities to foster understanding, support and acceptance of ecological and sustainable management principles. Providing expert forest advice to regional program areas and districts on a landscape basis.

2. Interpreting, advising on and applying resource-based legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines in the preparation, review and assessment of forest management plans for the region, ensuring Forest Management Plan (FMP) requirements are fully satisfied prior to recommending plan approval. Leading the ministry's involvement in the preparation of Forest Management Plans. Advising the Supervisor on staffing, resources and scheduling to satisfy relevant legislation, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.

3. Providing leadership, guidance and expertise to ministry planning groups and forest management planning teams related to forest management and forest management planning, anticipating and intervening to resolve problems, conflicts and to remove impediments that will affect outcomes. Liaising with other regional and provincial forest management staff to obtain and convey direction to planning teams; exchanging information and obtaining advice at FMP process check points and ensuring modelling analysis is properly undertaken.

4. Coordinating MNR review of plan components and the preparation of lists of required alterations and recommending the attendance/involvement of district staff, resource advisors or additional technical/professional help required at various stages of the planning process. Preparing FMP review documents and preparing public notices, Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) postings and summaries of public consultation. Supporting the development and approval of major amendments to FMP and FMP Terms of Reference within the region. Coordinating progress, issue briefings and plan approval to the District Manager and Regional Director. Analysing various attributes of forest management plans to identify areas of commonality and opportunities for efficiency gain.

5. Acting as lead contact with regional/provincial level interest groups who engage in local FMP process. Collaborating with district staff on the development of Aboriginal Background Information Reports, management or stakeholder issues and the formal FMP Issue Resolution process. Providing advice and recommendations to the Regional Resources Planning Supervisor and/or Regional Resources Manager and/or District Manager, and/or Regional Director regarding innovative, interest-based solutions to complex and contentious resource management and allocation issues and/or dispute resolution.

6. Providing leadership, advice and direction relative to forest management planning requirements, standards and approaches by serving as the primary forest management plan advisor and strategist for planning teams and districts. Serving as the principle communication conduit between the region and provincial forest management planning specialists on policies, procedures, guidelines and directives. Participating on district, regional and ministry teams and committees to further the development of policies, procedures and tools to enhance forest management planning capabilities. Providing specialist
planning advice to the Steering Committee, Planning Team, district staff and resource users.

7. Developing and coordinating effective methods of communication, consultation and record-keeping by
coordinating and monitoring public, LCC, aboriginal and stakeholder consultation efforts to ensure they are effective and fully satisfy legal obligations. Developing and maintaining a network of colleagues, specialists and advisors to exchange information and best practices recommendations.

8. Producing communication products, preparing plan review documents, and making internal and public presentations. Ensuring the use of proper internal and external communications, including adherence to communication protocols, provision of briefing materials and preparation of corporate correspondence to defined standards.

9. Coordinating MNR's role in Independent Forest Audits for specific forest management units, including the preparation of Action Plans, Status Reports, and other required reports.

10. Participating in other land use and resource management planning initiatives (e.g. fisheries, wildlife, and water) as required, to provide forest management advice and input to those planning exercises.

11. Promoting professionalism, achievement of high standards and the development of innovations, efficiencies and quality improvements by initiating technical reviews of Forest Management Planning model inputs (across the region and adjacent Sustainable Forest Licences (SFL's) to harmonize inputs that can be supported by science (Forest Units, Growth & Yield, Succession, Disturbance). Identifying information gaps and recommending approaches to gathering information that will improve plan quality [i.e. Silvicultural Effectiveness Monitoring (SEM) design and analysis]. Supporting district staff in assessing sustainability under the various annual reports.

12. Other duties: Management has right to assign additional duties.

Staffing and Licencing :

Registered Professional Forester (RPF) designation from Ontario Professional Foresters Association required.

Knowledge :

Job requires:
Knowledge of the theory, principles, methodology and practices of forest resource management to act as the primary forest management plan advisor and strategist for (regional) planning teams and districts and provide expertise/guidance for review/assessment of FMPs to achieve MNR's goal of ecological sustainability.
Knowledge of forest management planning requirements and practices to provide expertise and coordinate the MNR's role in the development and review of forest management plans.
Knowledge of Ontario's forest legislation, regulations and policies (e.g. Crown Forest Sustainability Act, Forest Management Planning Manual, Forest Information Manual), programs and regulatory mechanisms to coordinate the development of forest management plans and related forest planning products.
Knowledge of tourism, renewable energy and forest industries and government policies related to these and other industries (e.g. non-timber forest products) to ensure resource management plan requirements are fully considered prior to recommending plan approval.
Knowledge of Ontario's forest industry and government policies related to the forest industry to ensure Forest Management Plan requirements are fully satisfied prior to recommending plan approval.
Knowledge of legal obligation matters related to forest management and aboriginal aspects, including legal duty to consult to develop and coordinate effective methods of communication, consultation and record-keeping.
Knowledge of personal computers, internet, database management and a variety of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, communication, spatial analysis and modelling software to prepare briefing materials, correspondence, reports, etc. and to assess forest management plans by analyzing/verifying data and making recommendations. Knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and current technologies.
Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and those regulations made under the Act that apply to the workplace and work being performed.

Skills :

The job requires:
Organizational, coordination, project management and leadership skills to lead and direct planning teams, to coordinate MNR's role in the development of FMPs and reviews, planning and approval processes, timelines and participation on committees.
Interpersonal, oral and written communication skills to lead and provide expertise/guidance to planning team members, provide advice/recommendations to supervisors, managers and district staff on legislative/other requirements for forest management plans, prepare submissions, briefing/communication materials and make presentations.
Leadership and relationship management skills to support planning teams, develop and maintain effective relationships on behalf of the region with aboriginal, stakeholders and participate on district, regional and ministry teams and committees.
Reasoning, analytical and problem-solving skills to review FMPs, respond to stakeholder issues and review resolutions in order to further the development of policies, procedures and tools to enhance forest management planning capabilities and provide options for resolution of complex and contentious resource management/allocation issues and/or disputes.
Facilitation and consensus building skills for effective team building, problem solving and conflict resolution (e.g. forest management planning issue resolution, establishing forest management planning teams).
Ability to work under pressure while motivating other team members to achieve assigned objectives within strict timelines.

Freedom of Action :

Work is performed under the general supervision of Regional Resources Planning Supervisor. Job requires working within ministry and government legislation, established policies, guidelines, directives, procedures and established forest management principles, practices and procedures to lead MNR's involvement in the preparation of Forest Management Plans, coordinate the review and assessment of FMPs submitted by forest industry, provide advice to resolve disputes and recommend approval of plans. Job exercises latitude in decision making by serving as the primary forest management plan advisor and strategist for regional planning teams and districts, providing expert forest management advice/leadership related to forest management planning and approval processes across the region, liaising between the region and provincial planning teams, preparing briefing/other materials and representing the ministry on committees and with internal and external stakeholders.
Job requires making minor adjustments to established information process to ensure data and information is relevant, up-to-date and responsive to practitioners and corporate needs.
Job requires providing analyses and advice to management, ministry staff and external stakeholders on the interpretation and review of existing legislation, policies, guidelines and procedures related to forest management planning objectives and the resolution of related contentious issues.
Job requires arranging meetings and working to meet deadlines.
Job requires referring forest management planning issues such as those related to forest sustainability or stakeholder or First Nation issues and concerns to the Regional Resources Planning Supervisor.