Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide leadership and coordination for the delivery of the forest management program operations for the Region. To provide expert advice to regional/ministry management/staff, inter-ministry partners, and local and senior representatives of the forest industry and related associations in Ontario regarding the implementation and delivery of the regional forest management program.

Duties / Responsibilities :

The job requires:

1. Providing technical leadership for the coordination, review and delivery of activities related to effective forest management operations across the Region, including: the interpretation of forest management policy regulations and legislation (e.g. Independent Forest Audit protocol); coordination of Regional involvement in the audit process; review of draft responses to recommendations of audit team and recommending revisions or acceptance of response by Regional Director.

2. Coordinating the review of regional forest management independent forest audits, forest compliance penalties, and annual forest renewal rates to ensure that the ministry meets its legislative and regulatory commitments and regional obligations. Providing expert advice, support and recommendations to the Regional Director, regional/district management and staff related to the findings of the reviews, the identification and resolution of a range of on going regional forest management issues.

3. Acting as the primary Regional program coordinator for the Managed Forest Tax Rebate Program and other private land forestry program components; providing general oversight and policy clarification as required.

4. Providing expert advice and support to district staff on issues relating to forest management program operations (e.g. compliance/penalty reviews, forest renewal rates, forest audits, etc.) and for resolving issues with the forest industry.

5. Providing technical analysis, expertise and recommendations to the Supervisor, Regional Resource Planning Team for the preparation and on going administration of annual regional strategic and business work plans and budget/resource allocations related to the forest management program operations. Developing forecasts for program needs, costing for projects, tracking/reporting on expenditures, and advising on the allocation of staff resources and support funding to districts. Represents the Region as the primary regional liaison with other regions on budgeting and allocating resources for forestry management program operations work across the ministry.

6. Promoting an integrated and collaborative approach to the implementation of forest management operations across the provincial forest program. As the regional senior forest expert, leading consultations and coordination with key internal and external partners, including: MNR's Policy Division (e.g. Forest Policy Branch, Biodiversity Branch); Regional and District planning staff; science professionals at Ontario Forest Research Institute, Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research (CNFRE), Regional Science and Information units; Business Solutions and Forest Resource Inventory units, the Forestry Division and external forest industry stakeholders. Acting as a regional contact with municipalities, partnerships and other external organizations as required. Serves as the principle liaison with the Algonquin Forest Authority on forest management program delivery and to fulfil the requirements of the Agency Establishment and Accountability Directive.

7. Providing technical and project leadership to permanent/contract staff in the Regional Resources Section including directing task teams and project teams in the delivery of regional forest management policy/legislation training, services and products.


8. Coordinating/participating in the review and assessment of new tools and models, and providing advice and recommendations to the Regional Director related to the approval and adoption of new forest program tools for use in ministry forest management operations. Leads the implementation of regional forest management program operations information/data management guidelines, processes and procedures.
9. Representing the Region, as lead or as a participant, on provincial and regional task forces, management teams and committees and working groups (Regional Task Teams and Forums; Provincial forest management and forest environmental assessment task teams, Independent Forest Audit teams) to provide professional expertise as it relates to forest management program operations. Participates on government/industry task teams as required, and builds/maintains relationships with Sustainable Forest Licensee's and industry associations to provide expertise, advice and interpretation of legislation/regulations governing forest management program operations. Participates on the Regional Advisory Committee and the Regional Leadership Committee.

10. Other duties: Management has the right to assign other duties

Staffing and Licencing :

Registered Professional Forester (RPF) license in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Professional Foresters Act

Knowledge :

Job requires:
Advanced knowledge in forest management principles, theories, methods and practices, with expertise in forest management operations to provide technical leadership and coordination for forest management program activities in the Region. Comprehensive knowledge of government/ministry legislation, regulations, policies, procedures and processes related to forest management to lead the regional forest management program operations and provide expertise and guidance to regional/ministry management and staff on the interpretation and application of legislation/policies, and to ensure that the region meets commitments and obligations related to forest management. A thorough understanding of government/ministry resource management and decision making processes and the partnership relationship between the ministry and other ministries (e.g. MNDM on roads funding) to provide expertise on forest management program operations, and to act as the primary contact with other ministries related to forest management operational issues (e.g. compliance/penalties, annual forest renewal rates, findings of independent forest audits). Excellent knowledge of ministry field operations, programs and operational procedures to provide expertise, guidance and support to regional operations related to forest management. Excellent knowledge of the forest industry in Ontario and related forest operations issues to represent the region in on going consultations and negotiations with forest industry representatives and forest stakeholder organizations/associations (e.g. amendments to Independent Forest Audit protocols), identify/resolve issues, and participate on industry committees.
Knowledge of personal computers, internet, database management, electronic mail and a variety of software applications (e.g. word processing, spread sheet, presentation) to access information, conduct analysis and prepare reports and presentations.

Skills :

The job requires:
Program planning skills to prepare plans for the delivery of the regional forest management program, and to develop program budgets and monitor costs and targets. Project management skills to plan and implement work plans to integrate and coordinate the timely delivery of numerous regional forest management program products, assessments and services. A high level of analytical and creative skills to develop options and recommendations to keep program current. Relationship management skills to develop and maintain effective relationships on behalf of the region with partners in other ministries and with senior management/staff in the forest industry across the region/province to facilitate an integrated and collaborative approach to the implementation of forest management operations across the provincial forest program. Excellent advisory and consultation skills to provide forest management program expertise to senior management and to act as the primary regional senior level contact for regional forest management program operational issues. Highly developed facilitation, mediation, problem solving and conflict resolution skills to effectively identify various perspectives, determine areas of common agreement and develop and gain support from a variety of partners, clients and ministry/inter-ministry management and staff (e.g. on forest operation matters in dispute between Districts and local forest industry).
Advanced oral and written communication skills to clearly and succinctly identify issues, options, recommendations and their rationale for setting the annual forest renewal rate, how to address findings of Independent Forest Audits, etc. and to persuasively present and gain support for the ministry position on forest management program operations with a range of contacts.

Freedom of Action :

Work is performed within the provisions of ministry legislation, regulations and policies governing forest management program operations in Ontario and is also guided by resource management, land use and forest management planning and forest management theories, principles and methods. Job exercises independent judgement by leading the coordination of Crown forest management program activities for the Region. The job provides forest management program expertise, guidance, advice and solution recommendations to regional management/staff and acts as the primary regional contact with other branches, other ministries and external forest industry stakeholders on regional forest management program operational issues. As the Regional Project Leader, a high level of initiative and judgement is exercised in coordinating and directing task teams and project teams in the delivery of forest management program operations training, services and products. The job exercises independent judgement by acting as a key resource to internal/external contacts on the interpretation and application of legislation and ministry policies/procedures related to forest management program delivery. Tact and discretion is required in dealing with officials at all levels. Job requires updating the Supervisor, Regional Resource Planning of program progress to ensure targets are met in accordance with Region program goals and objectives, as well as short and longer term targets, provincial direction and government priorities. Job consults with the Supervisor about situations in which application of legislation/policy is subject to new or unclear interpretation, or the issues are particularly sensitive or potentially contentious. Work is reviewed by the Supervisor for sound judgement and the accuracy/effectiveness of advice and recommendations.