Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide strategic advice on risk management measures to Local Source Protection Authorities, Committees and municipalities to assist them in preparing comprehensive source protection plans that comply with the technical framework for the Source Protection Planning Program and related legislation, regulations, policies and processes. To lead the development of technical guidance materials, tools and data management systems that will ensure local source protection committees have the required supporting materials to facilitate preparation and approval of Official Plans that conform to the Regulations particularly with regard to the use of municipal planning act, other planning regulations, and new municipal authorities provided under applicable acts. To provide technical input into the development of government initiatives to respond to planning initiatives undertaken by municipalities and to ensure the Crown programs, policies, programs, practices and processes support the use and application of municipal planning to minimize future threats to source waters.

Duties / Responsibilities :

The Source Protection Planning Section leads the development and continuous improvement of the source protection technical framework and provides support and guidance to local communities throughout the Province in the development of their source protection plans. As the land use analyst, the position provides high-level expertise regarding the use of planning tools in the protection of existing and future surface/groundwater resources in a given area. In particular this position focuses upon the effectiveness of using planning techniques and approaches to minimize risks to water supplies in the future, identification and resolution of future risks/issues and options to reduce current/future contaminant loads. In this capacity, the position:
1. Serves as the primary Ministry source in providing expertise and guidance on municipal and official planning as an instrument to achieve overall source water protection objectives and provides strategic expertise and technical advice and guidance to a broad range of local Source Protection Planning Boards, Committees and stakeholders, particularly municipalities engaged in the development and implementation of source protection plans. This advice will affect how the terms of reference, assessment reports and implementation plans are drafted and how they utilize land use planning as a tool/instrument for source water protection. In this context the position also provides advice on how to measure the compliance with prescribed legislation, regulations, policies and processes with regard to official plan incorporation of implementation measures, and may provide testimony in court and at tribunals. Supporting the development of plans requires that this position assist source protection planning committees by: interpreting the technical framework governing source protection and associated legislation, regulations, policies and tools; discussing/explaining Ministry position and/or negotiating and obtaining consensus of approach that meets objectives for source water protection through planning activities; conducting comprehensive analyses and review of a variety of complex components of the plan at various stages such as watershed characterization and delineation of water protection areas/zones that reflect anticipated future conditions including those inherent in the official plans and plans for growth; identifying approaches/tools to predict environmental impacts/issues/risks and providing expertise and/or soliciting input from other Ministry experts (e.g. hydrogeologist) into the development of risk avoidance/mitigation/management strategies and facilitating the development of implementation plans that avoid future risks. Works continually with local communities to ensure that final submissions to the Source Protection Approvals Section meet all required conditions prescribed by the Ministry to protect and sustain the provision of safe drinking water throughout the Province.
2. Leads/contributes to the drafting and amending of Regulations that support risk management measures that may be utilized to avoid future source water risks, specifically the use of planning tools and new municipal authorities. Ensures that the appropriate analytical and risk management approaches are reflected in technical guidance materials to support the Regulations. Using data and information from the Minister's Watershed-based Source Protection Planning Expert Committees as well as conducting ongoing research into current planning practices, processes and plans in other jurisdictions and building strong partnerships within the source protection community, both nationally and internationally and municipal/regional planners, provides leadership on updating guidance materials and regulations to reflect the changing approaches in this program area.
3. Provides leadership for the Crown in evaluation the potential impact of official plan amendments, necessary to implement source protection plans, and their impacts upon the Crown identifies impending policy and program issues to be addressed by the appropriate government agency or department in conjunction with the Source Protection Approvals Section. Liaises with provincial planning representatives to understand the linkages between the Clean Water Act and the Municipal Act, the Provincial Policy Statement, Places to Grow, Greenbelt and other relevant legislation with a planning component. Liaises with partner Ministries and collaborates in the development of systems and processes that will ensure local source protection committees have the capability to access and share data as necessary.
4. Provides scientific and planning expertise and collaborates with the Education and Outreach Branch in the development and delivery of education and outreach programs that will assist key stakeholders (Source Protection Planning Authorities, Conservation Authorities, municipalities) and municipal planners in understanding the requirements of source protection and to assist in the development and implementation of source protection plans that incorporate principles of municipal and land-use planning into the necessary risk management measures.
5. Leads/participates in multi-discipline project teams in tracking and monitoring the preparation of source protection plans through development and implementation, including municipal endorsement/support. Provides updated research on the status of Official and land-use plans and how these are used as tools to manage threats to drinking water and the status of similar activities in other jurisdictions. Tracks and monitors programs to identify and address policy issues and gaps particularly where other Ministries are involved in issue resolution. Monitors and analyzes the availability and use of industry specific technical guidance and related technical materials and publications to support continuous improvement in source-water protection plans and ensures that the Ministry benefits from leading-edge, innovative enhancements in source water protection.
6. Acts as a catalyst and facilitates ministry presence in local communities by contributing to the development of strategies and plans that promote and foster strong partnerships and co-operative working relationships between the Ministry Regional and District staff and local source protection planning committees in dealing with source protection planning issues. This involves working with planners to devise risk management measures such as the use and application of vulnerability and industry-specific risk rankings to identify permissive growth patterns for a community relative to vulnerable areas. Ensure municipalities, regions and municipal planners have the necessary technical supports and materials to develop and prepare comprehensive source protection plans that are anticipatory in nature, including information collection and management in support of implementation tracking. Lead projects/workshops to encourage and facilitate the sharing of data and experiences to facilitate the successful completion and approval of source protection plans in a consistent manner across Ontario.
7. Supports senior management decision making processes by researching and developing options/recommendations on a diversity of complex land-use planning issues and their use as risk management tools for source protection planning where the position must carefully balance the political, environmental and socio/economic conditions in a given area (particularly growth plans and water supplies) while ensuring that Ministry directions, goals and objectives for sustainable protection of water sources is considered and making presentations and/or preparing comprehensive briefing notes, issue papers and correspondence for the Minister, Deputy Minister and senior management. Leads/contributes expertise and input into the development and preparation of Management Board/Cabinet Submissions as required.
8. As a member of the Source Protection Planning Section reviews funding requests from local committees, conservation authorities and municipalities to support the development of their source protection plans, ensures that proposed actions comply with Ministry legislation, policies and practices governing watershed management planning and will enhance/expedite the preparation of comprehensive plans, identifies and develops solutions to address impediments/issues and recommends approval to the Director and Minister.
9. Represents the Branch on intra/inter ministerial and external committees as a recognized authority on the use of planning tools as risk management measures, and works with ministry specialists (e.g. scientists, engineers, policy development, standards development experts, planners) to support interdisciplinary approaches/studies such as the role of water conservation in the amelioration of water shortages and wastewater discharges in areas of growth). Maintains professional contacts on national and international level, with industry, other jurisdictions and associations (e.g. OMA, ROMA, municipal planners associations) to foster and exchange planning information and approaches for the new concepts of source water protection.

Staffing and Licencing :

Job requires a valid Class G Ontario Driver's License. Provincial Travel required.

Knowledge :

Knowledge of land use planning, principles and practices and it's impact on groundwater and surface water protection complemented by sound knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of environmental sciences and management, hydrology and hydrogeology to: provide municipal and other planning expertise, input and guidance to Ministry staff and stakeholders in the development of water source protection plans; provide testimony in court and at tribunals; provide leadership in the development/amending of regulations where planning and science components must be integrated; anticipate potential Official Plan amendments that will facilitate compliance with water source protection legislation and regulations and to ensure that effective planning approaches and practices are incorporated into the development/amendment of technical guidance at materials, tools and materials to support source protection plan development.
Knowledge of environmental and land-use planning legislation (e.g. Source Protection Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Environmental Protection Act, Water Resources Act, Municipal Act, Places to Grow, Greenbelt Act, Provincial Policy Statement) and Regulations, Ministry policies, programs, procedures and guidelines to: interpret legislation and regulations for staff/stakeholders; provide planning expertise as it relates to its use as a risk management measure to source protection planning committees on a variety of issues to be considered in the development of source protection plans (e.g. watershed characterization that encompasses population growth and water demand, sources of drinking water, current protection strategies and mechanisms to protect future supplies, etc.); critically review funding requests from key stakeholders to support plan development; and develop options to address identified issues and make viable recommendations to the Director/Minister for approval.
Knowledge of legislation, policies and programs in partner Ministries (e.g. Municipal Affairs & Housing, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Renewal, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Food and Northern Development and Mines) to identify potential impacts and ensure proposed options/recommendations for risk management through land-use and official plans are effective and compatible and to build effective working partnerships that facilitate ongoing communication and exchange of information.
Knowledge of municipal planning responsibilities and operations and their potential use as risk management measures for source protection and to provide expertise in the development of source protection plans.
Knowledge of risk avoidance/assessment/management theories, techniques and methodologies to identify potential planning and environmental impacts in source protection plans and contribute strategies and actions that address them and ensure risk management strategies, plans and approaches are incorporated into technical guidance materials, tools and mechanisms.
Knowledge of adult training techniques and practices to provide expertise and input into the development of education and outreach training programs that ensure municipalities, municipal technical staff, and municipal planners have the required information and expertise to develop comprehensive source protection plans.
Political acuity and knowledge of Ministry/Government decision-making and policy and program development processes to ensure that proposed new/enhanced regulatory and technical guidance materials and tools are theoretically sound and compatible with overall Ministry/Government directions for water source protection and encompass thorough analyses of the political, environmental and socio-economic conditions.
Knowledge of information management techniques, computer operations and related software (e.g. word-processing, spreadsheet, database management) to lead projects that facilitate the sharing of data and information among key stakeholders, prepare reports, correspondence, briefing materials, technical guides and presentations.

Skills :

Analytical and problem solving skills required to provide professional expertise and guidance in planning and environment science and to assess proposed source protection plans and identifying potential issues/impediments related to planning and other environmental impacts to measure compliance with legislation, regulations, policies and procedures and developing options/recommendations to facilitate incorporation of implementation measures into Official Plans. Interpretive and evaluative skills are required to ensure that advice and guidance provided to local source protection committees, municipal and conservation authority technical staff, municipal planners and other Ministries is consistent with the intent of legislation, policies and directions for water source protection. Project co-ordination and management skills required to effectively lead multi- discipline project teams, conduct research to support project objectives and deliverables and ensure compliances with project timeframes and deliverables. Research, analytical and problem solving skills required to carry out a variety of research projects including: researching and assessment of current planning policies practices, processes and plans in other jurisdictions to identify potential advances that support continuous improvement in source water protection; assessing the impact of Official and Land-use plans on source water protection objectives; identifying policy/program deficiencies/impediments in own and other Ministries that adversely impact on water source protection and developing viable options/recommendations to address them. Written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with a broad range of stakeholders (e.g. local source protection committees, municipal planners, conservation protection of the Province's water sources, ensure principles of municipal and land-use planning are incorporated into source protection plans, discuss/resolve identified risks/issues/impediments associated with completion of acceptable source protection plans and provide authoritative expertise, particularly the effectiveness of planning tools for risk management, related to Ministry requirements, legislation, policies and programs and to provide testimony in court and at tribunals. Policy and program development skills to develop regulatory options/recommendations that enhance source water protection and lead/contribute to the development of technical guides, materials, tools and mechanisms to support local source protection committees. Persuasive/ negotiation/consensus building/conflict resolution skills to effectively lead project teams to achieve desired outcomes, develop communication strategies that ensure successful liaison with stakeholders, represent the Ministry's interests on a variety of committees, work collaboratively with other Ministry staff to resolve issues/problems and with the Education and Outreach Branch to facilitate the development/delivery of training programs that ensure key stakeholders, technical staff, and municipal planners have the required technical materials, tools and mechanisms to support the development of source protection plans.

Freedom of Action :

Position works under the general supervision of the Manager, Source Protection Planning and within relevant legislation, regulations, standards, policies, programs and procedures and within specific theories, principles and practices for resources and environmental management and land-use planning. Provides expertise and guidance and makes decisions related to planning tools in the implementation of risk management measures for source protection, the position is accountable for determining whether source protection plans developed by local source protection committees meet required legislation, regulations and policies and ensures that water source protection becomes an integral component of Official Plans. Position evaluates impacts and risks and develops risk management strategies and options to address and limit any Ministry legal liability in preparing source protection plans. Position determines directions and desired outcomes for conducting research projects and is accountable for the soundness and reliability of results. Position is responsible for developing strategies that promote ongoing co-operative and working partnerships between local communities and Ministry staff that ensure sound planning components are incorporated into source protection plans. Position works with considerable independence of action in planning and carrying out work responsibilities and is expected to resolve issues/problems as required without jeopardizing the Ministry's relationship with stakeholders (e.g. municipalities, local source protection committees, conservation authorities) that are key to the successful development and implementation of source protection plans. Position requires referring issues such as recommendations that may have political, socio-economic and unusual environmental impacts, potential non-compliance that could seriously hinder the Province's objectives for water source protection and situations involving conflicting policy or legal action to the Manager. Completed reports, research findings and briefing materials are reviewed by the Manager only for general content, completeness, potential contentious issues and policy/political implications.