Job Specification

Purpose :

- To monitor, stimulate and facilitate mineral exploration and assist in coordinating the Ministry's geoscience activities in an assigned district(s) of the province.

- To provide pan-provincial expertise in specific geoscience topic areas.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Knowledge Development
- Collects, analyzes, interprets and maintains data from various sources to gain a greater knowledge of local geology, mineral potential, exploration and mining activity, markets, trends, problems and impacts.
- Conducts, assists and/or monitors geological field /research initiatives to investigate mineral occurrences and deposits, exploration and mining activity, trends, issues and impacts..
- Undertakes exploration and mining property visits to assess exploration, development and operation activities.
- Organizes / participates in conferences/symposia and scans publications (e.g. company reports, assessment/geological reports & scientific papers) and databases for related information such as developments, innovations, trends, technological advances and/or new geological or metallogenic concepts.
- Establishes mineral resource stakeholder networking linkages to facilitate information gathering and to identify service/knowledge gaps.

2. Technical Advice /Support
- Responds to in-office/in field stakeholder queries on geology, mineral endowment, exploration and mining techniques, land use planning and other ministry/government mines and minerals related programs.
- Acts as local focal point between prospectors and companies to facilitate exploration (e.g. identifying available properties and active prospectors, making introductions & brokering property option deals)
- Provides training, guidance, technical information and/or recommendations to staff, decision makers and other stakeholders.
- Participates in planning, coordination and implementation of mineral resource and geological research projects carried out by industry, government and/or academic agencies
- Provides technical information and comments on land use planning and management initiatives (e.g. municipal official plans & park expansions) and related policy development for a variety of government agencies
- Reports field observation of Mining Act deficiencies/contraventions and/or infrastructure and environmental hazards (e.g. abandoned mine openings, radiation & landslides) to appropriate agencies.
- Introduces new geological or metallogenic concepts and models.
- Prepares scientific reports/papers and monthly operations/annual activity reports identifying exploration activity, mining activity and makes recommendations for explorations for publication.
- Presents scientific papers and posters at geoscience-related conferences and symposia; participates in public education forums and leads field trips for mineral industry, academic and/or government officials

3. Program Delivery
- Coordinates and supervises Resident Geologist Program in an assigned district(s).
- Plans, directs and oversees the activities of geological, technical and support staff ensuring the collection, evaluation, maintenance and dissemination of geoscience, mineral exploration and mining operation information and data including functioning of geoscience information centre and drill core library system.
- Administers budget, prepares administrative and statistical reports and provides to manager input and recommendations on program's operation and requirements.
- Ensures workplace safety and equipment maintenance.

Knowledge / Skill :

Knowledge of and/or skills in:
- Theories, practices, principles, applications of geology, economic geology and experience in geological survey work, field-based mineral exploration and/or mining geology to co-ordinate and supervise program delivery and provide authoritative consultation advice and recommendations.
- Geoscience project design and implementation including concept ional model, investigation methods, work plans, applicable standards and technical documentation to conduct or provide expertise for geological field /research initiatives
- Field work/survey preparation, data measurement and collection, techniques (e.g. orienteering, compass use, map & air photo reading) and safety requirements and practices to conduct, assist or monitor field activities.
- District/region geology and mineral endowment, geoscience, mineral exploration & development advancements, markets and trends, related acts, regulatory requirements, ministry programs, policies and procedures to provide expertise information to clients, make recommendations to decision makers, provide guidance to staff and comments on land use planning and management initiatives.
- Planning, supervision, administration and project management to coordinate the Resident Geologist Program in an assigned district(s).
- Operating, maintaining and/or repairing instrumentation (e.g. positioning & geophysical measurement), equipment (e.g. rock saws & outboard motors) and vehicles (e.g. forklift, ATV & trucks) for field work, drill core library operations and training staff.
- Computer applications and systems (e.g. GPS, internet, word processing, graphics, spreadsheets & specific ministry information systems) for communication, research, data management, presentations, mapping, surveying and navigation during field work.
- Communication to exchange information, provide advice and guidance, prepare reports and conduct presentations.
- Registered as a Professional Geoscientist with the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO)
- Valid Ontario driver's licence and a valid first aid certificate.

Interpersonal / Influencing Skill :

- Consultation and facilitation skills to provide clients, decision makers, staff and other stakeholders with expert advice and to advance Resident Geologist Program in assigned district(s).
- Negotiation and persuasive skills to supervise staff, resolve issues and to enhance geoscientific & mineralization knowledge.
- Presentation and communication skills to convey geoscience and technical information and promote geoscientific principles, practices and opportunities to clients, stakeholders and inter0ministrearial collegues at conferences, symposia and other venues, as required.
- Networking skills to identify opportunities, gather information and facilitate work amongst clients, steakholders and inter-ministerial colleagues.

Analyzing / Problem Solving Skill :

Analyzing and problem solving skills to:
- Assess operational needs, resolve administrative and technical pressures, monitor and evaluate staff activities and deal appropriately with client service issues.
- Conduct, monitor and interpret geoscience field work/survey results
- Evaluate scientific and technical results of research, mapping, mineral exploration and geoscience studies conducted by ministry geological staff, universities or exploration/mining companies to formulate recommendations for decision makers or mining sector and author geological/scientific papers
to present to peers.
- Define, investigate and address geological/scientific issues or service/knowledge gaps in assigned district(s) including introducing new geological or metallogenic concepts.

Decision Making / Responsibility :

Responsible for:
- Coordinating and supervising Resident Geologist Program operations including advancing the geoscientific knowledge in assigned district(s).
- Providing authoritative geoscience/mineralization information, advice and recommendations to clients, decision makers, staff, geoscientists and other stakeholders.
- Providing input to mineral resource and geological research projects and land use planning and management initiatives

Has latitude to make decisions with respect to district(s) operations within delegated authorities (e.g. spending limit), determining priorities and direct staff, conduct site visits, interpret geoscience/technical data, provide expert advice and recommendations to clients and other stakeholders.

Decisions are guided by legislation, program mandate, administrative policies and practices, code of conduct, professional accreditation requirements, scientific standards and best practice guidelines. Decision errors could result in financial losses to the exploration/mining industry, loss of potential mineral resources and program inefficiencies.

Contacts / Stakeholder :

- Ministry decision makers, specialists/geoscience professionals and/or assigned district(s) staff to provide advice, exchange administrative or technical information and/or provide direction.
- Mineral sector stakeholders (e.g. prospectors, senior/junior exploration and mining companies, consultants, professional organizations, agencies, education community, investment companies & aboriginal clients, communities and agencies) to exchange information, provide technical advice, resolve issues and/or develop networking relationships.
- Government agencies (e.g. OPS ministries, provincial/federal/state geological surveys and municipalities) to collaborate on initiatives, share information, review issues resulting from exploration/mining activity and provide land use initiative comments.

Guidance / Supervision :

- Provides supervision to assigned staff including establishing priorities, providing direction and technical advice, performance input, explaining administrative polices and procedures and providing training
- Provides technical guidance and recommendations as district(s) authority on geoscientific & mineralization knowledge to OPS mineral resource and geological research projects and land use planning and management initiatives.

Demands / Pressures :

Work Demands :

- Frequent changes to deadlines and work demands, concurrent requests, conflicting demands and priorities.
- Frequent requirement to respond to urgent requests for information (e.g. briefing notes, comments regarding district related issues) within tight deadlines.
- Frequently required to travel beyond work hours to evening meetings with clients and/or stakeholders. Field/survey season (April to October) requires frequent overnight travel, occasionally at remote field sites.

Mental / Sensory :

- Frequent requirement to concentrate when analyzing geoscience field work/survey results, undertaking research, long-distance or bush road driving, responding to tight deadline requests and preparing administrative reports.

Conditions / Environment :

- Work is conducted in an office or the field.
- Frequent exposure, especially during peak field season, to inclement weather, long distant and bush road driving, wild life and insects, equipment (e.g. rock and chain saws) noise and dust, and abandoned/active mine hazards.
- Field work requires cross country bush traversing, river and air small craft travel, carrying equipment, samples and supplies in a backpack.
- Occasional exposure to irate/unstable clients, hunters and/or landowners.