Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To plan and supervise the scientific and technical programs, activities and staff of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre, the Province's centre of expertise on inland lake water quality. To provide scientific expertise in the development of programs to monitor, assess and report on environmental issues impacting inland lakes

Duties / Responsibilities :

Within the Dorset Environmental Science Centre, a geographically remote site which is the Ministry's centre of expertise on inland lakes, theposition:
1.Provides scientific expertise ad leadership in the development, co-ordination and operation of programs designed to assess, monitor and report on environmental issues impacting inland lakes, including impacts of nutrient inputs, acidic deposition, climate change, contamination bypersistent trace substance such as mercury, and invasion by exotic species.
2.Plans, coordinates and manages program operations of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre to monitor, assess and report on environmental issues affecting inland lakes in Ontario, including the operation of a chemical analytical facility which supports the monitoring programs at DESC with in excess of 20,000 analyses per year.
3.Manages the Site financial, human and material resources including developing and managing budget, making decisions and/or effective recommendations on hiring and promotion, demotion and dismissal, disciplinary actions, merit increases, grievances, MERC/Health and Safety issues, new or reclassifications performances appraisals, leaves budgets. Ensures compliance with all human resources and Health and Safety legislation policies and procedures,
responding to all complaints and violations under the Act.
4.Initiates, develops and maintains provincial/federal/university/municipal partnerships
established to undertake and enhance ongoing research and monitoring activities on inland lakes in Ontario including the long term evaluation ofecosystem health and the effect of acid deposition and climate change.
5.Provides advice to senior Ministry management on issues pertaining o inland
like water quality (e.g., lakeshore development, acid rain, elevated mercury in fish, global climate change).
6.Ensures the maintenance and security of site facilities and resources including the office building, laboratory complex, garage and storage building trailers, a meteorological station, air and
precipitation collection devices and various remote hydrological monitoring stations.
7.Represents the Ministry on inland lake issues at the provincial,national and international levels. 8.Member of branch management team to develop branch directions and strategies for addressing environmental monitoring programs

Staffing and Licencing :

N/A

Knowledge :

Position requires advanced knowledge of scientific theories, tools and methodology with specialization in aquatic science and environmental studies.
Position requires superior statistical and data analysis skills and experience required to design water quality monitoring programs and assess data collected by monitoring programs. Position requires advanced knowledge and understanding of a range of environmental issues which affect inland
lakes in Ontario such as: lakeshore development, acid rain, elevated mercury levels in sport fish, impacts of invading species and global climate change to coordinate the monitoring, assessment and reporting on these issues and provide related senior level expertise to senior ministry management.
Thorough knowledge of government standards, guidelines and processes for developing joint venture partnerships with other jurisdictions and the greater public and private sectors and strong partnership building and negotiation skills to develop and maintain provincial/federal/university/municipal
partnerships. Knowledge of program planning and administration methods to plan and coordinate programs to meet the mandate of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre. Excellent knowledge and skills in applying research techniques used in the investigation of inland lake quality including
methods to assess biological communicates of inland lakes.

Judgement :

The position works under the broad direction of the Manager, Bio monitoring Section and Dorset Environmental Science Centre who is located in Toronto. As a result, position is expected t work very independently as the only management staff at the Centre which is geographically remote from
headquarters. Broad guidelines are available in scientific methodology in the field of aquatic science and ministry directions in the research of environmental issues. Position exercises a high level of judgement in enhancing the ministry's aquatic science capabilities through the planning and
development of programs at the Dorset Environmental Science Centre and the building of critical partnerships with other levels of government and universities in order to strengthen the research and investigation capabilities of the ministry. Judgement is exercised in monitoring and assessing a wide
range of complexity of environmental issues affecting inland lakes in Ontario including impacts of nutrient inputs, acidic deposition, climate change,contamination and invasion by exotic species. Judgement is exercised in balancing the management of program issues with the need to manage staff,
financial and material resources which support the monitoring programs at the Site

Accountability - Programs :

Accountable for the site management of the Dorset Environmental Science Centre, the centre of expertise on inland lake quality including program planning and delivery for the assessment, monitoring and reporting on environmental issues, the management of the DESC facility and development of partnerships with universities/other levels of government supporting ongoing research and investigation activities. Provides advice to senior ministry management on a range of issues pertaining to inland lake water quality.

Accountability – Personnel :

Directly manages a team of 12 staff including scientists, environmental officers, chemical technologists, and system officers. Has full management authority and responds to employee grievances at first stage

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Responsible for the planning and management of the DESC budget and for the security, operation and maintenance of the office building, laboratory complex, garage and storage building, trailers, and several remote environmental monitoring stations.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Ineffective management of the DESC would have a direct and critical impact on the ability of the ministry to address a range of environmental issues impacting inland lakes, Failure to provide timely and accurate advice to senior management could lead to inappropriate policies, programs and potential
embarrassment to the Ministry and Minister.

Contact - Internal :

Frequent contact with colleagues and senior ministry management at the Director and ADM level in head office and Operations Division to provide advice and expertise in the analysis of environmental issues.

Contact - External :

Frequent contact with colleagues and manager in other provincial Ministries (e.g. MNR) and at the federal municipal and university levels to develop and maintain partnerships to undertake and enhance research and monitoring activities on inland lakes in Ontario. Contact with agencies of US environmental to arrange co-operative studies and consult on issues of mutual interest. Contact with representatives of the media and the public to advise on water quality issues and Ministry programs to address aquatic impacts of environmental stresses