Talent Pool - Terrestrial Monitoring Technician - Forest Health

Come join this team and provide technical support in the planning and delivery of field data collection and reporting to support the provincial terrestrial monitoring (forest health) program.

What can I expect to do in this role?

You will:

• conduct forest health surveys for the detection, delineation, and quantification monitoring of forest health conditions and stressors
• locate, establish, and maintain terrestrial assessment plots
• provide leadership to assigned students and staff
• gather, assemble and compile technical information for a-/spatial databases
• conduct field training sessions and extension workshops with partners and field crews
• maintain specialized scientific data collection equipment, field equipment and facilities

Note: These positions require flying in both fixed wing and rotary winged aircraft, as well as undertaking first aid, safe boating and chain-saw safe operation training.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory requirements:

• You possess a valid class ‘G' driver's licence or equivalent as recognized by the Province of Ontario.
• You have the ability to carry out sampling activities in remote locations independent of senior assessment staff.
• You have the ability to undertake physically demanding fieldwork in all types of weather conditions.

Scientific expertise:

• You have extensive field-based knowledge of forested ecosystems and landscapes, including proficiency in vegetation identification, soil description and classification, forest mensuration and the use of ecological land classification techniques.
• You have extensive knowledge of entomology, pathology, tree silvics, cultural and historic factors that influence forest health conditions including native and alien forest insects, diseases, other organisms, and abiotic factors which affect forest health.
• You have experience in locating, establishing and measuring plots, and conducting ground-based and aerial sampling.
• You can interpret and apply policies and legislation that relate to data collection and inventory techniques, data preparation and entry/digitizing.
• You have knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) and peripheral equipment (e.g. digitizing tablets, printer, plotters, and scanners), to perform data analysis, digitizing, map production and reports.
• You have working knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act that apply to the workplace and the work being performed.

Analytical and problem solving skills:

• You have demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills to make project-level decisions to determine the nature and extent of deviations from existing data collection standards and protocols and recommend corrective actions.
• You have troubleshooting skills to resolve technical problems.

Interpersonal and communication skills:

• You have group leadership skills to assign work to staff, monitor the quality and quantity of work, and report on progress.
• You possess good verbal communications skills to respond to inquiries, conduct field tours and training sessions.
• You possess good writing skills to make presentations and prepare reports.

Planning and organizational skills:

• You have good planning and coordinating skills to organize, schedule and coordinate human and equipment resources for field projects.

Computer skills:

• You are proficient with computers/software including word-processing, database, electronic mail, internet and spreadsheet applications.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Tuesday, November 3, 2015 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.