Planning Forester

Role Responsibilities

Are you a professional forester who is dedicated and passionate about sustainable forest management in Alberta? Then this is the professional position for you! 

You will lead the development of forest management plans through multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder planning teams. The position, through coordination, facilitation, direction, and guidance achieves integrated forest management planning in Alberta in accordance with the Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard administered by Forest Management and Wildfire Mitigation Branch.
 

Your key accountabilities are to communicate and interpret legislation, policies, guidelines to resolve complex forest management, stakeholder, and resource integration issues. In this position you will have direct engagement with regional staff, the forest industry, academia, other provincial jurisdictions, and partner agencies to ensure that forest management plans meet the departmental goals and objectives.
 

Your responsibilities are, but not limited to:
•    Lead the development of forest management plans for forest management agreement (FMA) area forest management units (FMUs) as well as non-FMA FMU's using effective strategies that manage forested public lands in alignment with legislation while accounting for multiple values, such as but not limited to, forest health, fish and wildlife, forest economic development, wildfire mitigation and biodiversity.  
•    Direct and manage processes in a credible and confident manner acquired from related experience using well developed communication, project management, problem-solving, and mediation skills. This position has due diligence responsibilities (i.e., Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle) for the department's approach to forest management regarding adaptive management. 
•    Develop and maintain effective internal department and cross Ministry relationships to ensure forest management plans align with regional and sub regional plans as developed and approved. 
•    Assist with continual improvement of provincial forest management planning processes and performance monitoring.
•    Identify and contribute to problem solving sustainable forest management challenges.

Please click this link to view the job description.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Creative problem Solving: Uses a wide range of techniques to break down complex problems and generate solutions while balancing environmental, social and economic values. 

Agility: Anticipates change, identifies alternative approaches or courses of action in unclear and complex situations. Supports others to identify, assess, and use alternative approaches. 

Drive for Results: Strives to exceed expectations and maximizes resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the department while maintaining accountability to both internal and external stakeholders.

Develops Networks: Maintains close relationships with all stakeholders, actively incorporate the needs of the broader group, and ensures overall client satisfaction.

Build Collaborative Environments: Ensures a collaborative approach is taken to facilitate open communication and leverage team skills to achieve desired outcomes.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement:
•    University degree in Forestry or Natural Resource Management plus 4 years related experience. 

Equivalency: 
•    A related two-year diploma plus 6 years related experience. 
•    Additional related education considered in lieu of experience on one year of experience for one year of education. 

Special Requirement: 
•    Membership or eligibility for membership with Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals (AAFMP).

Assets:

•    Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced multi-issue environment, serving a wide range of competing and varied internal and external interests.
•    Ability to demonstrate objectivity when presenting recommendations to decision makers.
•    Strong and effective oral and written communication, conflict resolution, mediation, and facilitation skills.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This position is a full-time temporary opportunity for up to 12 months. The standard hours of work are 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. This position is an independent role with little travel required. Edmonton residency is preferred; however, arrangements may be considered for remote-working candidates residing in one of ten Forest Areas. 

Candidates may be required to complete a written assignment. 

Application Information:
•    In your application, please a include cover letter detailing your interest, and role related experience. In your resume include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. Also, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part time, or full time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three, 8 hour shifts/week).
•    Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.
•    Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in. 

What the GoA has to offer:
•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.