Fisheries Manager - Northwest

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Regional Fish and Wildlife Director, Resource Stewardship, the Northwest Fisheries Manager provides strategic direction and leadership to the development, implementation, and management of the Northwest fisheries programs. The programs pertain to species and population assessments, habitat and land use input, species at risk (SAR) management, and programs related to F&W disease and invasive species response. With expertise in stakeholder relations, the position requires a thorough understanding of the consultation processes directed at the resolution of diverse and often conflicting stakeholder needs.

Operating in an integrated delivery environment, the Fisheries Manager leads diverse and complex programs and teams, and is responsible to provide leadership to staff across the province as well as direct supervision of multiple senior fisheries biologists, and a team of approximately 10-12 fisheries staff across the Northwest.

The Fisheries Manager requires the ability to balance competing interests in working with stakeholders to ensure the recovery and sustainability of fish populations for the present and future.

Responsibilities include:
•    Developing, delivering, and overseeing tactical strategies and work plans related to fish population and habitat management and species at risk conservation and recovery at regional, and in some cases, provincial scales.
•    Apply sound scientific knowledge and resource management skills to inform cumulative effects assessment and management, and support the department's integrated resource management programs at provincial, divisional and branch/regional levels.  
•    Contributing to provincial, regional and sub­regional environmental and natural resource plans, procedures, objectives, thresholds, and actions achieved directly, and by providing support to the Regional Director.

Qualifications

Requirements: 
•    A University degree in a related field such as natural resource management, environmental sciences.
•    Six years of progressively responsible fisheries related experience and/or management and leadership experience in a related field. 

Equivalencies: 
•    Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Assets: 
•    Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams of professional and technical personnel across large geographic areas.
•    Strong verbal and written communication skills.
•    Decision making, leadership and project management skills.
•    Conflict resolution, problem solving, assessment of complex situations, and facilitation skills.
•    Indigenous community, public, and stakeholder engagement and consultation skills.
•    Ability to develop strong interpersonal relationships at all levels with internal and external organizations.
•    Capacity to think critically, analyze, plan, innovate and act strategically and systematically.
•    Strong issues management abilities.
•    Understanding of public administration practices, and functions and structures of municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
•    Able to work independently with minimal direction.
•    Ability to provide direction and make timely decisions on contentious environmental issues.

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

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This is a full-time permanent opportunity, which will be located in Grande Prairie (other locations in the Northwest may be considered). Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening. A written assessment may be administered as part of the recruitment process.

Working and Living in Grande Prairie:
•    55th to 57th parallels retention allowance: This is an annual retention bonus of $6,000.00, less all lawful deductions, the payment will be made in 2 installments per year and shall be pro-rated based on the employee's commencement date.  
•    For more detailed information on this perk check out this link: https://www.alberta.ca/premium-pay-directive.aspx.

About your work environment:
Northwestern Alberta is a highly diverse region for both fisheries and wildlife. As a member of a vibrant and inclusive team, you’ll have the opportunity to work and collaborate across many disciplines, as a key leader of Alberta’s fisheries management system. The position requires travel throughout northwestern Alberta, and periodically to other areas of Alberta. At times, the position will be required to work outside of regular business hours, including weekends.

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.
•    Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) – https://www.mepp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information –  https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-human-resource-directives.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.