Rangeland Agrologist

Role Responsibilities

At the Department of Forestry and Parks, Lands Operations Division, we manage lands under the Public Lands Act and Forest Reserve Act for agricultural use, providing immense value to Alberta’s agricultural community. These lands offer cultivation, haying opportunities, and forage for grazing.

Reporting to the Rangeland Team Lead, the Rangeland Agrologist is responsible for the assessment, regulation, and management of agricultural use on Alberta Crown lands under the Public Lands Act and Forest Reserves Act. The role ensures that agricultural dispositions such as grazing, haying, and range use are managed to maintain ecological integrity while supporting sustainable agricultural development

This position applies professional agrology expertise to make regulatory and land management decisions, conduct field and administrative audits, and support integrated land-use planning in collaboration with government agencies, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders.

The Rangeland Agrologist provides scientific and professional expertise to clients, agricultural producers, government and industry professionals on soils, range and riparian health, and tame and native ecosystems to support rangeland stewardship and sustainability.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
•    Administer and manage vacant public land in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations, policies, and directives, ensuring a balanced approach to development, land use, and conservation while maintaining biodiversity. 
•    Deliver technology transfer initiatives independently or in partnership with stakeholders through workshops, publications, and direct client engagement, as well as collaboration with local governments to enhance knowledge and capacity related to rangeland resources. 
•    Identify and escalate strategic issues requiring policy development to the Rangeland Team Lead and/or Program Manager. 
•    Evaluate rangeland dispositions under the Public Lands Act and Forest Reserves Act to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, disposition conditions, and standards for land stewardship, conservation, and reclamation. 
•    Communicate identified deficiencies and required corrective actions to activity holders, and act as a liaison between grazing associations and industrial stakeholders. 
•    Assess public lands in accordance with established policies, directives, and procedures to determine agricultural capability, suitability for sale or disposition, and to appraise market value and rental rates. 
•    Review and analyze competing land-use requests and develop balanced land management solutions that integrate multiple uses such as grazing, oil and gas development, forestry, and wildlife habitat conservation, including protection of endangered species. 
•    Ensure Ministry resources are managed efficiently, effectively, and in alignment with organizational objectives.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

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.

How Competencies will apply to this role:

• Creative Problem-Solving: Conflict resolution on recreational access disputes. Seeking to balance social, economic and environmental issues with decision making.
  
  
• Agility: Adapting to changing and emerging technology/systems and responding to updates in policies and procedures. Responding to emerging conditions such as drought, flooding, and wildfire.
  
  
• Build Collaborative Environments: Working as a team player to facilitate overall goals with inspections and renewals. Providing recommendations for improvements through Rangeland Team Lead and Manager.
  
  
• Drive for Results: Plan and complete rangeland inspections. Prioritize and manage workload through readily available tools such as spreadsheets and planners, based on seasonality.

Qualifications

Required: 
•    A completed university degree in Agriculture, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
•    Minimum 3 years of related experience.
•    Currently registered as a Professional Agrologist from the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA).
•    A valid Class 5 Driver’s License (or equivalent) with a clean driving record.
•    Defensive driving certificate.
•    Standard First Aid and Basic CPR.

Equivalences may be considered: Related Master’s degree considered in lieu of part of the three years of related experience on a one-for-one basis. 

Assets
•    Experience in contract and project administration, including participation in tendering processes, contract issuance, and monitoring of stewardship or operational agreements (e.g., grazing reserves and municipal weed control programs). 
•    Ability to use geospatial and land management systems (e.g., GLIMPS, GRMS, AltaBase, ArcMap, ArcPad) to complete mapping, spatial analysis, and land evaluation tasks in support of operational decision-making. 
•    Demonstrated ability to apply knowledge of ecosystem health and function, including range and riparian systems, rangeland health assessment, forage production, livestock production systems, plant identification, plant community classification, soil science, weed science, reclamation techniques, water resources, and agricultural capability ratings to support evidence-based land management decisions. 
•    Ability to interpret and apply multiple legislative and regulatory frameworks, including the Public Lands Act, Forest Reserves Act, Parks Act, Weed Control Act, Water Act, Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, Species at Risk Act, Agrology Profession Act, and associated regulations, policies, and operational directives. 
•    Capacity to assess and integrate competing land-use values (e.g., agriculture, forestry, wildlife, recreation, industrial development, and water management) into balanced land management recommendations. 

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 competition is for full-time permanent position located in High Prairie.
•    Monday – Friday, 7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week.

Any costs associated with obtaining 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.
Instructions for your Resume:

For Employment Experience:
Please indicate duration of employment (month, year)
Please specify employment status (i.e. casual, part-time or full-time)
E.g.: Youth Worker, Jan 2006 - June 2009, Part-time (three, 8 hour shifts/week)

For any Post-Secondary Education:
Please specify your major and length of program
Please specify the year you graduated
E.g.: Bachelor of Social Work, 4-year Degree (Graduated 2017)

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.

•    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/alberta-public-service-human-resource-directives
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool - https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
•    Leadership and mentorship programs

Resources for applicants:
•    https://www.alberta.ca/apply-for-jobs-with-the-alberta-public-service.aspx
•    https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-hiring-process.aspx
•    https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/