Senior Area Forester

Role Responsibilities

Are you a seasoned forestry professional looking to make a meaningful impact on Alberta’s forested landscapes? This is your opportunity to step into a highly influential leadership role that contributes to the strategic direction of forest management and forest health programs across the region. As a trusted advisor and leader, you will ensure integration with other Ministerial programs, support provincial priorities, and work to ensure the long‑term health and productivity of Alberta’s forests.

Reporting to the Forest Area Manager, the Senior Area Forester plays a pivotal role in providing leadership to the Forest Management and Forest Health sections. You will oversee the effective integration of forest management practices into strategic plans, lead major regional and provincial initiatives, and ensure consistent application of policies, standards, and legislation across the forest area. This is a standout opportunity for someone who thrives in a collaborative, high‑impact environment and is ready to influence the future of forest resource management in Alberta.

Your key responsibilities include and are not limited to:

• Ensuring integrated forest management delivery through consistent and efficient application of legislation, policy initiatives, and procedures.
• Leading and participating in departmental and external project teams influencing regional and provincial forest and land management policies.
• Supporting consistent application of forest management standards by guiding and assisting area staff.
• Supervising human resources in the Forest Management and Forest Health sections to align service delivery with divisional goals.
• Responding to issues and appeals related to Forest Management and Land Management decisions on behalf of the Forest Area.
• Advocating for Division programs by building strong relationships with stakeholders, agencies, and the public to promote integrated resource management.
• Overseeing and supporting all aspects of the Forest Operations Monitoring (FOMP) and Timber Production Monitoring (TPM) programs.
• Overseeing and supporting the full scope of the Forest Health Program.
• Supporting Wildfire programs in both fire suppression and fire prevention to reduce wildfire risk and incidence.
• Leading your team to ensure Wildfire program support through response shifts, Fire Centre shifts and export opportunities.
• Ensuring coordinated Forest Management program delivery through provincial collaboration with area senior foresters and Edmonton-based staff.

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.

• Creative Problem Solving: Anticipates, assesses, and readily adapts to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Takes a collaborative approach with your work to foster open communication and leverage team skills.
• Agility: Identifies alternative approaches in uncertain, complex situations, supporting others in determining and assessing strategy.
• Develop Self and Others: Aims to learn from experiences, shift, and keep current with our skills and knowledge to remain competitive.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf..

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

A related degree in Forestry plus 6 years plan review approval, forest harvesting operations and reforestation experience.

Equivalency:

Directly related experience or education considered based on:

1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or

1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Requirements:

Registration with AAFMP

Assets:

• Experience with first nations consultation processes
• Understanding of Inter government integration
• Experience working on regional or provincial policy development initiatives.
• Exposure to wildfire management, including suppression or prevention.
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience involving industry, agencies, and the public.
• Familiarity with Forest Operations Monitoring (FOMP) and Timber Production Monitoring (TPM) programs.

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 permanent full‑time role is scheduled for 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. However, because of wildfire activity and operational requirements, travel away from home and working overtime may be required.

Candidates may be required to complete a written assessment as part of the interviewing process.

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.

Links and information on what the GoA have 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/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.