Area Forester

Role Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Senior Area Forester, you will be instrumental in ensuring the sustainability of Alberta’s forest ecosystems by meticulously reviewing and auditing tenure-based forest management planning and operations within the Slave Lake Forest Area.

As an Area Forester, you will assist in monitoring industry planning, silvicultural activities and forest operations to maintain vital linkages to Forest Management Plans (FMP), quota agreements, provincial legislation and departmental directives. You will play a critical role in reviewing operational plan submissions such as General Development Plans and Annual Operating Plans.

With strong communication skills, you will convey sustainable forest management principles to a diverse range of stakeholders including forest and other industries, the public, and Indigenous communities. Mediating conflicts between various groups and ensuring that local issues are effectively managed to promote harmony and sustainability is a critical daily responsibility.

You will play a pivotal role in administering regulation and legislation as it applies to timber management companies within a specified sphere of influence including the local Community Coniferous Timber Program (CCTP). You will work with embedded quota holders as well as directly participate in the development and implementation of a Forest Management Plan with operational ground rules. You will ensure compliance with established standards and best management practices by conducting audits of timber harvesting operations through the Forest Operations Monitoring Program and verifying timber scaling according to forest area targets.

You will provide assistance and support to the Forest Health Program as requested and as priorities allow in delivering the Slave Lake Forest Area forest health program.  You will participate in and support wildfire suppression duties when required.

Acting as an area representative, you will have the opportunity to the develop regulations, policies and procedures aimed at enhancing forest sustainability as well as management practices.

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: Anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities while maintaining resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
• Builds Collaborative Environments: Take a collaborative approach with work to foster open communication and leverage team skills.
• Agility: Identify alternative approaches in uncertain, complex situations while supporting others in determining and assessing strategy.
• Develop Self and Others: Learn from experiences and keep current with skills and knowledge to remain competitive.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

A university degree in Forestry or Forest Technology supplemented with four (4) years of related experience.
 

Equivalency: Directly related experience or education considered on the basis of:   

• One year of experience for one year of education, or   
• One year of education for one year of experience  

Additional Requirements:

• A valid, unrestricted Alberta Class 5 driver’s license or equivalent and a 3-year driver's abstract.
• Registered or eligibility for registration with the Association of Alberta Forest Management Professionals (AAFMP).

Assets:

• Knowledge of existing forest management and land management legislation, policies, and planning processes/tools such as the Alberta Planning Standard, Soil Conservation Guidelines, Forest Management Planning process, Timber Supply Analyses and timber harvest operating ground rules.
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills, active listening skills and proficiency with writing to deal with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and the public.
• Knowledge of Indigenous consultation process and adequacy assessments.
• Highly developed organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to fly in fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.
• Experience operating equipment such as off-highway vehicles (OHV), 4x4 vehicles and snowmobiles.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, ArcPro or other GIS applications.

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 is a permanent, full-time role with standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday. The incumbent may be requested to work overtime, evening and weekends due to the emergency nature of wildfires.

Travel within the area and throughout the province will be required as part of your responsibilities to coordinate with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients and other external stakeholders. 

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview 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. 

Application Information:

• In your application, please include a 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: Foreman (PT three 8-hour shifts/week).
• Three (3) work-related references are required for those selected for an interview.

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.