Forest Area Manager

Government of Alberta; Fort McMurray; On-site; CAD 134,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Government of Alberta in Fort McMurray seeks a Forest Area Manager to oversee wildfire management, forest health, and forest management programs within the assigned Forest Area. The role reports to the Executive Director of Forest Operations and collaborates with Environment and Protected Areas for service delivery.

This senior leadership position requires expertise in budgeting, policy, and coordination with provincial stakeholders to advance sustainable forestry and wildfire prevention goals.

Qualifications

• University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by six years progressively responsible experience.
• Diploma in Forestry or a related discipline plus ten years of experience in natural resource and wildfire management is required.

Responsibilities

• Prioritize protection of human life, forest communities, watersheds, soils, natural resources, and infrastructure within the provincial wildfire management strategy.
• Direct wildfire prevention, operational support, scientific research projects, detection, pre-suppression, and suppression activities to mitigate wildfire risks.
• Ensure responsible and sustainable forest management practices including timber establishment, harvest, and removal on public lands, in accordance with existing legislation, policy, and direction.
• Implement and manage a Forest Health program and budget for the Area, adhering to existing policies and regulations.

Education

University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by six years progressively responsible experience

Diploma in Forestry or a related discipline plus ten years of experience in natural resource and wildfire management is required

Job description

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Job Information
Job Title: Forest Area Manager
Job Requisition ID: 88120
Ministry: Forestry and Parks
Location: Fort McMurray
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 02, 2026

Classification: Senior Manager Zone 2
Salary: $5,139.30 to $6,526.16 bi-weekly ($134,135.73 - $170,332/year)

The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations.
We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities.

As the Ministry of Forestry and Parks we are responsible for fostering Alberta’s environmentally responsible forest management practices, including management of wildfires. We preserve our provincial parks for the recreation and enjoyment of Albertans. As well as enabling access to public lands for recreational and commercial purposes while prioritizing conservation. Forestry and Parks also manage public lands and balances sustainable rangelands and grazing leases for Alberta producers.

The Forestry Division, within the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, works to enhance the economic, environmental, and social contributions of our forests and forested lands to Albertans. For more information about the Ministry of Forestry and Parks please visit our website at: Forestry and Parks .

Role Responsibilities

Join our dynamic team as a Forest Area Manager and play a pivotal role in overseeing wildfire management, forest health, and forest management programs within our designated Forest Area. The Forest Area Manager, reporting to the Executive Director of Forest Operations Branch, oversees wildfire management, forest health, and forest management programs within their designated Forest Area (FA).
Collaboration with Environment and Protected Areas Executive Directors and Operational Services Managers is crucial for administrative support under the Service Level Agreement between Forestry and Parks and Environment and Protected Areas.
Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Prioritize protection of human life, forest communities, watersheds, sensitive soils, natural resources (including timber, recreation, and wildlife), and infrastructure within the provincial wildfire management strategy.
• Direct wildfire prevention, operational support, scientific research projects, detection, pre-suppression, and suppression activities to mitigate wildfire risks effectively.
• Ensure responsible and sustainable forest management practices including timber establishment, harvest, and removal on public lands, in accordance with existing legislation, policy, and direction.
• Implement and manage a Forest Health program and budget for the Area, adhering to existing policies and regulations.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead strategic initiatives, manage budgets, and collaborate with key stakeholders to achieve departmental objectives. If you are passionate about sustainable forestry practices and possess strong leadership skills, we invite you to apply and contribute to the conservation and management of our natural resources.
The Job Description is provided for further details on this position.

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.

• Drive for Results: Knows what outcomes are important and maximizes resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
• Creative Problem Solving: Assesses options and implications in new ways to inform decision making in order to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively.
• Develop Networks: Builds networks and trusting relationships with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by six years progressively responsible experience, or
• Diploma in Forestry or a related discipline plus ten years of experience in natural resource and wildfire management is required.

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

Assets:

• Membership, or eligibility for membership, with the Alberta Association of Forest Management Professionals is preferred.
• Understanding of budgeting and expenditure control.
• Comprehensive knowledge of wildfire, forest management, and forest health programs, legislation, policy, and regulations.
• In-depth understanding of wildfire suppression methods, cause, behavior, prevention principles, and techniques.
• Familiarity with provincial legislation related to forestry, environmental protection, and public lands management.
• Experience in natural resource and wildfire management.

This competition is recruiting for a full-time permanent position in Fort McMurray with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday. The successful candidate will be operating out of an office and field setting.
Travel within the region on a regular basis and throughout the province on occasion will be required as part of your responsibilities and the successful candidate will have frequent contact with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and external stakeholder’s province wide. This job will require you to fly in a helicopter and work extended hours including evenings and weekends. The position may also require you to work away from home up to 24 days based on emergent situations within the province.
Relocation assistance may be provided to eligible candidates.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.
Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

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 we have to offer:

• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Rashi Vaktaniaat [e-mail] .