Forester Interns

Atikokan Economic Development Corporation; Atikokan; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension plan

Comprehensive health plan

Life and disability insurance

Flexible work arrangements

Career growth opportunities

On-the-job training

Job summary

Ministry of Natural Resources is offering a Forester Interns position across multiple Ontario locations. The one-year internship begins May 2027 and provides mentorship from a Registered Professional Forester, with exposure to forestry, land use planning, aquatic science, biology and ecology.

You will contribute to work schedules, reports and amendments to forest management plans while gaining hands-on experience and pursuing RPF eligibility within a supportive OPS environment.

Qualifications

• Basic working knowledge of silviculture, forest stand dynamics and environmental impacts on non-timber forest resources.
• Understanding of legislation, policies and procedures governing forest management planning in Ontario.
• Knowledge of ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity.
• Familiarity with OH&S responsibilities in the workplace.

Responsibilities

• Support development and amendments to forest management plans and annual work schedules.
• Assist in integrated resource management programs and regeneration surveys.
• Provide forestry advice to public, local industry, Indigenous groups and external agencies.
• Collaborate with teams to refine skills and gain experience toward RPF designation.

Skills

silviculture

forest stand dynamics

OH&S Act knowledge

environmental impacts

Education

Forestry degree or diploma

Tools

Computer modelling

Job description

Forester Interns

Job ID: 249454
Posting Status: Open
Organization: Ministry of Natural Resources
Division: Regional Operations Division
City: Atikokan, Bancroft, Dryden, North Bay, Pembroke, Peterborough, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, South Porcupine, Sudbury, Thunder Bay
Position(s) language: English
Job term: 10 Temporary 12-month intern placements
Job code: 1391 – Forester 1
Salary: $1,103.74 – $1,329.7 Per week*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Each year the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) hires forester interns throughout the province to gain work experience, and support ministry forest management operations. The internship, beginning in May 2027, offers meaningful experience and counts toward the work requirements for Registered Professional Forester (RPF) membership.

Through this posting you will be able to select all of the locations that you’d like to be considered for. Locations include: Thunder Bay, Red Lake/Sioux Lookout, Atikokan, Dryden, North Bay, Sudbury, South Porcupine (Timmins), Pembroke, Bancroft, and Peterborough.

Visit the following links to learn more about the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), and our work in forestry.

The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is committed to being an employer of first choice, creating a positive and inclusive work enviornment.

We offer:

• a defined benefit pension plan
• comprehensive health plan
• life and disability insurance
• flexible work arrangements
• collegial and professional work culture
• career growth and development opportunities across multiple business areas
• on-the-job training to support your success in the role

About the Job

• During this one-year internship, you’ll work under the mentorship of an experienced Registered Professional Forester (RPF), which will bring you closer to your own RPF designation.
• Forester Interns with the MNR will have the opportunity to work closely with various teams of professionals to refine their skills and gain valuable experience in fields such as forestry, land use planning, aquatic science, biology, and ecology.
• Support the Management Forester in the development and/or review of Annual Work Schedules and revisions, Annual Reports, and Amendments to forest management plans.
• Provide support to integrated resource management programs, such as regeneration assessment surveys, forest compliance inspections, and forest management planning.
• Provide forestry advice to the general public, local forest industry, Indigenous groups and other external agencies.
• Work in a tight-knit team of resource management professionals and build a network that spans the Ministry and industry.
• Working for one of the province’s largest employers means access to a large array of opportunities during and after your internship.

What You Bring to the Team
Eligibility:

• You have proof of eligibility to work in Canada.
• You have graduated or will graduate from an approved or legally authorized college or university with a degree, postgraduate certificate or diploma in a last four years.
• You are not a permanent employee of the OPS.
• All candidates are only eligible to participate in one MNR 12-month placement and must not have participated in the MNR internship program in the past.

Knowledge:

• basic working knowledge of silviculture, forest stand dynamics and environmental impacts on non-timber forest resources
• some working knowledge of legislation, policies and procedures governing forest management planning in Ontario, including current forest management principles and practices used in the Great Lakes and Boreal Forests
• general understanding of ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity
• knowledge of worker responsibilities as outlined in the OH&S Act that apply to the workplace and the work being performed

Analytical and research skills:

• analytical and problem-solving skills to review, analyze and evaluate ministry data and information from staff and stakeholders to determine application of legislation/policy and contributing to problem resolution options
• good verbal and written communication skills, including facilitation skills to assist in preparation for or participate in stakeholder meetings or public consultation processes or in responding to public inquiries
• good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment to interact with staff, members of industry, stakeholder groups, resource users and the general public
• planning, coordination and time management skills to plan, coordinate or participate in individual and team projects, initiatives, proposals, and on concurrent timelines

Computer skills:

• basic knowledge of computer applications and modelling

Don’t meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario’s Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

Additional information:
Position details:

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 300 Water St., Peterborough, East Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 31 Riverside Dr., Pembroke, East Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 106 Monck St., Bancroft, East Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 875 Gormanville Rd., North Bay, North Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 5520 Hwy 101 E., South Porcupine, North Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 3767 Hwy 69 S., Sudbury, North Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 49 Prince St., Sioux Lookout, North Region or 227 Howey St., Red Lake, North Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 108 Saturn Ave., Atikokan, North Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 435 James St. S., Thunder Bay, North Region
• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 479 Government St., Dryden, North Region

Compensation group: Ontario Public Service Employees Union
Work hours: Schedule 3-A
Category: Internships
Posted on: Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the “position(s) language” section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you’ll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d’emploi externes de la fonction publique de l’Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d’emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d’affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.

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