Regional Planning Forester RPF

Fonction publique de l'Ontario; South Porcupine; On-site; CAD 79,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension

Health plan

Life and disability insurance

Flexible work arrangements

Collegial work culture

Career growth opportunities

On-the-job training

Job summary

Ontario Public Service seeks a Regional Planning Forester for a 12-month assignment to lead forest management planning teams and ensure robust, compliant forest management plans. You will coordinate consultations, prepare review documents, and present findings to diverse stakeholders.

You will lead with expertise in forest management, policy knowledge, and strong communication, enabling effective collaboration with Indigenous groups and ministry teams across regions.

Qualifications

• Must possess an RPF designation from the Ontario Professional Foresters Association or be able to transfer from out-of-province and practice forestry without supervision.
• Knowledge of forest legislation, regulations, policies and aboriginal aspects.
• Leadership to support forest management planning teams.
• Experience coordinating consultations with Indigenous groups, stakeholders and ministry teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and ability to present to groups.

Responsibilities

• Provide forest management planning leadership to planning teams and represent MNR on all forest management planning teams and Independent Forest Audit requirements.
• Provide input in the preparation, review and approval of forest management plans (FMP).
• Advise regional program areas and districts.
• Prepare FMP review documents, public notices, EBR postings and summaries of public consultations.
• Act as lead contact with regional and provincial groups engaging in the local FMP process.
• Coordinate public, local citizens committee, Indigenous and stakeholder consultation efforts.
• Produce communications and make presentations.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Public speaking

Education

RPF designation (OPFA)

Job description

Apply By: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

1 Temporary assignment/contract for up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension

Job code:

$1,513.08 - $1,908.57 Per week*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Do you have expertise in forest management with solid planning skills? Are you skilled at developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and teams? If so, consider taking on this exciting opportunity as a Regional Planning Forester.

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

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

Please note: Alternate work locations may be considered, based on operational feasibility and managerial discretion.

About the job

In this role, you will:

• provide forest management planning leadership to planning team members and represent the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on all forest management planning teams and Independent Forest Audit requirements
• provide forest management planning expertise and input in the preparation, review and approval of forest management plans (FMP)
• provide expert advice to regional program areas and districts
• prepare FMP review documents, public notices, Environmental Bill of Rights postings and summaries of public consultations
• act as lead contact with regional and provincial- level interest groups who engage in the local FMP process
• coordinate and monitor public, local citizens committee, Indigenous and stakeholder consultation efforts
• produce communications and make presentations

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirement:

• You must possess a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) designation from the Ontario Professional Foresters Association or the ability to transfer designation from out-of-province and be able to practice professional forestry without professional supervision.

Technical expertise:

• You have knowledge of the theories, principles, methodology, forest estate models, and practices of forest resource management and knowledge of forest management planning requirements and practices.
• You possess knowledge of Ontario forest legislation, regulations and policies as well as knowledge of legal obligations related to forest management and aboriginal aspects.

Interpersonal and relationship management skills:

• You possess leadership skills to support, and provide guidance to, forest management planning teams.
• You have proven interpersonal and relationship management skills to develop and maintain effective relationships as the Ministry of Natural Resources representative with Indigenous groups, stakeholders, and ministry teams and committees.

Project management and organizational skills:

• You have solid project management skills to lead and direct planning teams and manage multiple and varied projects.
• You can coordinate forest management plans and reviews as well as coordinate plan approvals.

Analytical, reasoning and problem-solving skills:

• You have analytical skills to prepare, review and conduct assessments of forest management plans.
• Using your reasoning and problem-solving skills, you are able to respond to stakeholder issues and provide recommendations to resolve complex issues.

Communication skills:

• You have well developed communication skills to provide advice, guidance and recommendations to senior management.
• You can effectively communicate ministry direction regarding FMP and can work with planning teams to gain consensus on forest management planning issues.
• You can prepare submissions, briefing material, plan review documents and corporate correspondence.
• You have experience making presentations to a variety of groups.

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 identities and 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.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

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

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.