Title: Senior Aquatic Plant Specialist Classification: Biologist 27

JOB PROFILE

TITLE: SENIOR AQUATIC PLANT SPECIALIST CLASSIFICATION: BIOLOGIST 27

MINISTRY: FORESTS, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS WORK UNIT: AQUACULTURE PROGRAM

SUPERVISOR: SECTION HEAD, AQUACULTURE (LSO4) JOB OVERVIEW This position reports to a Section Head or an excluded manager and is located either in Nanaimo West Coast Regional office, or satellite office in Courtenay, of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

The Senior Aquatic Plant Specialist supports the delivery of the Provincially-delivered Aquaculture Program including: evaluating resource applications, conducting applied research, and leading or participating in complex projects. The position requires knowledge of the B.C. Fish and Seafood Act and Land Act and related regulation and policy, as well as related pertinent provincial and federal legislation, associated public involvement and First Nations consultation obligations. This position may supervise professional and technical staff. ACCOUNTABILITIES Required:

 Evaluates major, long-term resource use applications and reviews proposals and makes recommendations to Statutory Decision Makers (e.g. land tenures for aquaculture and ancillary purposes).  Evaluates resource use applications; reviews proposals, engages in formal consultation with stakeholders, and evaluates and makes recommendations to Statutory Decision Makers and/or approves (e.g. aquatic plant aquaculture and wild harvest licences).  Provides specialist advice to professional staff in the interpretation and application of provincial legislation, regulations, policies, best practices/new developments and assists with the resolution of complex environmental management issues.

Career Group: Scientific/Technical Job Family: Resource Management Job Stream: Biology Role: Professional Revised Date: August 2011  Develops management strategies and plans in field of expertise.  Prepares science-based reports and documents such as ministry submissions, standards of practice, briefing notes, feasibility reports, evaluation reports, and project management documents.  Models, simulates and forecasts biological inventories.  Leads the development of environmental guidelines, objectives and standards and provides scientific advice on the development of legislation, regulations and policies.  Leads province wide projects and leads project planning sessions to determine project scope, define deliverables, develop charters, lead project staff and pursue funding.  Develops science-based solutions to resolve environmental stewardship issues.  Develops and promotes working relationships with internal and external partners, stakeholders, and government agencies to achieve program or project objectives.  Represents the ministry at high profile inter-jurisdictional working groups.  Conducts and/or oversees scientific research studies to develop, implement and promote innovative concepts.  Evaluates the program and identifies opportunities to improve effectiveness and makes recommendations to senior management.  Prepares and/or negotiates contracts, monitors performance and authorizes payment.  May supervise licensed and non-licensed professional and/or technical staff including assignment of work, development and evaluation of performance plans and approval of leave.  May prepare and/or negotiates contracts, monitor performance and authorise payment.  Provides specialist support through the approval of permits and plans, completion of assessments and monitoring and compliance activities.  Negotiates agreements relating to environmental and resource management plans with other levels of government and industry.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

 Degree in biological sciences or related field (preference for marine biology).  Registered (or eligible) as a Registered Professional Biologist (RP Bio) in B.C. with the College of Applied Biology within six months of employment.

Career Group: Scientific/Technical Job Family: Resource Management Job Stream: Biology Role: Professional Revised Date: August 2011  Experience interpreting and applying environmental management legislation, regulations and policies.  Experience conducting public consultation processes dealing with environmental management issues. PREFERENCE MAY BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WITH THE FOLLOWING:

 Minimum 1 year experience interpreting and applying environmental management legislation, regulations and policies.  Prefer experience in negotiating/mediating solutions and consulting with stakeholders in natural resource management.  Preference may be given for experience in working/consulting with First Nations. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES  Advanced scientific knowledge of a speciality area.  Scientific knowledge of aquatic plants.  Clear written and verbal communication skills.

PROVISOS/WILLINGNESSSTATEMENTS  Valid B.C. driver’s licence.  Meet safety standards of Work Safe BC.  May require the operation of a variety of equipment.  Conducts field work which may include the following: travel to remote areas by vehicle, boat, air or foot, overnight or extended stay in rough camp conditions and outdoor work in all weather conditions.  Ability to carry equipment and supplies in difficult terrain.  Successful completion of security screening requirements of the BC Public Service, which may include a criminal records check, and/or Criminal Records Review Act (CRRA) check, and/or enhanced security screening checks as required by the ministry (Note: It is important that you read the job posting carefully to understand the specific security screening requirements pertaining to the position).

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

Career Group: Scientific/Technical Job Family: Resource Management Job Stream: Biology Role: Professional Revised Date: August 2011  Conceptual Thinking is the ability to identify patterns or connections between situations that are not obviously related, and to identify key or underlying issues in complex situations. It includes using creative, conceptual or inductive reasoning or thought processes that are not necessarily categorized by linear thinking.  Engaging External Partners identifies and involves external stakeholders in order to foster long term partnerships.  Expertise includes the motivation to expand and use technical knowledge or to distribute work-related information to others.  Planning, Organizing and Coordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities and allocating resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex plans. It also involves monitoring and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver to the organization's mandate.

 Flexibility is the ability and willingness to adapt to and work effectively within a variety of diverse situations, and with diverse individuals or groups. Flexibility entails understanding and appreciating different and opposing perspectives on an issue, adapting one’s approach as situations change and accepting changes within one’s own job or organization.

 Improving Operations is the ability and motivation to apply one’s knowledge and past experience for improving upon current modes of operation within the Ministry. This behaviour ranges from adapting widely used approaches to developing entirely new value- added solutions

 Conflict Management is the ability to develop working relationships that facilitate the prevention and/or resolution of conflicts within the organization.

 Teamwork and Co-operation is the ability to work co-operatively within diverse teams, work groups and across the organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the desire and ability to understand and respond effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds with diverse views.

Career Group: Scientific/Technical Job Family: Resource Management Job Stream: Biology Role: Professional Revised Date: August 2011  Self-Confidence is a belief in one’s own capability to accomplish a task and select an effective approach to a task or problem. This includes confidence in one’s ability as expressed in increasingly challenging circumstances and confidence in one’s decision or opinions.

Career Group: Scientific/Technical Job Family: Resource Management Job Stream: Biology Role: Professional Revised Date: August 2011