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Apply By: Monday, January 12, 2026 11:59 pm EST

Manager, Biodiversity and Monitoring Section

Job ID:

235328

Posting status:

Open

Organization:

Ministry of Natural Resources

Division:

Provincial Services Division/ Science and Research Branch

City:

Peterborough, Sault Ste Marie, South Porcupine, Thunder Bay

Position(s) language:

English

Job term:

1 Permanent

Job code:

M1108C - Prog Planning & Evaluation26

Salary:

$108,203.00 - $152,511.00 Per year

Be the driving force behind biodiversity monitoring that shapes the future of Ontario's ecosystems.

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for environmental science, data, and natural resource management? The Ministry of Natural Resources is seeking a forward-thinking Manager to lead the Biodiversity and Monitoring Section (BAMS) within the Science and Research Branch. This team plays a critical role in monitoring Ontario's terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by tracking trends, detecting changes, and generating insights that inform natural resource policy and support sustainable management across the province.

In this high-impact role, you'll oversee large-scale monitoring programs, guide data-driven decision-making, and lead a multidisciplinary team that transforms field data into actionable knowledge.

If you're ready to lead where science meets strategy, this is your opportunity to make a lasting difference for Ontario's natural heritage.

The Ontario Public Service: Strengthening Ontario, Together.

A career in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is driven by purpose. We're building a stronger Ontario by delivering programs and services that make a real difference in people's lives. If you share this ambition, you'll find a workplace that reflects the diversity of the people we serve and empowers you to lead with confidence.

Why Your Leadership Belongs Here

• Purpose that drives you: Lead work that matters. Your leadership will shape policies, programs, and services that improve lives across the province—every day.
• A culture that supports you: Thrive in a flexible, inclusive, and respectful workplace that values your well-being and empowers you to bring your whole self to work.
• A career that grows with you: Explore leadership opportunities across ministries and sectors. With access to mentorship, learning, and mobility, your career can evolve here.
• Recognition that reflects your impact: We value the difference you make. You'll receive competitive pay, a defined-benefit pension, and benefits that support your well-being—plus meaningful recognition for your contributions.

About the job

As a leader, you'll shape a team culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion. You'll help build a workplace that is diverse, anti-racist, and accessible, where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.

You won't be doing it alone. We invest in our leaders through mentorship, learning opportunities, and cross-ministry networks that help you grow your impact and connect with peers across the organization.

Leadership is about impact, and in this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful one.

As the Manager of the Biodiversity and Monitoring Section, you will:

• Lead the delivery of province-wide ecosystem monitoring programs, ensuring scientific integrity and alignment with ministry priorities.

• Oversee strategic planning, program operations, and resource management, including financial oversight and seasonal workforce coordination.

• Foster collaboration across ministries, federal agencies, and research partners, representing Ontario at intergovernmental tables and advancing shared initiatives.

• Ensure monitoring data is translated into actionable insights, supporting evidence-based decision-making through robust reporting and client engagement.

• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary team, including coordinators and two levels of management, with over 100 staff during peak field season.

Please note: This role requires occasional travel between the Peterborough, Thunder Bay, and Timmins hubs and centres.

Meet Your New Team

The Science and Research Branch drives innovation by generating cutting-edge scientific knowledge that supports the Ministry of Natural Resources and its key partners. Through impactful research and tailored products and services, the branch empowers decision-making across vital areas such as fish and wildlife conservation, forestry, and water resource management. It also plays a leading role in shaping climate change strategies and advancing Ontario's response to the Kyoto Protocol.

The Biodiversity and Monitoring Section (BAMS) delivers province-wide monitoring programs that support evidence-based decision-making in natural resource management. Their expertise includes broad-scale ecosystem monitoring, forest health assessments, wildlife population tracking, and reporting products that turn environmental data into actionable insights. Through robust field operations, data management, and IT systems, BAMS ensures high-quality scientific information is accessible to clients across Ontario.

In this role, you will report to Trisha Westman, Director, Science and Research Branch. A professional engineer, Trisha has been a member of the branch's leadership team since 2014. Motivated by the Ministry of Natural Resources' dedication to science excellence, she ensures high quality science is at the ready for Ontario by forging strong collaborative networks. With the branch's dedication to innovation as inspiration, Trisha focuses on applying the best available science and technology to enable Ontario to move forward faster, smarter and in unexpected ways to tackle challenges on the horizon.

Open House:

Are you interested in learning more about the Manager, Biodiversity and Monitoring Section position? The hiring team is hosting an open house for potential applicants, providing you with the opportunity to engage with the leadership and team regarding the role's vision and core mandates.

The information session is scheduled to take place on January 7, 2025 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, you may clickhere to access the MS Teams invitation on the day of.

What you bring to the team

Strategic Leadership Skills:

• Demonstrated experience leading people and teams with accountability for results, team development, and performance - setting direction, coaching others, and fostering a culture of trust, inclusion, and strong working relationships across diverse roles.
• Proven ability to lead teams in developing and delivering programs, while fostering collaboration, inclusion, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Recognized for innovation in leadership, with a focus on mentoring, coaching, and driving continuous improvement in programs and systems.
• Solid understanding of HR policies and practices, with the ability to assess financial, material, and human resource needs and contribute to long-term planning.

Relationship Management and Communication Skills:

• Strong communication skills with the ability to provide clear guidance and engage effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and skill sets.
• Demonstrated political acuity and sound judgment in navigating complex, high-profile, and sensitive issues with strategic impact.
• Proven experience collaborating with science and research partners, including academic institutions, to advance shared initiatives.
• Skilled in negotiation and conflict resolution, building credibility and trust with colleagues, partners, and senior leaders.

Program management and Technical Expertise:

• General knowledge of scientific theories, research methods, and data collection practices to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Experience managing science-related programs, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Understanding of a broad range of science and research topics relevant to ministry priorities and public policy.
• Awareness of government directions, priorities, and economic development initiatives related to natural resource management.

Knowledge of Ontario's Indigenous Communities and Organizations:

• Demonstrates practical and operational experience working with Ontario's Indigenous communities and organizations.
• Possesses a sound understanding and awareness of Indigenous cultures, values, and traditions, with insight into the historic and current state of Indigenous affairs in Ontario.
• Knowledgeable about policies, legislation, trends, and issues affecting Indigenous peoples in Ontario.
• Able to acquire and apply knowledge of government strategic directions and objectives related to Indigenous peoples to support strategic planning and decision-making.
• Familiar with Indigenous governance structures to enable effective engagement, consultation, and accommodation.

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!

Think this role could be right for you?

We're here to support you every step of the way. These short videos can help you feel confident and prepared:

• Navigating Our Hiring Process (2 min) – Get a clear overview of each stage in our structured hiring process so you know what to expect and how to prepare.

• Application Preparation Tips (4 min) – Learn how to showcase your leadership experience in ways that align with how we evaluate applications during the screening stage.

Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.

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

Additional information:

Apply by:

Monday, January 12, 2026 11:59 pm EST

Position details:

• 1 English Permanent, 300 Water St, Peterborough, East Region or 1235 Queen St E, Sault Ste Marie, North Region or 421 James St S, Thunder Bay, North Region or 5520 Hwy 101 E, South Porcupine, North Region

Compensation group:

Management Compensation Plan

Work hours:

Schedule 6

Category:

Management and General

Posted on:

Monday, December 22, 2025

How to apply:

• You must apply online.

• Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.

• Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.

• Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.

• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

• If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

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.

Strengthening Ontario, together