Lead Forest Planning Policy for Ontario's Public Forests
The
Crown Forests and Lands Policy Branch is hiring a
Manager, Forest Planning Policy to lead high-impact policy work that shapes how Ontario plans and manages its public forests. You will guide evidence-based policy that supports sustainable forest management, balances ecological and social objectives, and provides clear direction for forest planning across the province. Working with a team of policy professionals, you will turn complex issues into practical policy solutions that influence decisions affecting forests, communities, and long-term environmental outcomes. This role offers meaningful leadership and the opportunity to lead policy that serves both today's needs and future generations.
Ready to make an Impact?
The impact of this role extends beyond policy development into how Ontario's public forests are planned, managed, and stewarded. This work supports consistent and reliable forest planning decisions across the province, influencing outcomes on the ground and over time. By strengthening policy direction and coordination, you will support a robust forest sector, help safeguard ecological values, support forest-based communities and livelihoods, and reinforce public confidence in how Ontario manages its public forests.
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.
We believe great leadership starts with high standards and strong support. In the OPS, that means showing up with authenticity, acting with integrity, and having the courage to do what's right, even when it's hard.
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. You will:
- Lead the development and oversight of province-wide forest planning policy frameworks that guide how public forests are planned and managed across Ontario.
- Translate complex policy issues into clear, practical direction that supports consistent forest planning decisions on the ground.
- Provide strategic policy leadership that balances ecological, social, and economic objectives.
- Work with Indigenous communities, stakeholders and clients to find evidence-based solutions to policy challenges
- Strengthen coordination across policy work to support reliable decision-making and long-term forest outcomes.
- Ensure forest planning policy remains current, evidence based, and responsive to emerging issues.
Meet your New Team
This position reports to
Spooner Collins, Director, Crown Forests and Land Policy. You will join a well-established, high-performing team known for collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility. The Forest Planning Policy Section values its supportive culture, where people work closely together, listen to different perspectives, and tackle complex policy questions as a team. Colleagues are experienced, approachable, and generous with their knowledge, creating a welcoming environment for both new and emerging leaders. This is a place where people care about their work, enjoy working together, and take pride in contributing thoughtful policy that serves Ontario's forests and communities.
- Leading and coaching teams: Provide leadership, coaching, and strategic direction to staff or project teams.
- Fostering inclusive, high-performing workplaces: Build engaged teams focused on collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement.
- Project Delivery: Lead complex or high-profile initiatives while managing priorities, resources and timelines.
- Judgement and political acuity: Navigate sensitive, complex, or high-impact issues with professionalism and awareness.
- System-level policy insight: Knowledge of forest management, land stewardship, or environmental policy to shape defensible policy direction and understand long-term system impacts.
- Analytical Problem Solving: Apply strong analytical and conceptual thinking to develop, review, and refine policy materials.
- Policy Advice: Experience in providing clear, concise, and confidential advice and briefing submissions to senior leaders, demonstrating ability to align initiatives with strategic priorities.
- Build relationships: Build and maintain constructive working relationships with Indigenous communities, forest sector partners, environmental organizations, and government partners to support forest planning policy.
- Collaboration and Coordination: Align policy development across teams and organizations to support consistent outcomes and effective implementation.
- Clear communication: Communicate policy direction and feedback in a clear and accessible way, ensuring the team's work aligns with leadership decisions and broader policy objectives.
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 – 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 – 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.
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
