Job Status: Filled

Senior Stewardship Forester (Forester)

Full Time

  Western Forest Products Inc

  Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada

POSITION OVERVIEW

 

The Senior Stewardship Forester plays a critical role in Forest Operations Planning, providing strategic forest stewardship and silviculture support to the Manager, Forest Stewardship and Operations Management team. The primary focus of this role is to advance WFP’s position as a global leader in forest management by implementing key initiatives supporting WFP’s strategic plan. These initiatives include the advancement of WFP’s Forest Stewardship Strategy and Western Planning Standard which outlines our industry leading approach to forest management. This role also provides strategic direction to our silviculture program and ensures the safe, standardized, and cost effective delivery of our silviculture investments. Success in this role requires innovation, leadership, strategic thinking, tact, and the fostering of collaborative relationships. Relationships will be required across WFP, government agencies, communities, First Nations, academia, related businesses, and other stakeholders. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety & Environmental Performance

 

  • Provide leadership in safety and environmental stewardship by demonstrating and ensuring the adherence to company safety and sustainability processes and procedures.

Financial Performance

 

  • Prepare project specific budgets, forecasts, grant applications, monitor spending, and report results.
  • Utilize financial data to analyze process options and make recommendations to improve efficiency; and
  • Recommend and implement effective and innovative strategies to drive cost efficiencies.

Leadership

 

  • Provide leadership to improve safety, ensure WFP’s forest practices meet the highest standards, reduce operational costs, and maximize margins.
  • Support one Western culture across the forestry team by leading through collaboration, respect, and trust.

Operations

  • Advance the development and structured implementation of WFP’s Forest Stewardship Strategy providing the strategic direction for our forest management activities;
  • Maintain an effective monitoring and reporting program for the WFP Forest Stewardship Strategy;
  • Develop strategic partnerships aligned with the successful implementation of the WFP Forest Stewardship Strategy;
  • Lead the development of WFP’s Forest Stewardship Plans and ensure forest practices are standardized and aligned between the WFP Forest Stewardship Strategy, Management Plans, Forest Stewardship Plans, and Sustainable Forest Management Plans;
  • Ensure WFP’s silvicultural investments are data driven and aligned with WFP’s Forest Stewardship Strategy and long-term strategic plans; 
  • Provide key leadership support to the forestry team’s standardization and refinement of our forest planning practices as core components of the Western Planning Standard; 
  • Represent WFP’s business interests in collaborative processes such as FREP monitoring and the enhanced basic silviculture working group; 
  • Identify opportunities to align WFP’s business interests and support the development of mutually beneficial relationships with third parties;
  • Support WFP’s business and core values by managing complex issues as required.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

  • 10+ years of experience in Forest Operations Planning in increasingly responsible roles;
  • Post-secondary degree in Forestry or related degree in Natural Resource Management;
  • Current registration as an RPF with the Association of BC Forest Professionals; and
  • Experience in the coastal forestry industry is preferred. 

Skills, Knowledge and Required Competencies

  • Excellent understanding and comprehension of Forest Management and Land Use Planning;
  • Ability to transform complex concepts and requirements into simple documented and easy to follow work flows;
  • Thorough knowledge of professional forestry obligations and technical forestry practices;
  • Sound understanding of forestry and environmental legislation;
  • Expertise in management of operational plans and forestry related tenures, licenses and permits;
  • Proven ability to work in a team environment with good communication skills and an ability to speak confidently in a public setting;
  • Strong financial and business acumen;
  • Knowledge of road construction and forest harvesting practices with a strong focus on improving safety, quality, and efficiency; 
  • Experience with applying the Lean methodology is considered an asset; and
  • Experience with forestry software as well as technology (i.e. LiDAR) is considered an asset.