Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in natural resource management in Ontario? If you are passionate about leadership, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, this unique opportunity with the Ministry of Natural Resources might be the next step in your career.
As one of the District Managers for the Southern Region, you will play a crucial role in guiding the strategic direction of resource management programs across the Aurora-Midhurst-Owen Sound District, ensuring the sustainable use and stewardship of Ontario's diverse natural resources.
This role offers exposure to a broad and diverse portfolio of work. From Indigenous relations and stakeholder engagement to complex, high-profile initiatives with significant public interest, you'll have the opportunity to lead meaningful work that extends beyond traditional natural resource management and contributes to priorities across Southern Ontario.
Please Note: The role involves frequent travel within the district and travel for regional meetings.
About us
The purpose of the Ministry of Natural Resources is to provide opportunities for resource development and outdoor recreation for the continuous economic and social benefit of the people of Ontario; and to administer, protect, and conserve public lands and waters. The ministry's programs are concerned with the use of the natural resources such as land, water, forests, fish, wildlife and minerals aggregate for resource development and recreation. Regional Operations Division (ROD) is accountable for the implementation and delivery of provincial resource management programs and services on local and provincial levels. ROD is decentralized and geographically dispersed across the province with 2 Branches, 3 Regions and 18 Districts.
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.
As a key member of the regional leadership team, you will:
- Lead and inspire a diverse team, fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
- Set district priorities and oversee human, financial, and operational resources to achieve organizational goals and deliver results.
- Provide strategic leadership for natural resource management programs and services, ensuring effective delivery across the district.
- Drive initiatives that strengthen program delivery, improve operational effectiveness, and advance ministry priorities.
- Build and sustain strong relationships with Indigenous communities, municipalities, government partners, industry representatives, and community stakeholders to advance shared objectives.
- Navigate complex, high-profile issues and projects by providing strategic advice, exercising sound judgment, and balancing diverse stakeholder interests.
Meet the Team
Join a diverse team of approximately 40 dedicated professionals working across three office locations. The team brings together experienced employees with deep organizational knowledge and emerging leaders who are passionate about making a difference. You'll work in a collaborative environment where relationship-building, continuous learning, and career development are valued. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a geographically connected team, strengthen a shared culture, and support meaningful work that impacts communities, Indigenous partners, stakeholders, and natural resource priorities across the region.
In this position you will report to Trevor Griffin. Trevor has more than 20 years of experience with the Ministry of Natural Resources and has worked in multiple different management roles in the ministry. He has worked in several districts in northeastern and southern Ontario and most recently in the Southern Regional office. This range of experience has given Trevor a sound understanding of the ministry's business and the challenges and opportunities involved in natural resource management. It also gives him insight to continuously improve the organization and lead teams to do that. Trevor is an open and inclusive leader, committed to the OPS values, and dedicated to delivering excellent service and continuing the proud legacy of the ministry.
- Proven experience leading high-performing teams and driving results on strategic business priorities.
- Strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in all aspects of leadership.
- Ability to lead complex transformation initiatives, applying evidence-based decision-making to achieve organizational outcomes.
- Knowledge of human resources principles to effectively manage talent, succession planning, employee engagement, and performance.
- Demonstrated success building and maintaining collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities, municipalities, government agencies, industry partners, and other stakeholders to advance shared priorities.
- Strong stakeholder engagement, communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse groups.
- Proven political acuity and sound judgment, with the ability to navigate complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues while balancing competing interests.
- Experience setting strategic direction, leading program and policy implementation, and driving continuous improvement.
- Strong project management skills with experience overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
- Demonstrated ability to manage emerging issues, apply strategic thinking, and deliver results in a dynamic and evolving environment.
- Familiarity with natural resource management concepts, programs, policies, and legislative frameworks, with the ability to quickly understand and navigate technical subject matter.
- Understanding of the environmental, social, economic, and Indigenous partnership considerations that influence resource management decision-making.
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
