Forest Area Manager

Job Information
Job Title: Forest Area Manager
Job Requisition ID: 88120
Ministry: Forestry and Parks
Location: Fort McMurray
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary/Wage: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 02, 2026

Classification: Senior Manager Zone 2
Salary: $5,139.30 to $6,526.16 bi-weekly ($134,135.73 - $170,332/year)

The Alberta Public Service works to build a stronger province for current and future generations. We make a difference in the lives of Albertans through rewarding and diverse career opportunities.

As the Ministry of Forestry and Parks we are responsible for fostering Alberta’s environmentally responsible forest management practices, including management of wildfires. We preserve our provincial parks for the recreation and enjoyment of Albertans. As well as enabling access to public lands for recreational and commercial purposes while prioritizing conservation. Forestry and Parks also manage public lands and balances sustainable rangelands and grazing leases for Alberta producers.

The Forestry Division, within the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, works to enhance the economic, environmental, and social contributions of our forests and forested lands to Albertans. For more information about the Ministry of Forestry and Parks please visit our website at: Forestry and Parks.

Role Responsibilities

Join our dynamic team as a Forest Area Manager and play a pivotal role in overseeing wildfire management, forest health, and forest management programs within our designated Forest Area. The Forest Area Manager, reporting to the Executive Director of Forest Operations Branch, oversees wildfire management, forest health, and forest management programs within their designated Forest Area (FA).
Collaboration with Environment and Protected Areas Executive Directors and Operational Services Managers is crucial for administrative support under the Service Level Agreement between Forestry and Parks and Environment and Protected Areas.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Prioritize protection of human life, forest communities, watersheds, sensitive soils, natural resources (including timber, recreation, and wildlife), and infrastructure within the provincial wildfire management strategy.
• Direct wildfire prevention, operational support, scientific research projects, detection, pre-suppression, and suppression activities to mitigate wildfire risks effectively.
• Ensure responsible and sustainable forest management practices including timber establishment, harvest, and removal on public lands, in accordance with existing legislation, policy, and direction.
• Implement and manage a Forest Health program and budget for the Area, adhering to existing policies and regulations.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead strategic initiatives, manage budgets, and collaborate with key stakeholders to achieve departmental objectives. If you are passionate about sustainable forestry practices and possess strong leadership skills, we invite you to apply and contribute to the conservation and management of our natural resources. Apply now to be considered to protect and preserve our forests for future generations.
The Job Description is provided for further details on this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

• Drive for Results: Knows what outcomes are important and maximizes resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
• Creative Problem Solving: Assesses options and implications in new ways to inform decision making in order to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively.
• Develop Networks: Builds networks and trusting relationships with stakeholders.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirement

• University graduation in a field related to the position assignment, supplemented by six years progressively responsible experience, or
• Diploma in Forestry or a related discipline plus ten years of experience in natural resource and wildfire management is required.

Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Assets

• Membership, or eligibility for membership, with the Alberta Association of Forest Management Professionals is preferred.
• Understanding of budgeting and expenditure control.
• Comprehensive knowledge of wildfire, forest management, and forest health programs, legislation, policy, and regulations.
• In-depth understanding of wildfire suppression methods, cause, behavior, prevention principles, and techniques.
• Familiarity with provincial legislation related to forestry, environmental protection, and public lands management.
• Experience in natural resource and wildfire management.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Notes

This competition is recruiting for a full-time permanent position in Fort McMurray with the standard weekly work hours of 36.25, Monday to Friday. The successful candidate will be operating out of an office and field setting.
Travel within the region on a regular basis and throughout the province on occasion will be required as part of your responsibilities and the successful candidate will have frequent contact with Ministry staff and colleagues, other government departments, clients, and external stakeholder’s province wide. This job will require you to fly in a helicopter and work extended hours including evenings and weekends. The position may also require you to work away from home up to 24 days based on emergent situations within the province.
Relocation assistance may be provided to eligible candidates.

Candidates may be asked to complete a written assignment as a part of the interview process.
Final candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check (CRC).

• Attraction bonus for employees located in Fort McMurray and north of the 57th parallel.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what we have to offer:

• Working for the Alberta Public Service.
• Management Employee Pension Plan (MEPP).
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information.
• Professional learning and development.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.

How To Apply

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply online. Please see Job Application Resources for more information.

In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. For example, January 2006 - June 2009 (part-time). This example is provided for illustrative purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to present their information clearly and thoroughly, using a format that best conveys their experience.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information.

It is also recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Rashi Vaktania at Rashi.Vaktania@gov.ab.ca.