Director, Land Planning and Policy

The Ministry of Environment takes a team-based approach to protecting Saskatchewan’s environment for the wellbeing of the province, its people, and its future. We use science-based solutions and environmental laws to help safeguard communities, and to protect our air, land, water, and habitat. We are committed to high citizen and client satisfaction through workplace excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation.

The ministry's Lands Branch has an exciting opportunity for a creative, energetic and motivated public servant to fill the position of Director, Land Planning and Policy. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position provides strategic leadership to managers, ecologists, strategic conservation specialists and land and resource analysts to develop and administer conservation policies and programs, as well as landscape planning activities to maintain sustainable landscapes that are resilient and biologically diverse, in balance with responsible development.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Plans, develops and co-ordinates the Ministry's legislative agenda in consultation with senior management to ensure it supports government's strategic direction and policy priorities for the Ministries.
• Lead the strategic development and implementation of legislative, regulation and policy related to conservation initiatives under joint responsibility of the Provincial Lands Act with Ministry of Agriculture, and Crown Resource Land Regulations. Also provides direction on aspects of; Wildlife Act; Fisheries Act; Conservation Easements Act; Wildlife Habitat Protection Act; Natural Resources Act and the Ecological Reserves Act.
• Provide leadership in directing client/stakeholder expectations within a robust and responsive approach to manage expectations on conservation programs and landscape planning activities; directing workloads and strategic priorities to ensure a clear and emerging understanding of client needs and government goals. This includes identifying and developing strategies to address biodiversity issues associated with continued and accelerated development and growth.
• Lead and/or provide direction on the development of provincial positions and negotiations with respect to federal-provincial relations on conservation, biodiversity and species at risk.
• Direct landscape planning and implementation efforts that provides a framework, strategies and objectives that guide habitat management decisions including significant engagement efforts with community and industry.
• Responsible for the initiation, development, and design of polices, programs, and strategies to collect, use, and communicate data, including to the public. This includes the development of new, innovative tools (e.g. dashboards, geospatial tools). It also includes the development of statistical approaches to better understand and predict trends and implications.
• Manages preparation of Cabinet documents for the Ministries to ensure they support Government's strategic direction, the policy priorities of the Ministry, and meet Government standards and deadlines. This includes providing direction and advice to branches on the development of Cabinet documents and working with central agencies, including Cabinet Secretariat, Finance, Justice and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Typically, the knowledge for this position would be attained through a graduate degree in public policy, administration and/or related field of study as well as several years of leadership experience in the public sector, or an equivalent.

The successful candidate will be an innovative leader who is able to:

• Demonstrate extensive problem-solving skills in order to identify issues, evaluate the environment, undertake analysis, and develop and communicate recommendations to lead and support change initiatives in the ministry and across government.
• Understand the role of the ministry and programs, and work collaboratively with other ministries and agencies to achieve common solutions.
• Lead a high-performing team while promoting a positive work environment.
• Manage and establish priorities among competing interests.
• Analyze issues to achieve solutions; and achieve policy, planning and program outcomes through collaboration with key stakeholders.

You will have:

• Knowledge of policy development, program management and Government decision making processes (e.g. cabinet, legislative, budget).
• Experience with operational planning, human resource management and legislative and regulatory processes.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills which are essential as you work across the division and ministry on various initiatives and which will help develop and maintain relationships with key industry stakeholders and other federal and provincial regulators.
• The ability to develop a network to support cross government collaboration and stakeholder engagement.