Greenhouse Floriculture Specialist

Do you want to play a key role in supporting the competitiveness of Ontario's greenhouse floriculture sector?

**The Ministry**
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness helps to build a stronger agri-food sector by investing in the development and transfer of innovative technologies, retaining and attracting investment, developing markets, providing regulatory oversight, and providing effective risk management tools. The ministry also helps enable rural Ontario to build strong, vital communities with diversified economies and healthy social and environmental climates.

**The Division**
The Economic Development Division is responsible for programs and services to support information technology transfer. Staff work with farmers, agri-businesses, municipalities, and other partners in the agriculture sector to identify needs and opportunities, adopt new technologies and make sound business decisions. It is responsible for expanding Ontario food and agricultural sales in export and domestic markets, and providing support to the processing industry through investment attraction, investment retention and sector development.

**The Branch**

Why work for the Ontario Public Service?
The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is committed to being an employer of first choice, creating a positive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

- A defined benefit pension plan
- Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits, which include adoptive parents
- Comprehensive Health Plan
- Life and Disability insurance
- Flexible work arrangements
- Collegial and professional work culture
- Career growth and development opportunities across multiple business areas
- On-the-job training to support your success in the role

**OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism**: We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

Visit the **OPS Anti-Racism Policy** and the **OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint** pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's **Human Rights Code**. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.
**What can I expect to do in this role?**: In this role, you will:

- lead Ontario's technology transfer activities relating to greenhouse floriculture production through the development, coordination and implementation of strategies, policies, and programs.
- consult with client organizations and agencies to identify concerns, issues, trends and new developments
- coordinate and implement programs and projects with experts, industry and organization personnel to develop and prepare educational materials, training tools and other programs
- prepare educational and awareness-building training and tools to facilitate change.
- review and assess leading-edge research and best management production practices from around the world and adapt the findings to Ontario industry needs
- provide leadership and effective liaison between the research community and industry to determine the applicability of new technologies, and to help establish research priorities/activities
- provide expertise to senior management regarding the development, coordination, and implementation of strategies, policies, programs and issues management for the greenhouse floriculture sector
- represent provincial or ministry interests on multidisciplinary working groups to develop provincial, national or international initiatives related to the sector

**How do I qualify?**:
**Mandatory**:
**Technical Knowledge**: You have:

- Knowledge of scientific theories, principles and practices of production, economics, business management and marketing related to the greenhouse floriculture production sector.
- Knowledge of the greenhouse floriculture industry, and the roles and mandates of industry organizations to assess the relevance and impact of new policies, program initiatives and practices on the greenhouse floriculture production sector.
- Knowledge of relevant acts and regulations that impact on greenhouse floriculture production sector organizations, producers, and agri-businesses.
- Knowledge of current economic development issues, research accomplishments, environmental impacts and issues, production practices, marketing trends and theories as well as programs and services provided provincially, nationally and internationally by governments, universities and private institutions in greenhouse floriculture production.

**Research, Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills**: You have:

- Knowledge of research methods and practices in order to investigate viability and applicability of new methods, techniques and technology,