Director, Recreation, Ecosystem and Land Management

**Job Information**

Job Requisition ID: 72817
Ministry: Forestry and Parks
Location: Calgary, Rocky Mountain House or Blairmore
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: July 8, 2025
Classification: Management Senior Manager Zone 2

**Salary**: $4,402.49 to $5,590.52 bi-weekly ($114,904 - $145,912/year)

Consider joining a dynamic team at the forefront of land stewardship and recreation. As Director of Recreation, Ecosystem and Land Management, you would lead transformative initiatives that balance ecological integrity, public access and sustainable land use across Alberta’s southern landscapes.

This is your opportunity to influence policy and program delivery at scale, guide implementation of the _Trails Act_, and lead integrated land management efforts. You would work closely with Indigenous communities, non-government agencies and government partners to deliver real-world impact.

You would also be part of a supportive, high-performing leadership team that values innovation, collaboration and professional growth.

**Role Responsibilities**:
Reporting to the Executive Director of Lands Delivery and Coordination South, the Director leads the implementation of the Recreation, Ecosystem and Land Management Program to achieve recreation, land and ecosystem outcomes. A central aspect of this role is developing and maintaining strategic partnerships with stakeholders and regulators to manage large-scale land challenges.

The Director oversees a broad portfolio aligned with Alberta’s triple bottom line framework—economic, environmental and social including Crown Land recreation management, conservation lands, Collaboration with Integrated Lands Delivery managers ensures that approvals and authorizations meet environmental policies as well as planning objectives.

Key responsibilities:

- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for Alberta’s Crown land recreation portfolio, including implementation of the _Trails Act_, development and execution of Trail Management Plans, operational delivery, and planning and delivery of capital infrastructure. Lead the design and administration of recreation grant programs, foster strong partnerships with trail managers, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and non-profit organizations, and guide integrated recreation and trail planning across the region.
- Provide strategic oversight of protected area and ecosystem management, including the development of management plans, threat assessments, ecological monitoring, and large-scale restoration initiatives.
- Foster strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaboration with Indigenous communities, government bodies, non-government agencies, and other stakeholders to address environmental impacts, promote integrated resource management, and advance shared land stewardship outcomes.
- Provide leadership on complex, cross-cutting Crown land files that involve multiple stakeholders, and require integrated land management approaches to resolve competing interests and deliver balanced outcomes.
- Provide leadership to two senior managers and a team of over 30 professionals, offering strategic direction, mentorship, and performance oversight. Foster a collaborative and high-performing culture, conduct evaluations based on clear metrics, and support staff development and career advancement across the team.
- Maintain oversight of an operational budget of approximately $10M annually.
- Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including upcoming changes and anticipated impacts.

Please

**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.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:

- **Systems Thinking**: Work within a broadly defined conceptual framework and manage multiple complex issues, programs and functions while delivering results as well as creative solutions within rigid time frames.
- **Creative Problem Solving**: Research, analyze and problem solve to assess and respond to varied and complex issues through synthesizing different viewpoints and risks while making decisions align with legislation and Ministry as well as government business priorities, direction and intent.
- **Agility**: Lead and promote innovation, build consensus and motivate others to accept as well as adopt innovative concepts and approaches.

**Qualifications**:
Required Qualifications:

- Completed university degree (4 years) in resource management, environmental sciences, environmental or natural resource law or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of directly related experience including senior leadership roles.

Equivalency: Related education or experience may be c