Conservation Officer

Apply By:Monday, August 17, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Position(s) language:

Job term:

9 Permanent

Job code:

$39.08 - $43.56 Per hour*
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Are you a strong communicator and collaborative problem solver with a background in natural resource management? Do you have demonstrated knowledge and experience in hunting, fishing and other resource use activities? If so, then consider these exciting opportunities with the Ministry of Natural Resources' Enforcement Branch.

The Job

Our Enforcement Branch is looking for motivated individuals to apply their passion for the outdoors, natural resources protection and ensuring public safety to fill the role of Conservation Officer. If you're a service-focused and team-oriented professional who is eager to advance your career in natural resource conservation, consider joining our team!

The Ministry

The Ministry of Natural Resources oversees the Province's natural resources and works to safeguard Ontario's forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates, Crown lands and waters. We are committed to protecting and managing these natural resources for present and future generations of Ontarians. For more information about our ministry, please click on the following link: Ministry of Natural Resources

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 includes 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

About the job

As a member of our enforcement team, you will participate in the delivery of a multi-service integrated compliance program by:

• conducting investigations, gathering evidence, completing legal documents, acting as an agent on behalf of the Crown for court prosecutions, and providing testimony in court;
• participating in undercover and special investigations and conducting regular audits/inspections of resource users, licence issuers, commercial operators (e.g. trappers, aggregates companies), identifying, investigating, and reporting on instances of non-compliance (e.g. use of illegal fish nets), apprehending violators (e.g. night hunters and/or careless hunters), and laying charges as appropriate;
• providing education and information related to natural resource management and protection to various client groups.

Note that the positions will require the incumbents to:

• work shifts, weekends and holidays
• travel for extended periods of time
• work in remote and isolated locations

What you bring to the team

Mandatory:

• The position requires the successful candidates to have a valid class G driver's licence or equivalent. The offer of employment is conditional upon the successful candidate providing proof that they have a valid driver's license upon being hired.
• You have successfully completed the PARE, PREP or ESAP-ENPQ Police 2017 physical assessment within 9 months prior to the posting close date, to determine fitness for the position.
• A COPY OF YOUR VALID PARE, PREP or ESAP-ENPQ MUST BE E-MAILED TOconservation.officer.recruitment@ontario.ca with the subject line stating JobID_LastName_FirstName (i.e. XXXXXX_Smith_John) by the closing date of this job posting. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected. (Does not apply to currently appointed Ontario Conservation Officers)
• You either possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Standard First Aid and CPR certificate.
• You possess a Pleasure Craft Operator's Card.
• You either possess or have the ability to obtain proof of having passed the Ontario Hunting License Examination or equivalent.
• You either possess or have the ability to obtain proof of having passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course or a Possession and Acquisition Firearms License.
• You have the ability to pass a psychological assessment.
• You have the ability to qualify as a Conservation Officer, which includes the ability to successfully complete enforcement branch training or an enforcement branch approved equivalent.

Knowledge, understanding and experience in natural resources:

• areas of commercial/sport fisheries;
• game/non-game species of wildlife, wildlife in captivity;
• aggregates resource;
• invasive species;
• public land usage;
• forestry and/or wildland fire.

Problem-solving, situational judgment and conflict resolution

• ability to exercise sound judgment in stressful and potentially dangerous situations, considering situational factors to make independent, timely decisions that align with policies, procedures and legislation
• strong problem-solving skills to identify underlying issues, link issues with regulatory requirements and recommend appropriate corrective measures
• organizational skills to effectively manage multiple tasks, schedule workload and meet specific deadlines/timeframes
• ability to identify potential conflicts, facilitate open and constructive dialogue, and proactively address and help defuse potential issues in volatile situations

Communication and relationship building skills:

• experience developing and maintaining harmonious relationships, responding appropriately and providing direction to diverse internal and external clients in a professional manner
• demonstrated superior oral communication and active listening skills to tactfully explain complex policies, procedures and techniques, and to help ensure information is understood in a regulatory environment
• demonstrated ability to listen, understand and receive feedback adapting behaviour and actions appropriately in regulatory compliance and employment environments
• demonstrated client service approach while obtaining compliance in a regulatory environment
• presentation skills to prepare and deliver presentations to public interest groups, external and internal stakeholders
• written communication skills to accurately document information and prepare formal reports

Experience with outdoor sporting equipment:

• demonstrated experience in the sports of hunting and fishing, handling firearms and other sporting equipment
• demonstrated experience in the independent operation of related recreation vehicles including watercraft, snowmobiles, ATV's, etc.
• experience and willingness to work independently in adverse outdoor environments

Enforcement and compliance expertise:

• experience identifying situations of non-compliance and assessing the associated level of risk to determine appropriate corrective actions to achieve outcomes
• proven ability to accurately interpret, apply and enforce policies, procedures and legislation, and relay compliance-related information to others
• understanding of investigative practices such as note taking, evidence gathering and producing reports

Additional information

Candidates must be willing and able to work shifts, weekends and holidays, to travel for extended periods of time and to work in remote and isolated locations.

PARE, PREP or ESAP-ENPQ Details

• Candidates are required to pass one of the below physical fitness tests within 9 months prior to the competition closing date. A copy of your valid certificate must be e-mailed to conservation.officer.recruitment@ontario.ca at the time of application with the subject line JobID_LastName_FirstName. The cost for evaluation will be the responsibility of the candidate.
• Physical Readiness Evaluation for Police (PREP), Physical Abilities Requirement Evaluation (PARE), Épreuve standardisée d'aptitudes physiques ESAP-ENPQ Police 2017.

Training details:

• Successful candidates must attend/complete a 10 week Compliance and Law Enforcement training course, which includes:
• Use of Force & Defensive Tactics - Ontario Public-Police Interactions Training Aid (OPPITA), demonstration of MNR approved techniques and scenario training
• Initial Pistol and Rifle Firearms Training - safe handling, low-light familiarization and proficiency in the 50-round pistol qualification, and 54-round rifle qualification course of fire
• Swim Test - ability to swim 100 meters with no time limit, life jacket when in the water and exit the water
• Natural Resource legislation & enforcement techniques including evidence gathering, interviewing, etc.
• Public Safety Radio Network Initial Training - nomenclature, functions and proficiency with communications
• Case law research and presentation - extra-curricular study, developing a 10-minute presentation, delivery to an audience of specialists and your peers
• Final examination to an 80% proficiency

Don't meet every qualification?

We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

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
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• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
• If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

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