Authorizations

On this page

• Overview
• Entry level qualifications
• Highlights of an authorizations career
• Career development opportunities
• Tips from current employees
• Testimonial

---

Overview

In the authorizations role you are responsible for gathering, analyzing, and summarizing data, consulting with stakeholders, completing field assessments, and drafting reports and recommendations to provide information to support natural resource management and permitting decisions. You will engage with government staff, First Nations, and various external stakeholders to ensure decisions enact the best use of natural resources. The programs range from Fish and Wildlife, Land, Timber, and Water, which are available across all regions of the province.

Entry level qualifications

To apply for entry level authorizations positions typically you will require a degree in natural resource management, Indigenous studies, or socioeconomics and have 2+ years of experience working in natural resource management. Having experience gathering and summarizing information would also be beneficial. Other attributes a successful authorization candidate may have include an interest in fieldwork and enthusiasm to work on complex and challenging natural resource issues!

Highlights of an authorizations career

Career development opportunities

As a member of the BC Public Service, you will be working for an organization committed to diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation, career development, and work life balance. There are many opportunities within the ministry and the broader public service to learn and develop your career, navigate different career paths, as well as opportunities to live in different locations around the province.

A typical authorizations career path:

• Authorizations Specialist:
  • This role is responsible for gathering, analyzing, and summarizing data, consulting with stakeholders, and providing information to support natural resource management and permitting decisions. Project and temporary assignments provide opportunities for career growth and enhance experience
• Senior Authorizations Specialist:
  • At this level you will also be responsible for work planning and supervising a team. Your assignments will become increasingly complex and challenging
• Team Lead:
  • At this level you will be responsible for supervision of multiple teams and specialists. Program wide planning, performance management and reporting will be part of your role. The Team Lead role requires multi-agency collaboration and integration
• Manager:
  • This level requires strategic planning and management of multiple programs, performance management and reporting
• Director:
  • This level demands corporate and multi-agency collaboration on strategic initiatives. In this role you will be briefing and supporting senior government officials and making high profile resource decisions
• Executive:
  • Sky’s the limit; many senior government executives (e.g., Deputy Ministers) have come through the authorizations stream

Tips from current employees

• Ensure your application clearly demonstrates how you meet the posted job requirements
• In preparation for an interview, learn about behavioral competencies
• Early days on the job, connect with both long experienced and more recent recruits to your role, diverse views are valuable. Build your network, it’s all about the teamwork

Testimonial

"My current work in forestry authorizations has been a welcome challenge and provided me with many developmental opportunities. I look at my work like a puzzle, I connect the pieces of government policies, legislation, and the needs of the client to prepare a fulsome package for the Statutory Decision Maker. This allows me to learn a great deal about forest tenures and all the revenue processes associated with these tenures whilst working with some very talented and knowledgeable staff.

I have the ability to balance my office work with field work which I greatly enjoy. For anyone looking to gain experience and expand their knowledge, forestry authorizations work may be right up your alley!”  - Janelle Dale, Senior Licensed Authorizations Officer (Dawson Creek)