BC Timber Sales - Careers
Last updated on July 23, 2024
At BC Timber Sales, people are the foundation of everything we do. BCTS employees work in an environment of diversity and inclusivity where finding new solutions to complex problems, continuous learning and growth are both encouraged and supported.
On this page
Why work for BC Timber Sales?
We believe motivated and proud employees are essential to being a high-performing program with a healthy workplace culture. Working with BCTS provides employees with the opportunity to positively impact B.C.’s economy, forests, communities and people.
Learn more about the benefits of working for BCTS and the positive contributions our employees make across the province.
Sustainable forest management
BCTS is committed to sound forest management and sustainable stewardship of the environment. Each year we:
- Plant over 40 million seedlings in harvested areas
- Manage over 80 million seedlings for BCTS, the Office of the Chief Forester and other government reforestation initiatives
- Prepare over 7,000 hectares for the planting of seedlings
- Declare approximately 30,000 hectares of reforested land healthy and free of competition from surrounding plants, shrubs and trees
Support rural and urban communities across British Columbia
- Since 2003, BCTS has earned $2.0 billion dollars in net revenue and has generated over $562 million of indirect revenue for the Province. This net revenue is used to support important initiatives such as constructing highways, schools, and funding healthcare services in the province
- On average, over the next three years, BCTS activities will directly support over 4,600 well-paying jobs and another 6,100 indirect jobs in B.C.
Reconciliation with First Nations
- Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is an overarching principle that guides all operations and is integral to BCTS’ long-term success. Each of BCTS’ 12 business areas employ staff dedicated to building relationships with Indigenous Peoples. These positions may include one or more operations managers, team leads, and Indigenous relations liaisons
Safety standards to protect you
BCTS strongly supports a culture of safety across the B.C. forest sector and is committed to the safety of all people affected by its operations. We are a member of the BC Forest Safety Council and are SAFE Company certified.
Learning and career development
At BCTS we strive for a workplace where employees contribute to the improved performance of the program, are supported by innovative technology, and have learning and development opportunities that help them achieve their career goals.
We support developmental training and provide employees with resources including monetary assistance with their career development. Opportunities to further employee knowledge and training are offered through the BC Public Service Agency’s Learning Centre and Pacific Leaders –a scholarship and loan forgiveness program.
Achieve a work-life balance
BCTS is focused on ensuring employees have a work-life balance that enables them to enjoy all that B.C. has to offer. Our 35-hour work week means employees are home at the end of each day: they don’t spend weeks at a time in remote camps, they work a consistent schedule all year round, they have weekends off and time outside of work to pursue their interests and spend time with family and friends.
Benefits
BCTS offers more than an exciting career opportunity.
Our benefits package includes:
- A competitive medical/dental benefits package
- A government pension
- Three weeks of vacation to start
- Annual salary increments
Some employees may be eligible for the BC Student Loan Forgiveness program and a moving allowance. For more information about benefits, please visit What We Offer.
Work where you want to live
BCTS employs 650 staff in 12 business areas and provincial operations, and maintains an operational presence in 33 communities in B.C.
- Babine Timber Sales Office - Burns Lake, Houston, Smithers
- Cariboo-Chilcotin Timber Sales Office - Williams Lake, Quesnel
- Chinook Timber Sales Office - Chilliwack, Queen Charlotte City, Squamish
- Kamloops Timber Sales Office - Kamloops, 100 Mile House, Clearwater, Merritt
- Kootenay Timber Sales Office - Nelson, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Grand Forks, Nakusp
- Okanagan-Columbia Timber Sales Office - Vernon, Revelstoke
- Peace-Liard Timber Sales Office - Dawson Creek, Fort Nelson, Fort St. John
- Prince George Timber Sales Office - Prince George, Mackenzie
- Seaward/tlasta Timber Sales Office - Port McNeill
- Skeena Timber Sales Office - Terrace, Hazelton
- Strait of Georgia Timber Sales Office - Campbell River, Port Alberni, Powell River
- Stuart-Nechako Timber Sales Office - Vanderhoof, Fort St. James
- Provincial Operations Office - Victoria
What employees have to say about working for BCTS
“Working for BCTS provides the work/life balance that my family and I greatly benefit from.” -Lisa
“BCTS actually demonstrates that they care about people in meaningful ways – it’s not just talk. There are loads of opportunities to grow and develop—I have an actual training plan, a dedicated budget for training, a performance tool, and managers and supervisors that recognize training opportunities that are suited to staff goals.” -Alaine
“I appreciate the flexibility, support and training I have received since joining BCTS. Personally and professionally, I have grown and developed in my role. In addition to my regularly scheduled workload, I am given latitude to explore my passions and interests under a greater resource management lens.” -Sheri
“BCTS is by far the best employer I have ever worked for. The management is encouraging and approachable, the work is interesting and diverse, their approach to training is phenomenal and the benefits are fantastic.” - Jesse
Career options
Working with BCTS provides employees with the opportunity to positively impact B.C.’s economy, forests, communities and residents.
Entry level careers
BCTS provides several paths to starting a career with our organization if you are a student or about to graduate.
Forest Technologist Entry Level Program
The BCTS Forest Technologist Entry Level Program is a two year position in Mackenzie that provides new employees with the training, coaching and work experience they need to become registered forest technologists or foresters-in-training.
Summer student positions
BCTS summer student positions provide aspiring foresters, forest technologists and GIS technicians with the opportunity to try out different forestry and GIS jobs, gain experience practicing a variety of work, spend time in the great outdoors, and gain valuable and job-specific training.
BCTS offers forestry and GIS summer student positions. Forestry positions provide exposure to office and field components of timber sale development along with engineering, road construction, data systems and silviculture. GIS positions focus on data management, topology, operational planning and map creation.
If you are interested in summer student opportunities, please contact your local business area.
Indigenous Forestry Scholarship Program
BCTS is a partner in the Indigenous Forestry Scholarship Program, which matches students with sponsoring companies and provides individually structured training. The result is both employment with the company and recognized or accredited education for the students.
BCTS career paths
BCTS has a variety of career paths, including professional, technical, GIS, business administration and supervisory/management. In addition to these career paths, BCTS has careers in seedling services, safety, environmental certifications, business improvement, tenure operations and sustainability.
Professional
Planning Officer
The Planning Officer is responsible for all the strategic and integrated planning processes required for a Business Area. The position synthesizes information from a wide variety of stakeholders to develop the Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) for the Business Area as well as leads or participates with various ministries and inter-agencies to develop higher level and local plans.
Planning Forester
The Planning Forester produces and analyzes a wide range of data to develop integrated resource and operational plans, primarily the Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) and operating plans. The Planning Forester works with government staff, industry, First Nations and representatives of public resource user groups to develop strategic and tactical plans to meet the BCTS mandate.
Practices Forester
The Practices Forester is accountable for performing a wide variety of professional services to support the development and operational stages of pre and post Timber Sales Licence (TSL) awards, active harvesting and silviculture operations. The Practices Forester provides professional advice to technologists and contractors.
Technical
Operations Technologist
The Operations Technologist is responsible for developing operating standards, implementing new forest management practices, coordinating technical activities, monitoring adherence to legislative and environmental standards, and providing technical expertise to staff on Timber Sales Licence development, operations, silviculture and forest health activities.
Engineering Specialist
The Engineering Specialist manages all aspects of the engineering program within a BCTS Business Area. This includes bridge, survey, resource roads and road design. The position also manages budgets, contracts, staff, stakeholder consultation, certification and public safety.
Engineering Technologist
The Engineering Technologist is responsible for coordinating, implementing and monitoring engineering activities for a specific field area. The position provides engineering expertise and advice to operational staff and works closely with the Engineering Specialist to ensure environmental, construction and legislative requirements are met.
Forest Technologist
The Forest Technologist is part of a multidisciplinary field team of technologists and professionals and performs a wide variety of technical and operational duties to support the planning, engineering, layout, auction, harvest and reforestation activities over a large geographic area.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
GIS technician
The GIS technician creates digital, graphic and descriptive products to support resource planning through the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and relational database management systems.
GIS analyst
The GIS analyst manages and conducts advanced spatial data analysis for use in BCTS resource planning and decision making.
Business administration and support
Business Administrator
The Business Administrator provides specialized technical and administrative services for the timber sales office to support competitive auctions of public timber. The Business Administrator prepares a wide variety of contracts and tenures, provides financial administration and maintains a variety of systems and services integral to meeting the operational goals and objectives of the timber sales office.
Business Analyst
The Business Analyst is an accounting specialist responsible for providing financial advice and analysis to support accounting decisions. The Business Analyst works with business, planning and operational staff to coordinate the business planning processes and the associated budget of approximately $10 million.
Indigenous Relations Positions
Indigenous Relations Team Lead
The Indigenous Relations Team Lead supervises the Indigenous Relations Liaison and leads engagement and reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples. The position also facilitates more complex legal consultation processes with Indigenous Peoples, and leads and supports the negotiation and implementation of business-to-business and relational agreements that contribute to effective and durable relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Read the job profile (PDF, 210KB).
Indigenous Relations Liaison
The Indigenous Relations Liaison works within the BCTS business area to develop and maintain positive relationships with Indigenous Peoples to advance BCTS’ business principle dedicated to true and lasting reconciliation. Read the more about the role in the job profile (PDF, 230KB)
Management and supervisory
Timber Sales Manager
The Timber Sales Manager (TSM) is responsible for ensuring the goals and business targets are achieved for one of twelve regional Business Areas. The TSM is responsible for providing leadership in marketing of timber to the private sector, optimizing net return to the public and for developing credible data to support the Market Pricing System.
Woodlands Manager
The Woodlands Manager is responsible for directing and operating a Business Area. The Woodlands Manager identifies the necessary resources for the achievement of operational objectives, and issues and administers Timber Sale Licences as well as managing and monitoring operations until seedlings are free growing.
Business Manager
The Business Manager provides leadership and management of financial, human and corporate services for the Business Area. The Business Manager oversees the delivery of a diverse range of financial management, human and physical resources and administrative services while ensuring the appropriate resources, policy practices and controls are in place.
Woodlands Supervisor
The Woodland Supervisor is responsible for employing sound business and forest management practices in the planning, developing and management of the BCTS operating areas within an assigned geographic location, in order to meet revenue and volume targets through the auction of Timber Sale Licences (TSLs). The Woodlands Supervisor engages various professionals such as engineers and foresters in order to attain appropriate advice and professional direction for their scope of practice.
Find an employment opportunity
BC Timber Sales job opportunities are posted on the government-wide career page. Type "BCTS" into the search field to discover our current opportunities.
