Jobs and Careers in Forestry

This page provides information about the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) employment programs for interns and students, educational resources, how to access job opportunities in MNR and the public service and other forestry employment resources in Ontario.

Professional Forester Careers:

Grow your forestry career with MNR

Ontario is a world leader in sustainable forest management. As a forester in Ontario you will contribute to the stewardship of 80 million hectares of Crown land that represent 75% of Ontario's total area. It's a land with four distinct forest regions with diverse ecosystems. By balancing environmental, social and economic benefits, a career in forestry with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, makes a real difference for today and in the future.

There are a wide variety of forester positions in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resource, with over 50 distinct job titles, employing almost 200 foresters, each with a special focus. Only 10% of MNR forestry staff are under the age of 30, so advancement potential is high. To learn more about the wide variety of forester positions held in MNR, go to the Ministry of Natural Resources Telephone Directory (INFO-GO) select a Division, a Branch and a Section to view a list positions titles.

MNR Recruitment Programs for Recent Forester Graduates

The Forester Roster and the Forester Internship Program. 

The Forester Roster

MNR maintains an annual Forester Roster.

Recent Forester graduates are interviewed, ranked and placed on the Forester Roster. The Roster is shared with recruiting managers across the province and is used primarily to fill contract forester positions. These temporary positions are an excellent way to gain valuable experience to compete for full time forester positions.

The Forester Internship Program

The top candidates from the Forester Roster interviews are offered two-year forester internships.

Key features of the program include:

• MNR and private sector work experience
• accelerated training to help you achieve your Registered Professional Forester (RPF) status
• mentoring by a forestry professional

More information about the Forester Roster and Forester Internship Program.

Professional and Technical Forestry Careers:

MNR forestry related and other resource management job competitions open to the public are posted on the Ontario provincial government (OPS) "Careers" website. This web site allows you to search on keywords, by job type and by ministry. Other job competitions, classified as restricted, are advertised only within the provincial government and are open to public servants, employees of agencies which have reciprocal staffing agreements, and surplus employees.

Forestry related positions will also be posted on employment sites such as Canadian Forests, Forestry Employment Bulletin Board, or Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) Job Bank. Check these sites regularly so as not to miss forestry job postings.

• Canadian Forests, Forestry Employment Bulletin Board
• Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) Job Bank

MNR youth programs

Want to learn about the environment, conservation, fish and wildlife, natural resources management? Think about applying to one of MNR's Youth Employment Programs.

MNR fire fighting training and hiring information

Fire fighting can be one of the most rewarding and satisfying jobs you'll ever undertake, which might be why so many people apply. Whether you are applying for a job as a seasonal firefighter (FireRanger) with MNR or seeking a firefighting job with one a private company you must be trained and certified. Learn more about how to become a FireRanger.

Need help with the job hunt?

This web site guide directs you to youth job opportunities supported by the Ontario government.

Canadian Universities and Colleges offering programs in forestry

Forestry education in Ontario:

• Algonquin College (Pembroke, Ontario)
• Collège Boréal (Sudbury Ontario)
• Confederation College (Thunder Bay, Ontario)
• La Cité collégiale (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Lakehead University, Faculty of Forestry ( Thunder Bay, Ontario)
• Sir Sandford Fleming College, Frost Campus (Lindsey, Ontario)
• Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
• University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario)

Other provinces offering forestry education:

• Laval University (Quebec)
• University of Alberta, (Alberta) Department of Renewable Resources
• University of British Columbia, (British Columbia) Faculty of Forestry
• University of British Columbia, (British Columbia) Department of Forest Resources Management
• University of New Brunswick, (New Brunswick) Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management
• University of Northern British Columbia (Prince George B.C.)
• Université de Moncton (New Brunswick) - École de sciences forestières
  

University and College web site directories:

• Ontario Universities
• Ontario Colleges
• Canadian Universities
• Canadian Colleges

General assistance information:

• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• Student's Costs in Ontario (tuition fees, international student fees, books & supplies and more)
• Ontario's Universities Application Centre

Forestry is the number one resource-based employer in Northern Ontario and represents one out of every three jobs.

Forestry careers are focused on environmental sustainability and the great outdoors. By balancing environmental, social and economic values - careers in forestry make a real difference in our communities, today and into the future.

There's choice and growth in forestry careers, forestry professionals:

• get more jobs (95% working within one year of graduation)
• earn 24% more money on average than other university graduates at the bachelor level
• increase their pay 5% faster
• protect and manage natural resources
• help keep Northern Ontario's economy strong

Technical jobs

• GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
• Operations
• Compliance monitoring
• Manufacturing
• Tree planting
• Tree marking
• Forest health
• Integrated resource management
• Communications ....and more!

Professional jobs

• Ecology
• Ecosystem and habitat management
• Forest protection
• Aboriginal economic development
• Operations and management
• Silviculture
• Research ...and more!

Forestry employment advertising for job seekers

• Canadian Forests - the bulletin board on this web site lists current job openings in every branch of Canada's forest sector - in woodlands, in manufacturing, in sales, in research and education. If you are looking for a job, check out their current listings.
• Ontario Professional Foresters Association - the Ontario Professional Foresters Association has initiated a program for advertising employment services to forestry businesses and Association members.
• Ontario's Forestry Association - as part of our ongoing education and outreach efforts, the Ontario Forestry Association (OFA) is creating a database of natural resource professionals and recent graduates currently employed in the forest management sector.
• Tree Planting (Silviculture Contractors) - go here for a listing of employers and general information on tree planting.