Natural Resource Careers

 

 

Who we are

The Natural Resource Ministries comprised of six ministries including Agriculture and Food; Energy Mines and Low Carbon Innovation; Environment and Climate Change Strategy; Forests; Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. The Natural Resource Ministries employ approximately 6,200 public servants in over 120 locations across British Columbia.

Click here to learn more about our Executive Council & Parliamentary Secretaries.

Why work for the BC Public Service?

We offer work-life balance and a full range of benefits including pension, employee and family assistance services (from counselling to financial and legal support), extended health, dental and vision care, and more. Some great highlights include:

Paid vacation

Permanent full-time employees receive 15 paid vacation days to start, with increases each year up to a maximum of 7 weeks of paid vacation per year.

Counselling services

No cost to you for help with relationships, parenting, depression, anxiety, stress, grief, work-life balance, and more.

Professional growth

We invest in unlocking employee potential through in-house training and education programs, financial support for education through Pacific Leaders, and experiential opportunities through temporary assignments.

To learn more, go to What the BC Public Service Offers.

*Please note these benefits may be dependent on eligibility requirements.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food (Ministry) is responsible for the production, marketing, processing, and merchandising of agriculture and seafood products, as well as supporting our province’s food security, and developing a resilient food system and economy.

The Ministry is a key contributor to economic development and diversification across the Province and is a main contributor to rural economic development and province-wide job creation, particularly for small businesses. 

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (Ministry) is responsible for British Columbia’s electricity, alternative energy, hydrogen, oil, natural gas and related infrastructure, and the province’s mining and mineral exploration sectors. These sectors are made up of diverse interests that explore for and produce oil, natural gas, coal, and other valuable minerals and develop energy and electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.

To support Government’s climate objectives, the Ministry focuses on advancing energy efficiency and clean or renewable energy sources and technologies, making sure that the energy we use, develop and export is the cleanest possible. The Ministry facilitates electricity, mining and oil and gas sectors which are globally competitive, environmentally leading, and advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, while providing opportunities and quality jobs for the people of British Columbia. The Ministry carries out this work in accordance with the CleanBC plan, and commitments to Indigenous reconciliation.

Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (Ministry) is responsible for the effective protection, management and conservation of BC’s water, land, air, and living resources. The Ministry administers the province’s parks and protected areas and enforces compliance with environmental laws and regulations to protect BC’s biodiversity, ecosystems, native species, and natural habitats. The Ministry also mitigates and manages the risks and consequences from climate change, including developing plans to meet carbon pollution reduction targets, responding to the impacts of climate change, and overseeing provincial environmental assessment through the Environmental Assessment Office.

Ministry of Forests

The Ministry of Forests (Ministry) is responsible for the management of forests, lands and range, and integrated decision making for water, fish and wildlife, archaeology permits, authorizations, and natural resource compliance and enforcement.

The Ministry works with rural communities to strengthen and diversify their economies and supports activities that provide benefits for the people of British Columbia both economically and environmentally. In addition, the Ministry is responsible for ensuring the province is well positioned to address natural hazards, including wildfire and flood management while working to address climate change by enhancing the role of forests and forest products.

Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (Ministry) represents the Province of British Columbia in its reconciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples¹ and prioritizes collaboration and engagement through trauma-informed and culturally safe practices. A key component of reconciliation involves building and sustaining partnerships with Indigenous communities and bringing together Indigenous knowledge and perspectives to improve social and economic outcomes for Indigenous Peoples and the people of British Columbia. The Ministry furthers reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples by collaboratively developing policy and practices, negotiating and implementing agreements, partnerships, and treaties. The Ministry’s focus is to build lasting relationships with Indigenous Peoples by working collaboratively toward flexible agreements that can evolve over time.

Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (Ministry) is accountable for integrated land, water, and natural resource management. The Ministry is responsible for evidence-informed policy and decision-making and provides a pathway to balancing the goals of economic activity, environmental sustainability, and advancing Indigenous reconciliation. The Ministry seeks to build a new vision in collaboration with natural resource ministries and Indigenous Peoples that embraces shared decision making on the land base.

How to start your career in the Natural Resource Ministries

• Search for careers or natural resource ministries that interest you on the government website.
• Look at the job requirements and identify what you need to meet them.
• Explore post-secondary schools that have appropriate education requirements.
• Attend career workshops and/or register for ‘Career Conversations’ (for external applicants).
• Explore requirements for professional accreditation.

Featured careers

• Authorizations
• Biologists
• First Nations relations advisor / Indigenous relations advisors
• Natural resource engineers

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_{[1] The term “Indigenous” used throughout this webpage is intended to be inclusive of all peoples of Indigenous ancestry, including First Nations (status and non-status), Métis, and Inuit.}