Project Biologist - Vegetation Ecologist

The Project Biologist Vegetation Ecologist will support and independently execute various field and office components of small- and large-scale environmental projects in the forestry, utility, oil and gas, government, and private sectors. Environmental projects will involve natural resource management, with a focus on vegetation, ecosystem mapping, wildlife and wildlife habitat, fish and fish habitat and species at risk. The Project Biologist Vegetation Ecologist will also periodically provide support on projects related to construction environmental monitoring, water quality management, and erosion and sediment control, as well as independently prepare technical documents to support project planning and regulatory requirements. The Project Biologist Vegetation Ecologist will work collaboratively with Project Leads and Environmental Specialists to support technical components of project delivery.

Key Job Functions & Responsibilities

Key duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Hold technical responsibility and ownership for the data management, technical quality and execution, and general oversight of project field programs.
• Supervise and be accountable for the execution of environmental surveys (i.e., vegetation, breeding birds, sensitive raptors, terrestrial wildlife and aquatics) this includes providing survey kick-offs, coordination of data entry, and providing guidance to junior field biologists and other staff during the field season.
• Providing technical support on projects that interact with biophysical environments.
• Complete QA/QC reviews of data collection and checks on field staff.
• Develop training materials and provide growth opportunities for junior biologists.
• Provide peer review and mentorship to junior biologists and complete estimates and technical content for proposals.
• Support Project Leads and clients with expertise in project surveys, data collection, analysis, and regulatory impacts.
• Provide support on project and task management to maintain deliverable accountability, and client relationship/satisfaction.
• Independently prepare, coordinate and/or review technical reports and permit applications associated with regulatory approvals and/or compliance requirements.
• Support budget tracking/management as directed.
• Independently coordinate multi-disciplinary teams.
• Assist with and independently lead the design, planning and execution of ecological studies focused on fisheries and aquatic resources, water quality, wildlife, vegetation, and other environmental information.

• Independently collect, input, organize and analyze data, and undertake design and plan field activities, including baseline assessment and field layout programs, salvage programs, and various surveys in different fields (e., vegetation, fish, and fish habitat, wildlife and wildlife habitat, species at risk, watercourses and wetlands, and ecological communities).
• Act as a Lead Environmental Monitor on construction projects involving natural resource management, including instream works and works in sensitive environments.

• Anticipate and communicate when a task cannot be completed on time or on budget and develop solutions to such issues with involvement from the management team.

Key Job Outcomes

Key outcomes include but are not limited to the following:

• Projects are lead in an organized, efficient, effective, and safe manner.
• Environmental Specialists, Technicians and other project staff have a clear understanding of their expectations, responsibilities, and timelines are clearly communicated.
• Technical reporting is independently prepared and meets requirements set forth by regulation and McTavish quality standards.
• Timely response to project or contract changes and requests and corresponding deliverable requirements.
• Bottlenecks/inefficiencies/quality issues are identified, analyzed, and remedied in collaboration with senior management team.
• Clients are satisfied with technical project deliverables, and timelines.
• All field work and reporting deliverables meet technical requirements as defined by legislation, regulation and McTavish quality standards.
• Field work is carried out in a safe and effective manner that meets the project scope of work requirements.
• Assigned tasks and deliverables are independently completed to the satisfaction of the Manager and/or Director, client, and other relevant entities.
• Effective relationships are maintained internally and externally.

Job Requirements

Requirements for the role of Project Biologist are provided below:

• Sc. and/or M.Sc. in Environmental Science with a focus on terrestrial ecology.
• Minimum 5 years practical experience in a small to medium professional service with emphasis on environmental consulting or research.
• Proficient in ArcGIS, R and Excel.
• Ability to produce maps independently using Model Builder or experience in coding to obtain analysis information.
• Experience utilizing provincial standards, including Land Management Handbook 25, Land Management Handbook 78, other various Land Management Handbooks and Field Guides for Site Identification across various Resource Districts and BEC Units.
• Experience with identifying and mapping Sensitive Ecosystems.
• Understanding of the components of a terrestrial baseline studies (background research, mapping, field work, site descriptions, and reporting).
• Experience writing technical reports for describing ecosystems and providing guidance based on science and standards.
• Demonstrated experience in independently executing field based environmental consulting.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in environmental permitting and authorization processes and obtaining permits related to Canadian federal, provincial, and regional legislation and policies.
• Demonstrated experience in independently preparing and delivering technical.
• Demonstrated experience in leading technical components of projects within the environmental consulting.
• Registered with the BC College of Applied Biology or another recognized credential program (e.g., ASPB, Eco Canada, ABCFP).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel).
• Valid Class 5 Drivers Licence.