Environmental Planner (Aquatic Biology Focus)
Grounded in safety, quality, and ethics, our experts lead their fields and guide our work with rigor, a creative spirit, and vision for growth. We draw from more than 20 technical specialties around the globe and are committed to fostering an inclusive community of diverse talents, backgrounds, and expertise. We’re a place to apply your passion and collaborate with top environmental talents on work that’s critical to our clients and the communities they support. Join a team that has the environment down to a science.
Your Opportunity
Stantec is seeking an Environmental Planner with a background in aquatic biology to support our assessment and permitting team in Edmonton, Alberta. This unique role will focus on supporting aquatic pre-disturbance assessment, reporting and monitoring for a wide range of project types including those in the infrastructure, transportation, oil and gas and renewable sectors. This role will allow you to participate in aquatic field work, but also to facilitate the development of technical deliverables and obtain project approvals through collaboration with engineering teams, clients and regulators.
A One-of-a-Kind Role!
Collaboration is at our core and this is a unique role where you get to have a seat at the table with our clients and engineering teams to help design projects that protect or enhance the aquatic environment. Our team in involved in exciting projects including stream restoration, infrastructure construction and long-term monitoring programs.
Your Key Responsibilities
The successful applicant will be responsible for supporting projects as they pertain to the aquatic environment in both a field and office-based capacity. Tasks are expected to include:
Health and Safety:
- Prioritize safety in all aspects of project execution
- Implement health and safety protocols during fieldwork
- Maintaining compliance with industry standards
Aquatic Assessment:
- Lead fish and fish habitat field assessments
- Lead junior staff in field activities
- Plan and lead fish salvage and/or water quality field programs
- Work in remote locations for up to two weeks at a time, if required
- Manage tasks according to approved scopes of work
- Understand recent and existing practices and techniques for sampling and analysis of fisheries, fish habitat and water quality data from streams, rivers and lakes
Reporting and Regulatory:
- Prepare regulatory applications and provide information to team members about project risks relative to the federal and provincial legislative requirements as they pertain to the aquatic environment (e.g., Fisheries Act, Public Lands Act, Water Act, Canadian Navigable Waters Act)
- Support preparation of technical documents (e.g., QAES reports, environmental assessments, Request for Review, regulatory road maps, Environmental Protection Plans)
- Liaise with regulatory agencies
- Support preparation and development of scopes and budgets
- Communicate project risks to engineering teams, contractors and/or clients
- Interact with clients to understand project requirements and goals
- Communicate effectively regarding aquatic assessments, findings, and recommendations
- Maintain positive working relationships with clients
Your Capabilities and Credentials
- Proven communication and organization skills
- Strong technical writing skills
- Familiarity with freshwater ecology in Alberta and fish identification knowledge
- Experience conducting fish and fish habitat assessments
- Experience collecting field data using digital data collection platforms is an asset
- Experience leading construction monitoring programs is an asset
- Understanding and applied knowledge working under provincial and federal legislation (e.g., Water Act, Public Lands Act, Fisheries Act, Canadian Navigable Waters Act)
- Ability to work in a collaborative team environment
- Ability to manage and prioritize time when executing multiple parallel objectives
- Ability to thrive in an environment with diverse and dynamic projects
- Basic GIS skills are an asset
Education and Experience
- A Bachelor’s degree in Biology (or technical equivalent) is preferred
- Professional accreditation (i.e., P.Biol, B.I.T., R.P.Bio, R.B.Tech) required
- Ability to be designated as a QAES
- Minimum of 3 years of experience as an aquatic biologist, with experience in freshwater systems in Alberta
- An electrofishing certificate and experience is an asset
Stantec is proud to offer the opportunity for flexible work arrangements consisting of an office environment, remote work, and potential field work. Fieldwork may include exposure to the elements including inclement weather.
This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.
Stantec is a place where the best and brightest come to build on each other’s talents, do exciting work, and make an impact on the world around us. Join us and redefine your personal best.