Environmental Planner / Aquatics Biologist

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

The Environmental Planner / Aquatic Biologist is responsible for leading the technical execution of water, transportation and oil and gas projects, managing client relationships, overseeing project management, and mentoring and coaching staff. This role is responsible for building strong client relationships and ensuring that we deliver excellent work to our clients: innovative solutions with projects that exceed expectations and grow Stantec’s market position.

The Environmental Planner / Aquatic Biologist serves both our external clients and internal teams as a subject matter expert, internal champion, external face, and brand ambassador. They develop and lead project work, supports winning new work though preparation of technical work plans and participating in competitive RFP processes, maintains and grows key clients, and works collaboratively with other  disciplines, contractors and environmental professionals to solve problems.

Your Key Responsibilities

Project Focus and Technical Excellence:

• Lead and manage technical scopes and regulatory permitting for projects such as intakes, outfalls, irrigation projects, culverts/bridges, water pipelines, oil and gas projects, and transportation projects.
• Contribute to written content as lead author or quality/peer review. This includes preparation of QAES Reports, fish and fish habitat assessments, regulatory applications, EPPs and other deliverables.
• Conduct and coordinate field surveys, assess habitat conditions, and collect, maintain, and analyze ecological data.
• Conduct and/or lead a team with construction monitoring activities including fish rescue, turbidity monitoring and general onsite support for construction contractors to limit potential environmental effects.
• Provide strategic environmental advice to clients, acting as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for aquatic biology and environmental compliance.
• Develop and implement creative solutions to complex environmental challenges.
• Interpret and apply provincial and federal legislation (Water Act, Fisheries Act, Public Lands Act, Canadian Navigable Waters Act) to projects, ensuring compliance and helping clients understand regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with engineering and other biological disciplines to prepare deliverables.

Business Development Client Focus

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and industry stakeholders, positioning the company as a trusted advisor and thought leader.
• Support business development activities, including preparing proposals and technical workplans, supporting complex multi-disciplinary bids and relationship building with existing and prospective clients.
• Collaborate with other Environmental Services team members, Project Managers (PMs), and other Stantec technical business units (e.g., Water, Transportation, Community development) to develop project workplans and build relationships with internal clients.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and developments and leverage this knowledge to develop innovative solutions that address client needs.
• Exceed client expectations through strong technical execution and project management and/or coordination.
• Support marketing and business development though leadership, technical excellence, building client relationships, publications, and online engagement on LinkedIn.

People and Project Leadership:

• Inspire, motivate, and hold project teams accountable for the delivery of innovative solutions.
• Foster a success-oriented, accountable environment within the company.
• Uphold a corporate culture that promotes ethical practices, encourages individual integrity, and focuses on customer and service delivery.
• Responsible for driving project excellence.
• Proactively identify opportunities to reinforce and further develop Stantec’s high-performance culture with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and productivity.
• Mentor and coach junior staff, providing guidance and support to help them develop their skills and advance their careers.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the team.
• Encourage and facilitate technical training and knowledge sharing among team members.

Health and Safety:

• Conduct work safely and engage with stop work authority where needed.
• Communicate with field team members about safety and proactively look for ways to improve processes and workplace safety.
• Promote compliance with regulatory requirements and the Health, Safety, Security, and Environment & Sustainability management system.