Connexa Group is a professional services firm that believes that the most valuable assets an organization has are its people. Our team members are dynamic, energetic, opportunistic, and creative, but most importantly, they are the company. We lead the industry by adopting technologies and finding creative solutions that improve efficiency and allow for a flexible work environment. Whether your career with Connexa is in the field or in the office, you will find that we are adaptive to the ever-changing workplace.
General Description
Working closely with our Project Leads and junior field staff, the Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES) – Intermediate / Senior role is integral to the Environmental Division’s continued growth and success.
The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for fisheries and aquatic field work, the ability to lead crews, and experience mentoring junior staff in field data collection, safety best practices, and consulting skills. Candidates will possess intermediate to senior-level biology expertise and demonstrate the ability to meet the expectations of this role.
The Work
Overview
- Field oversight of assigned construction, oil & gas, and watercourse crossing projects with a focus on aquatics and fisheries.
- Coordinating and preparing high-quality scientific and technical reports, including environmental protection and regulatory submission documents such as:
- Code of Practice notifications to the Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Environment & Protected Areas
- Code of Practice notifications, request for review applications and SARA permit applications to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
- QAES oversight on aquatics / fisheries jobs, both training and mentoring junior staff and liaising with construction contractors on site
- Assessing and mitigating potential risks and liabilities associated with assigned projects
- Assisting with ongoing development of internal processes, including environmental/ regulatory scoping tools, quick reference guides, checklists, and project templates
- Identifying additional ‘opportunities’ to help our clients improve their regulatory compliance outcomes
- Daily communication with project leads, field crews and other project stakeholders to gather project information and details necessary to support aquatic construction oversight and regulatory knowledge
Hybrid Office (30%) / Field (70%)
- Focus: Perform field and office tasks on oil & gas, forestry, pipeline, infrastructure, watercourse crossings, and renewable energy projects as part of a multi-disciplinary, virtual team.
- Shifts: Field shifts, typically lasting between 2-10 days. Overnight stays in hotels or camps may also be necessary.
- Geographic Scope: projects are generally located throughout Alberta
- Data Collection and Monitoring: Conduct environmental field data collection and construction monitoring activities.
- Adverse Conditions: Be prepared to work in remote locations and challenging conditions like muddy roads, steep terrain, dense vegetation, and snowy environments.
- Physical Demands: Carry field equipment such as an electrofisher and other required gear (Up to 30lb)
- Technical Strengths (Required):
- Fish salvage
- Fish and fish habitat assessments
- Fish species identification
- Assessing roadway watercourse crossings
- Riparian area assessments
- Water quality monitoring (turbidity)
- Hydrology
- Aquatic-related environmental inspections
- Aquatic / Fisheries construction monitoring
- Pipeline watercourse HDD open-cuts and bores
- Provincial and Federal environmental legislation
- Environmental Construction Operations (ECO) plans
- Care of Water (COW) plans
- Erosion and Sediment Control (ESCP) plans
- Technical Strengths (Beneficial):
- Wetlands Assessments (WAIF and WAIR)
- Audits and Inspections
- Environmental Risk Assessments
- Biophysical Impact Assessments
- Wildlife sweeps & surveys (breeding bird, migration, amphibian, raptor, species at risk)
- Wildlife mitigation plans
Spatial Data Interpretation / Analyzing
- A basic understanding of the land survey systems in Western Canada
- Utilizing various GIS/mapping platforms to analyze and interpret datasets
- Understanding which datasets to utilize for interpretation
- Reading and understanding survey/engineering plans and the information within them
Regulatory Requirements
- Understanding which Directives/Acts/etc. apply to a project
- Finding and interpreting of the content within regulatory documents and how they apply to a project
- Recognizing when a project does not meet a regulatory requirement and bringing it to the attention of the Project Lead/SME with mitigation options
- Creating and submitting permitting applications to the regulator(s)
- Communicating with the regulator
Technical Writing
- Utilize a strong command of language, grammar, and style to produce clear, concise, and readable content
- An understanding of when to use technical or regulatory wording and when to use plain language
- Ability to conduct thorough research, gather data, and interpret technical information to understand and explain complex topics
- Ensure accuracy and clarity in data, technical terminology, and formatting, which is critical in technical documentation
- Proficiency with the software being utilized, including applicable templates and GIS software
- Reviewing reports for consistency, grammar, formatting, and technical accuracy
- Ability to manage time effectively to meet project deadlines, especially when juggling multiple projects/deliverables
Requirements
- Industry knowledge: Experience level working knowledge with the Alberta regulatory system (i.e., AUC, AER, EPA) and British Columbia (i.e. BCER, MEP) and DFO on the federal level.
- An aptitude for technical skill sets leads to a deeper project understanding and an ability to contribute to various projects and provide regulatory and scientifically based solutions.
- 5+ years of applicable environmental consulting and/or regulator experience in fisheries / aquatics
- Professional Designation: A professional designation or ability to obtain one within 3-6 months of employment is preferred (P. Biol, R.P. Biol.)
Soft Skills
- Contributing to an overall positive work environment/culture.
- Foster and develop relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Relationship-building skills help to convey information clearly and listen to others to create connections that enable the specialist to communicate with team members as effectively as possible.
- A specialist with leadership skills understands how to implement the CORE values into their day-to-day activities, which can mean stronger overall team and project performance.
- Problem-solving skills allow a specialist to identify what went wrong, find the cause of the problem, and find the best solution to rectify the situation and get the project moving toward completion again.
- Risk assessment skills are beneficial because they help a project manager estimate potential risks on a project along with their costs and probabilities.
- Demonstrate a commitment to Connexa values in all professional activities.
- Collaborate with other Connexa team members.
- Maintain strong verbal and written communication skills to convey information effectively.
Equipment and Tools
- Vehicle Operation: Drive light-duty trucks, ATVs, UTVs, and trailers. A valid driver’s license is required.
- Field Tools: Use navigational and data collection tools such as Garmin GPS, Avenza, Collector, etc.
Collaboration and Communication
- Connexa Values: Demonstrate a commitment to Connexa values in all professional activities.
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate with other Connexa team members and client field representatives as required.
- Communication: Maintain strong verbal and written communication skills to convey information effectively.
Administrative and Support Tasks
- Administrative Work: Complete office reporting, QA/QC, data entry, and submission of field data on time.
- Meetings and Training: Attend meetings and training sessions as needed.
Availability
- Excluding vacation or allotted personal days, Field staff must be available for field work up to 20 days per month, including up to 2 weekends per month.
What you bring to the table:
- Professional Biologist designation or ability to achieve a designation within 6 months
- Self-declaration as a QAES
- A diploma or bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, conservation biology, or natural resource management
- 5 plus years of relevant experience
- Electrofishing certification – Crew Lead certification preferred
- Experience as a Crew Lead
- Intermediate level reporting abilities
- Positive demeanour
- The ability to liaise with clients and make professional in-field decisions.
- A love for being on the road and working in both natural and construction environments is essential.
- Physically fit with the ability to walk extended distances in challenging field conditions.
- Safety mindset
- Exceptional communication skills with peers, project managers and clients
If you feel that this is the right challenge for you, and you meet these qualifications, please respond by sending your resume and cover letter in Word or .pdf format to this ad.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
