Locations: Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, any AER office locations will be considered
Employment Type: Full-Time- Permanent
Salary Range: SP3, Level 5, $88,792- $110,990 per year. The final compensation for this position will be determined based on individual factors, including education, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.
Limnologist, Water Quality Specialist – Hybrid
The Opportunity
The Regulatory Applications Branch is currently recruiting a Limnologist, Water Quality Specialist to join its talented team of professionals. This team is responsible for assessing and making recommendations on project applications and representing the wetlands discipline on a variety of multi-stakeholder groups and projects. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to apply their expertise across the full lifecycle of development, from the initiation stage at the time of application, extending into end of life through remediation and reclamation. While the work we do is dynamic and critical to upholding the mandate of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) we never lose focus on upholding our cultural values of supporting one another and prioritizing personal wellness, professional development, and work-life balance.
The Limnologist, Water Quality Specialist will be relied upon as an expert in the area of aquatic ecology and surface water quality to protect aquatic ecosystems in alignment with regulatory requirements and to provide risk-informed and science-based recommendations to the decision maker. The role requires interacting with a large suite of technical and regulatory professionals, clearly articulating risks associated with each application, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, primarily applicants and government partners, and drafting proposals and recommendations for the leadership team to consider.
What your day-to-day will look like:
- As part of a multi-disciplinary team, review applications and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for all mining, oil, gas, and coal development in the province that have the potential to impact surface water bodies.
- Provides technical conditions and requirements for approvals related to sampling, monitoring, research and reporting.
- Develops research and monitoring requirements, decision reports, approval conditions and discussions of research results with industry.
- Provide expertise and technical advice/analysis to public hearing panels and the Alternate Dispute Resolution process. This includes direct support to the Panel during the information gathering phase, participation in the hearing process, and decision report writing.
- Work with a diverse network of experts across industry, academia and government to remain current on emerging issues, identify policy gaps and support policy initiatives with a view towards their practical application to energy sector activities and business processes.
- Participate in the development and lead the implementation of new government policy, regulatory frameworks, Directives and cumulative effects management.
- Develop strategies for improving industry regulation and procedures related to aquatic ecosystems.
- Support and provide expertise to inspectors, approval coordinators and consultants on mitigation and monitoring requirements and remedial strategies related to unplanned release events, incidents, non-compliance and/or investigations.
What we’re looking for in you:
- Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, aquatic ecosystem ecology or environmental biology with a focus on limnology or freshwater aquatic management. A Master of Science degree would be considered an asset.
- 7-10 years of regulatory/industry experience in areas of limnology, ecology and management.
- Registered or eligible to be registered as a Professional Biologist with Alberta Society of Professional Biologists.
- Strong knowledge of aquatic ecology and management.
- Strong knowledge of EPEA, Water Act, Public Land Act, and Oil Sands Conservation Act.
- Strong technical knowledge of industrial processes related to mining (coal and oil sands), conventional oil & gas, in situ, and pipelines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate highly technical concepts to various stakeholders.
- Strong multi-stakeholder collaboration skills.
Additional Information:
- A pre-placement medical is required for this role.
- The successful candidate must possess a fully valid class 5 driver’s license along with a positive driving record.
- This role may require travel to the field to attend site visits and assist with inspections. Applicants should expect up to 15% of their time to be in field.
- While in the field this position may involve work on or around water bodies and flowing water.
- All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.
- Should an individual with the required qualifications not be available, applicants with closely related qualifications may be considered. As a result, the position may be redesigned and/or reclassified.
- If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email Peopleservices@aer.ca. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
What we offer you:
- Great benefits from your first day of work
- Flexible Work Program – hybrid work and flexible hours
- Defined benefit pension plan(s)
- Flexible benefits program options, including Personal & Health spending account(s)
- Generous vacation entitlement and flex days
More information about working at the AER’s including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website https://www.aer.ca/providing-information/about-the-aer/careers/what-we-offer.
Application closing date: January 7, 2024, at midnight
