Careers

Intermediate/Senior Ecologist

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Job Description

Birks Natural Heritage Consultants, Inc. (Birks NHC) is seeking an Intermediate or Senior Ecologist to fill a one-year maternity leave replacement position, with potential for extension into a permanent position.  The successful candidate will be responsible for conducting Headwater Drainage Feature Assessments, fisheries habitat assessments, fish community sampling, habitat protection and mitigation, and completion of approvals for work within proximity to fish habitat. 

The successful candidate will work with the Birks NHC team remotely from their own home office and have the ability to travel (short distance) to project sites, meetings, and various workshops. 

Duties of the Position Include:

• Scoping, planning, developing, and implementing field programs with a focus on the aquatic environment component for a variety of natural resources, municipal, land development, and infrastructure development assignments.

• Contributing in the development of Environmental Impact Studies, Natural Heritage Evaluations, Species at Risk Assessments, permit applications, offsetting/compensation plans, and related deliverables for Birks NHC project.

• Provide technical and regulatory expertise on projects that interact with aquatic environments, including report and proposal preparation.

• Liaison with public and private sector clients, enhancement of client relationship and development of new business opportunities.

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Skills and Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in Ecology, Biology, and/or other Biological Science

• Approximately three plus (3+) years of related work experience

• Working knowledge and in-depth understanding of relevant provincial and federal environmental legislation and policies

• Experience working with provincial and federal regulatory agencies such as the Department of Fisheries and Ocean (DFO), Conservation Authorities, and the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks (MECP)

• Demonstrated knowledge of fish identification for Ontario’s freshwater fish species

• Strong oral and written communication, report writing and organization skills

• A thorough understanding of project management, including experience developing project scope of work, cost estimates, and client management

• Experience with professional report writing

• Demonstrated strengths in developing relationships with clients, government agencies, and Indigenous groups

• The ability to work in a dynamic environment with limited supervision

• Ability to work in a team-oriented environment

• Comfortable with field work in remote locations and/or travel between sites

• Valid Class G driver's licence with access to own vehicle

• Willingness to perform physically demanding work in various weather conditions

Preferences will be given to candidates with the following Certifications:

• Class 2 Electrofishing Certification

• Completion of the Headwater Drainage Feature Assessment Workshop

• Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol

• Valid First Aid Certificate 

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About Birks NHC

A Natural Heritage Consulting company with over 30 years of staff experience providing services in Natural Sciences throughout Ontario. Our staff have a wide range of experience, working on large-scale mining and wind energy projects in Northern Ontario to single family residential developments in the Greenbelt, Greater Golden Horseshoe, and Oak Ridges Moraine areas. We maintain a thorough knowledge and experience in completing Environmental Impact Studies, Natural Heritage Evaluations, and Species at Risk Assessments.

The team is focused to provide responsiveness to clients in an effort to ensure a responsible balance between development goals/policy and the natural environment with a common-sense approach. 

Approximate Start Date: February 2020

To Apply: If you would like to be considered for this unique career opportunity, please send a CV and cover letter to in MS Word of PDF format. 

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