Wetland Science Team Lead

Role Responsibilities

The Wetland Science Team Lead position is accountable for safe and effective delivery of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, with a specialization in wetland ecosystems under the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) Program delivered by the Oil Sands Monitoring Branch.

This position will lead the development and delivery of long-term monitoring programs, as well as the implementation of focused studies in wetland ecosystems. This position will also lead the evaluation of OSM wetlands monitoring data as well as all required scientific and programmatic reporting. This position ensures that the OSM Program and its partners and stakeholders, including the Government of Alberta, receive scientifically credible and relevant information needed to responsibly manage wetlands in Alberta's oil sands region through protecting water quality, ensuring safe habitats for wildlife, fish and plants, and sustaining biodiversity, in the face of increasing pressure from industrial development, a growing population, climate change, and other pressures.

A key aspect of this role is to function in a team lead capacity providing scientific leadership and guidance to a small team of junior wetland scientists, to achieve the strategic goals of the OSM Program and Branch direction particularly OSM data evaluation and reporting. This position may also contribute to other relevant monitoring programs under the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas.

Key outcomes of this position include: generating novel scientific ideas and approaches to be pursued by scientists within OSM, the Government of Alberta, and nationally; providing expert advice on scientific program and project design; leading large-scale, multi-year scientific programs that bridge scientific disciplines; and publishing scientific findings on the condition of the environment across media. It is expected that the Wetland Science Team Lead will be regularly invited to present at scientific meetings and conferences, publish peer-reviewed papers, and provide expert advice to OSM leadership on the cumulative impacts of anthropogenic activities on wetlands in the oil sands region of Alberta.

This position is for a recognized scientific expert in wetland science and research at national and international level.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:
•    Applying expert knowledge of the functionality of wetlands and wetland ecology to lead the development, review and continuous improvement of long-term wetland monitoring programs as well as relevant focused studies that address issues of concern to the OSM Program and by extension the Government of Alberta. 
•    Leading the analysis of OSM wetland monitoring data, and reporting on findings for publication in OSM technical reports, peer-reviewed journals, and special assessment reports, specifically the ongoing integrated state of the environment reporting.
•    Completing multi-year research and monitoring plans that are driven by scientific questions to assess the condition of wetlands ecosystems in the oil sands region of Alberta, including scientific evaluations of the anthropogenic impacts and ecological drivers e.g. climate change.
•    Developing, leading and actively participating in the analyses and completion of scientifically credible environmental data evaluation and reporting that meet project plan commitments and legislated reporting requirements.
•    Working with multi-disciplinary monitoring teams from multiple governments, industry, and academic sources (air, water, biological, and ecological), to synthesize integrated reporting among OSM scientific teams.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

How Competencies will apply to this role:

Systems Thinking: Ensuring integration between wetland monitoring and research programs as well as other environmental monitoring and research programs in OSM.

Creative Problem Solving: Working with leadership, scientists and staff in OSM to ensure innovative, scientifically credible research and monitoring protocols are conceived and deployed in OSM's wetland ecosystem monitoring and science programs.

Drive for Results: Leading primary and collaborative writing of standard and non-standard reporting products communicating major observations and conclusions of long-term monitoring and focused research activities on the condition, status and trends of Alberta's oil sands region including but not limited to peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Build Collaborative Environments: Collaborating with OSM scientists, field monitoring technologists and other collaborators in all phases of monitoring and research programs, from conception to delivery and reporting.

Develop Self and Others: Lead a team of junior wetland scientists, oversee their scientific work outcome and products. Lead the team in developing a culture of scientific excellence in research and monitoring design.

Qualifications

Required: 
•    Ph.D. in a scientific field in more than one of the following areas: wetland ecology, biology, chemistry, hydrology, statistics, biogeochemistry, limnology, and water resources. 
•    Demonstrated expertise in wetland systems.
•    Minimum of five years post-doctoral work experience in the design and implementation of wetland monitoring and research programs.
•    Demonstrated record of primary and collaboratively authored publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals commensurate with established peers with a similar level of experience (for example, Associate Professors at Canadian academic institutions).

Equivalences may be considered: Additional related education considered in lieu of experience on a one-for-one basis.

This position requires the following skills and abilities: 
•    Demonstrated leadership skills, innovative and creative thinking, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
•    Strong data analysis, modelling and interpretation skills.
•    Ability to synthesize findings to identify risks, possible actions and where possible, solutions.
•    Strong scientific writing skills, project management and program planning skills.
•    Strong communication and interpersonal skills to develop and deliver understandable scientific information to key stakeholders, the scientific community, public audiences, and senior executives in government.
•    Ability to build and maintain effective and productive working relationships, including with Indigenous communities, various internal and external researchers, post-secondary institutions graduate students, researchers, and specialized scientists.  
•    Ability to identify, anticipate, and analyze complex issues.
•    Ability to successfully manage multiple projects, meet timelines and work under pressure.

Qualifications (cont'd)

Assets:
Extensive knowledge and experience in the following areas:
•    Wetland ecology with a focus the physical, chemical, and biological properties of wetland ecosystems, the functionality of wetlands, and how human and natural activities influence a wetland's ecological condition. 
•    Advanced numerical analyses using statistical methods of large environmental data sets using software such as R, including data from EPA's monitoring and/or research programs and relevant programs or studies performed by others in Alberta and elsewhere.
•    Application of appropriate models or other means to predict local, regional and cumulative impacts of a broad range of development and related activities at play in the oil sands region and Alberta as a whole.
•    New and emerging methods related to assessing the status and trends of wetlands in Alberta's oil sands region.
•    Current and emerging regional, provincial and national issues related to wetlands.
•    Relevant partnerships with academic and industrial research communities, relevant government and non-government agencies, etc.
•    Alberta's acts, regulations and policies and frameworks related to water resources.

Preference will be given to candidates who are recognized scientific experts in their fields of research at the national level and regularly collaborates with peers in academia through the supervision of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and through appointment as adjunct faculty at one or more post-secondary institutions.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

•    This competition is for 1 permanent full time position located in Calgary. 
•    Monday – Friday, 7.25 hours per day / 36.25 hours per week.

About Your Work Environment:

You will be expected to manage high demand tasks and competing work priorities in a fast paced dynamic environment, while leading a team of scientific professionals. 

Applicants are required to include a COVER LETTER with clear and concise specific examples that demonstrate how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements and competencies.

Instructions for your Resume:

For Employment Experience:
Please indicate duration of employment (month, year)
Please specify employment status (i.e. casual, part-time or full-time)
Ex: Youth Worker, Jan 2006 - June 2009, Part-time (three, 8 hour shifts/week)

For any Post-Secondary Education:
Please specify your major and length of program
Please specify the year you graduated
Ex: Bachelor of Social Work, 4-year Degree (Graduated 2017)

Any costs associated with obtaining required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.
•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.