Senior Fisheries Biologist

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about ensuring the long-term sustainability of fisheries populations and fisheries habitats in Alberta? This may be the position for you!!

Reporting to the Northeast Regional Fisheries Manager, the successful candidate will function with a high degree of independence and participate as a key member of an integrated team of professional and technical staff responsible for the management of fisheries resources.

Responsibilities include: 
•    Designing and implementing species population assessment and monitoring programs, and developing fisheries management objectives including recommendations for harvest allocation of fisheries resources. 
•    Developing and providing input into species management plans and their implementation and providing input into provincial standards and procedures.
•    Leading or participating in public consultation processes and leading engagement programs with multiple stakeholders and Indigenous communities.
•    Providing expert advice to ensure that fisheries population and habitat objectives are incorporated into integrated resource management processes.
•    Identifying research needs, developing research plans, collaborating with others, engaging in peer review, and presenting research results.
•    Providing leadership and supervision to a team of biologists and technicians and ensuring all administrative and OHS requirements are met.
•    Implementing monitoring and management programs in some of the most remote and beautiful lakes and rivers within northern Alberta.
•    Participating in a dynamic team setting with other professional staff throughout the Northeast Region offering a variety of experience and development opportunities.

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.

Drive for Results: by understanding the outcomes for fisheries management that are most important, you will use or recommend resources needed to achieve the desired results in an organized and timely manner while remaining accountable to your team.

Develop Networks: with consideration of stakeholders, collaborators, other Alberta Government departments and branches, appropriate levels of municipal and federal governments, Indigenous communities, and industrial proponents, identify risks and develop solutions that will maintain sustainable fish populations and their habitats.

Systems Thinking: abilities to identify priority fish management and recovery issues or opportunities including cumulative effects, plan for and implement single and multi-year projects, and shaping provincial policy and program priorities.

Creative Problem Solving: abilities to develop and implement species and population inventory and monitoring programs that will position fisheries management to make and provide informed decisions or recommendations that will directly affect the long-term sustainability of fish.

Qualifications

Requirements:
•    A degree in conservation biology, ecology, zoology, fisheries or wildlife management, natural resource management or other related field.
•    6 years of fisheries management experience.
•    A valid Class 5 Driver’s license (or equivalent).
•    Eligible for a Fisheries Guardian appointment.
•    Eligible to use firearms.

Equivalencies: 
•    A related two-year diploma plus 8 years related experience. 
•    Additional related education considered in lieu of experience on a one-for-one basis.

Assets:
•    Supervisory experience.
•    Demonstrated experience in writing and presenting technical reports including management recommendations to managers, the public, stakeholder groups, and special interest groups focusing on complex issues related to natural resource management.
•    Experience with the operation of off-highway vehicles (4x4 quads, snowmobiles), boats (small, large prop, canoe), specialized fisheries equipment including, gill nets, trap nets, electrofishing and other fisheries management sampling equipment and firearms.
•    Extensive knowledge of relevant provincial and federal acts (the Fisheries Alberta Act and regulations, Federal Fisheries Act, Alberta Public Lands Act and regulations, Alberta OH&S Act and regulations,) regulations, policies, and procedures.
•    Proficiency in use of computers including MS Office word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software programs. Working knowledge of data analysis, modelling, statistical, GIS and database management software. 

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

Hours of Work: Typical days and hours of work are Monday to Friday, from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm. The ability to work overtime on occasion will also be necessary.

Please Note: This is a full time permanent position located in Cold Lake Alberta. As a part of the interview process, we may ask you to complete a written assignment to better assess your written communication skills.

About Your Work Environment: While most of the work is centered from Cold Lake, this position will require you to travel to field locations within the North East Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch Region, and times, the province. 

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

What the GoA has to offer:
•    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.