Water Supply Supervisor

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Data Standards and Services Manager, this position is responsible for leading and coordinating the acquisition, operation, maintenance, and research and development of the near real-time data collection network that acquires water quantity data from stream gauge and weather monitoring stations in Alberta and adjacent jurisdictions. The Water Supply Data Supervisor is a proactive leader, who represents the Water Supply team and the ministry regarding network planning, technical working groups, committees, and community of practices which foster relationships with internal and external stakeholders as well as partners such as the Water Survey of Canada, Meteorological Service of Canada, and private sector data users, among others, while keeping an eye on any technological advances and the emergences o best practices in data acquisition, and recommends such changes to the manager for consideration.

Key Responsibilities:
As the Water Supply Supervisor, you will:

• Supervise the operational status of the environmental data acquisition system (OpenDCS) and maintain databases with water data management programs (WISKI), including evaluating new technology and software improvements, evaluating alternatives, and improving efficiency.
• Supervise, manage, train, and coordinate technical staff in data stewardship collection activities: diagnosis, triage, and correct data acquisition interruptions, communicate with field staff to identify problems with station hardware, maintain and extend rating curves, apply station calibration information to datasets, disseminate data to stakeholders and partners, and work with IT Support teams to ensure all issues affecting data acquisition systems are resolved.
• Develop and maintain decoding algorithms for various data platforms.
• Identify and supervise the consolidation of datasets (near real-time or historical) that currently exists within and outside the Government of Alberta into the EPA data systems, ensuring data accuracy, efficiency, and reliability.
• Act as a steward and technical expert for Alberta’s hydrological and meteorological information, supporting stakeholders, industry, and the public.
• Represent the ministry on technical working groups, committees, and partnerships with organizations like the Water Survey of Canada and Meteorological Service of Canada.

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.

Position Specific Competencies:

• Creative Problem Solving: Identify and fix data issues, develop solutions to keep data flowing accurately, and work with the team and stakeholders to resolve problems during critical events. 
• Systems Thinking: Understand how data systems connect to broader water management goals, plan for impacts, and coordinate with other teams to ensure reliable data.
• Agility: Quickly adapt to changing conditions, equipment failures, or severe weather, make fast decisions, and stay ready for 24/7 on-call support.
• Develop Networks: Build strong relationships with internal teams and partners to share data, align standards, and keep Alberta’s water monitoring network strong and responsive.

Qualifications

Requirements

Education:
Two-year technical diploma in a related field such as Water Resources Technology, Environmental Science or Hydrology.

Experience:
Minimum of six (6) years of directly related experience in hydrological and meteorological data acquisition, management, and supervision.

Other:

• Eligible for registration with the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET), Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) or any other professional regulatory body relevant to this position. 
• Valid Class 5 driver’s license or equivalent.

Equivalency:
Equivalencies will be considered on a one for one basis (one year of education for one year of experience and vice versa). For example, A University degree plus four years of experience.

Assets:

• Knowledge of Alberta’s water resources and methods for collecting hydrological, meteorological, groundwater, and near real-time water quality data, including data logger configuration (Sutron, Campbell, Vadas, Amasser) and use of electronic field equipment.
• Knowledge of hydrometric data computation techniques and quality assurance/control standards used by federal and provincial agencies.
• Understanding of modern data decoding and communication techniques, including GOES satellite communication and the use of OpenDCS software and scripting languages (e.g., Python) to capture and decode raw data.
• Proficiency in data analysis, quality assurance, and familiarity with UNIX/LINUX operating systems.
• Working knowledge of data analytics and visualization tools such as R, Microsoft Power BI, and VBA.

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 is a full-time, permanent position based in Edmonton. The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., totaling 36.25 hours per week.

Some travel may be required to effectively support the Branch’s priority initiatives. This position involves regular and ongoing interaction with industry representatives, consultants, other government personnel, and members of the public.

This competition may also be used to fill positions at a lower classification level.

Please submit your cover letter and updated resume. In your resume, clearly indicate the duration of each role by providing the month and year, and specify the employment status (e.g., casual, part-time, or full-time). For example: Customer Service Representative, July 2015 - December 2017, Part-time (20 hours/week).

For your post-secondary education, specify your major, the length of the program, and your year of graduation. For example: Diploma in Water Resources Technology, 2-year program, Sept 2014 - June 2016.

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.

Links and information on what the GoA have 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.