Senior Fisheries Technician

Role Responsibilities

Can you imagine working in a dynamic environment that offers interesting challenges and beautiful outdoor scenery? Would you like to contribute to the management of provincial fisheries in the Northwest Region? If so, this may be the opportunity for you!

The Resource Stewardship - Fish and Wildlife Branch team in the Northwest Region is seeking a permanent Senior Fisheries Technician. Reporting to the Senior Fisheries Biologist in Peace River, you will assist in developing and delivering a full range of fisheries management program activities, objectives, and field projects to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish communities within the Peace River district and the broader Northwest Region. You will also support the wildlife management program alongside the Peace River Senior Wildlife Biologist during peak seasons.

As a Senior Fisheries Technician, you will be a key member of an integrated team of professional and technical staff responsible for managing fisheries and wildlife resources and implementing annual work plans in the Northwest Region. Your role will involve contributing to planning and directly implementing single- and multi-year projects, participating in district and provincial research activities, and operating with a high degree of independence and responsibility.

You will have regular contact with a variety of stakeholders, including:

• Other provincial Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch staff.
• Fish and Wildlife Enforcement and Conservation Officers.
• External departments and agencies such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
• Special interest groups, non-government organizations, Indigenous groups, local municipalities, and the general public.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage project delivery, data collection, data management, data summarization, and technical reporting for both fisheries (Spring to Fall) and wildlife (Winter) projects.
• Conduct vehicle and equipment maintenance and inspections and ensure compliance with district OH&S requirements.
• Participate in the development and implementation of provincial species management and recovery plans at local and regional levels.
• Record and manage data using provincial databases (e.g., FWMIS).
• Provide advice related to resource allocation.
• Conduct population inventories and monitoring programs (e.g., index netting, angler surveys, aerial surveys, trail camera installation).
• Support district and regional fish stocking activities.
• Assist with public outreach and education initiatives related to fish and wildlife conservation.

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: This position is responsible for the safe and effective delivery of multiple fisheries and wildlife projects each year, often encountering challenging and unpredictable issues. The individual must react quickly, identify opportunities to improve activities, and explore innovative solutions to complex problems in order to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, while meeting provincial goals and management outcomes.
• Drive for Results: This position is expected to leverage past experiences and learnings to plan, collaborate, and lead projects that achieve and exceed expectations.
• Build Collaborative Environments: The position requires working cooperatively with stakeholders, delivery partners, federal government counterparts, and other government employees on various projects and initiatives to achieve departmental and resource management objectives.
• Develop Self and Others: This senior technician role requires taking initiative to stay current with fisheries techniques, technology, and best practices in field project design and delivery.

Qualifications

Requirements:

Education:
A two-year diploma in Fisheries Management, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Management, or a related field.

Experience:
Minimum 4 years of directly related field experience in fisheries management.

Other:
A Valid Class 5 Drivers License (or equivalent).

Willingness and physical ability to travel and perform demanding fieldwork in remote locations and varying weather conditions.

Candidates must possess the following certifications or be willing to obtain them as part of their training:

• Pleasure Craft Operator Certificate issued by approved Canada Coast Guard provider.
• Defensive Driving Certification.
• First Aid with AED Training.

Equivalency:
Directly related education or experience will be considered on the basis of one year of education for one year of experience, or one year of experience for one year of education.

Assets:

• Experience with specialized fisheries equipment (electrofishing, nets, telemetry, water sampling) and conducting wildlife surveys from aerial platforms (rotary-wing and fixed-wing).
• Experience operating off-highway vehicles, motorized boats and towing trailers.
• Proficiency in MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of Alberta’s Fisheries and Wildlife Management Information System (FWMIS) and relevant provincial and federal legislation, regulations, and policies.

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 located in Peace River, with a standard work week of 36.25 hours, Monday to Friday. The work environment involves extensive travel during the spring to fall (fisheries) and winter (wildlife) seasons, which may include remote overnight camp stays ranging from 2 to 10 nights. At other times of the year, travel is expected to be minimal. The role requires eligibility and ability to operate specialized equipment, including multiple types of watercrafts, off-highway vehicles, 4x4 fleet vehicles, electrofishing equipment, firearms, and other field equipment. Travel may also involve fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft to support program delivery. The position can be physically demanding and may involve heavy lifting of up to 23 kg for fieldwork preparation and execution.

Application Instructions:

Please submit a cover letter and an 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: Fisheries Field Technician, July 2015 - December 2017, Part-time (20 hours/week).

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

Candidates may also be asked to prepare a written assignment to further assess their knowledge, experience, and communication skills.

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:

• Living and working in Peace River, you may be eligible for the 55th to 57th Parallels Retention Allowance. This provides an annual retention bonus of $6,000.00, less all lawful deductions, and is prorated based on start date. For more information, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/premium-pay-directive#jumplinks-3.
• 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.
• 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.