Senior Fisheries Biologist

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Posting Date: Dec 8, 2023

Location: Rocky Mountain House, AB

Company: Government of Alberta

Job Information

Job Title: Senior Fisheries Biologist 

Job Requisition ID: 34081

Ministry: Environment and Protected Areas

Location: Rocky Mountain House

Full or Part-Time: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Scope: Open Competition

Closing Date: Until Suitable Candidate Found

Classification: Subsidiary 05B 3625 Natural Resources 9 Market Adjustment

About Us

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx 

Role

Are you searching for an exciting opportunity to lead a team of passionate professionals in the management of fisheries resources? If so this maybe the opportunity for you!

The Senior Fisheries Biologist is accountable for the development and delivery of the full range of Fisheries Management Program activities designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fish populations and fish habitat for the Rocky Mountain House Area. As the Fisheries Program Leader for Rocky Mountain House Area this senior biologist operates with a high degree of independence and has considerable responsibility and influence in developing and implementing regional resource management strategies.

You will be directly involved in shaping provincial policy and program priorities, as well as ensuring that all fisheries program interests related to the Land Use Frameworks and integrated resource management within the Area are addressed. You will represent the Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch in landscape level, species management planning, inter-agency and multi-stakeholder resource planning and management forums. You will interact occasionally, with senior executive and elected officials of municipal and provincial levels of government.

The position has regulatory duties and authorities that may require representation in the courts as an expert witness on fisheries management matters. A key focus for the position is representing the fisheries program perspective during landscape level review of major land and resources development proposals in the Area. The position develops and recommends policy, legislative and program changes to senior management within the Division, Department, other levels of government and regulators. You will frequently lead regional and occasionally Provincial level teams on various fisheries management related initiatives. Periodically, you will represent the Department on internal and external initiatives, make public presentations, and act as a public media spokesperson on matters pertaining to fisheries management. This position is required to act for the Fisheries Manager from time to time.

Qualifications

Requirements:
 

  • Bachelor of Science in biology or a related field and six-years of related experience working in fisheries management.
  • Eligible for a Fisheries Guardian appointment.
  • Valid Class 5 (or higher) driver’s license or equivalent.
  • Eligible to use firearms.
  • Eligible for travel to the United States or other jurisdictions.

 
Equivalencies: 
 

  • A related two-year diploma plus 8 years related experience.
  • Masters of Science in biology or a related field and four years of related experience working in fisheries management.
  • Additional related education considered in lieu of experience on a one-for-one basis.

 
Assets:
 

  • Significant 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. 

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/assets/documents/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf
 

  • Drive for Results: Developing fisheries management objectives and implementation of species recovery plans often requires a long-term investment in effort, and success relies on building and maintaining relationships. You will be responsible for managing a number high profile fisheries. You will be responsible for identifying both opportunities and potential barriers and removing them, as well as implementing science based monitoring to ensure objectives are being met.
     
  • Develop Self and Others: This senior professional position has a significant responsibility to provide effective leadership for a team of immediate reports and on regional and provincial teams.  Identifying training for yourself and your team to improve team function and delivery of program responsibilities incumbent's leadership.
     
  • Build Collaborative Environments: You will work cooperatively with stakeholders, delivery partners, federal government counterparts and other government employees to develop water body specific management plans that achieve department and government resource management objectives. You will be responsible for forming and leading stakeholder groups, coaching and mentoring junior staff and facilitating a collaborative team environment with internal-to-government and external partners.
     
  • Systems Thinking: Successful delivery of the fisheries management program requires an understanding of the interconnectedness of biological and natural systems, legal requirements, and social and political desires.  Adjustments to approaches and programming in preparation for long term change, and recognizing that this change will occur (e.g., increased citizen involvement or climate change) is critical.
     
  • Creative Problem Solving: Fisheries management requires the incumbent to think critically to solve problems with resource management conflicts, naturally limited systems, and social or political desires.  Successfully managing to outcomes within existing legislation, regulations and policies is a key requirement and often requires creative approaches to achieve success.  

Salary

$2,974.86 to $3,853.06 bi-weekly ($77,643 - $100,564/year)

Notes

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

Please Note: This is a full time permanent position located out of the Provincial Building, in Rocky Mountain House. 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 will be from Rocky Mountain House, this position will require you to travel to field locations, within the South Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch Region, the province, and potentially to the United States or British Columbia.

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.

What We Offer: 
 

How To Apply

Click on the “Apply” button.  

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/navigating-online-jobs-application.aspx to learn more about creating a candidate profile and other tips for the Government of Alberta’s online application system. 

If you are not currently an employee with the Government of Alberta, the first step in applying for a job is creating your candidate profile within our online application system, click here to access the main log in page where you are able to ‘Create an account’, reset your password (‘Forgot your password’) or ‘Sign In’ should you already have an account. 

Existing employees should access the Career tile in 1GX to submit their application in order to be recognized as an internal applicant. 

Once you have created your candidate profile, visit the Alberta Public Service job site to apply for jobs at https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-jobs.aspx

Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience and relevant examples of required competencies.  

Resources for applicants:
 


It is recommended that applicants who have obtained educational credentials from outside of Canada and have not had them previously assessed, obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) https://www.alberta.ca/iqas-overview.aspx. Applicants are encouraged to include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or a copy of the role profile, and/or require a disability related accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Jane McEwen, TAS Administrator via email at Jane.McEwen@gov.ab.ca.

If this competition is closed as per the closing date noted above, please continue to check http://www.jobs.alberta.ca for a listing of current career opportunities with the Government of Alberta.