Senior Fisheries Biologist

Role Responsibilities

Reporting to the Northwest Fisheries Manager, Resource Stewardship, the Senior Fisheries Biologist position is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and oversight of the Slave Lake area fisheries programs. The programs pertain to species and population assessments, habitat and land use input, species at risk (SAR) conservation and recovery, and programs related to fish disease and invasive species response. This position provides strong professional and operational support, advice and direction to various provincial level tasks, committees, strategies, policies, and processes; both internal and external to EPA.  With significant experience in stakeholder relations, the position requires a thorough understanding of the consultation processes directed at the resolution of diverse and often conflicting stakeholder needs.

Operating in an integrated delivery environment, the Senior Fisheries Biologist leads diverse and complex programs and teams, and is responsible to provide direct supervision and mentorship to a team of fisheries biologists and technicians within the Slave Lake area, while also providing leadership to regional and provincial program committees, project teams, and specialized work units.

The position requires the ability to balance competing interests in working with stakeholders to ensure the recovery and sustainability of fish populations for the present and future. This includes managing complex scientific, planning, and operational workload, as well as determining fisheries population and habitat requirements and identifying those requirements within various operational, planning, and strategic forums.

Responsibilities include: 
•    Developing and delivering tactical work plans related to fish population and habitat management and species at risk conservation and recovery at regional, and in some cases provincial, scales.
•    Applying sound scientific knowledge and resource management skills to inform cumulative effects assessment and management.
•    Supporting the department's integrated resource management programs at district and regional levels.
•    Participating in provincial, regional and sub­regional environmental and natural resource plans.
•    Identifying procedures, objectives, thresholds, and actions to support the sustainability of fish and fish habitat.
•    Participating in and providing support to provincial species at risk recovery teams in the assessment, development, design and implementation of recovery plans that involve complex and diverse populations and landscapes.

Qualifications

Requirements:
•    Post-secondary degree in a related field such as fisheries or natural resource management.
•    A minimum of 6 years of related experience in areas such as fisheries and land use management from which to apply scientific knowledge and establish a sound working level knowledge base. 
•    Fully capable to operate specialized equipment (e.g. firearms, 4x4, ATV, snowmobile, various boats and motors,  radio telemetry equipment, GPS, etc.).
•    Capable of delivering and participating in fisheries survey inventories via aerial-based platforms (i.e., rotor-wing and fixed-wing).

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: 
•    A post-graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in fisheries management is strongly preferred.
•    Extensive and detailed knowledge of data collection techniques, population, habitat and inventory monitoring, species life histories, population analysis, disease identification and control.
•    Detailed knowledge of all local and regional game species, non-game species and species at risk.
•    Extensive and detailed specific knowledge on all aspects of resource development, extraction and management techniques/constraints/activities, as they effect fisheries status, populations, and habitats.
•    Ability to lead and provide mentorship to teams of professional and technical personnel.
•    Strong verbal and written communication skills.
•    Decision making, leadership and project management skills.
•    Conflict resolution, problem solving, assessment of complex situations, and facilitation skills.
•    Capacity to think critically, analyze, plan, innovate and act strategically and systematically.
•    Strong issues management abilities.
•    Able to work independently with minimal direction.
•    Skill to develop working relationships and collaborative partnerships with Indigenous communities and stakeholders.
•    Excellent computer skills in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), data analysis, modelling, use of specialized programs and data base management.

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: 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

This is a full-time permanent opportunity, which will be located in Slave Lake. A written assessment may be administered as part of the recruitment process.

Working and Living in Slave Lake:
•    55th to 57th parallels retention allowance: This is an annual retention bonus of $6,000.00, less all lawful deductions, the payment will be made in 2 installments per year and shall be pro-rated based on the employee's commencement date.  
•    For more detailed information on this perk check out this link: https://www.alberta.ca/premium-pay-directive.aspx.

About your work environment: 
The Slave Lake area is a highly diverse area for both fisheries and wildlife, that includes Alberta’s largest lake, Lesser Slave Lake. As a member of a vibrant and inclusive team, you’ll have the opportunity to work and collaborate across many fisheries programs, as a key leader in Alberta’s fisheries management system.The position requires travel throughout northwestern Alberta, and periodically to other areas of Alberta. At times, the position will be required to work outside of regular business hours, including weekends.

This position requires the ability to operate specialized equipment (e.g. firearms, 4x4, ATV, snowmobile, various boats and motors, radio telemetry equipment, GPS, etc.).The successful candidate will also be required to deliver and participate in fisheries survey inventories via aerial-based platforms (i.e., rotor-wing and fixed-wing).

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 
•    Leadership and mentorship programs
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-human-resource-directives
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
•    May have the opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca