Junior Wetland Ecologist

Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), founded in 1990, has grown to be one of the premier environmental and statistical consulting firms in the United States and Canada. With over 200 scientific publications, WEST provides a unique blend of scientific inquiry with environmental consulting and has published on a variety of environmental topics. In North America, WEST is well known for its work in the renewable energy industry, having worked on thousands of projects since 1990 as well as writing and developing industrial protocols, procedures, and analyses that have since become industry standards.

In 2017, WEST expanded into Canada by opening an office in Calgary, Alberta, and has since expanded into Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. WEST and WEST staff have worked on over 200 renewable energy projects in Canada, including: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, these projects involve constraints analyses, pre- and post-construction surveys, environmental assessment, monitoring, mitigation, expert testimony, and research for wind, solar, battery, and power line clients.

In our continued drive to provide outstanding professional consulting services and original solutions to a wide range of natural resource problems, we are looking for an experienced Junior Wetland Ecologist.

Number of positions available: 2

Position Type: Permanent / Full-time

Location: Calgary, AB

Tentative Start Date: March 3, 2025

Pay: $55,000 - $68,000 (CAD)

Job Closing: January 31, 2025

Benefits: WEST Benefits

Job Description:
Primary duties may include:

• Assist in completing various tasks related to wetland desktop and field delineations, classifications, impact assessment, mitigation plan development, permitting, and restoration monitoring.
• Assist a wetland practitioner with Wetland Assessment and Impact Reports (WAIR).
• Assist a wetland practitioner with Wetland Assessment and Impact Forms (WAIF).
• Perform fieldwork using the ABWRET-A Tool and desktop assessments for ABWRET‑D.
• Assist with summarizing and entering data as well as quality control and assurance.
• Assisting with reporting as needed: GIS mapping, compiling tables and figures, report writing.
• Assisting with various reports, surveys and fieldwork (e.g. wildlife, soil, watercourse), as needed.
• Promote WEST’s core values of quality client service and a collaborative team approach while maintaining a positive and respectful work atmosphere.

This position consists of primarily 75% fieldwork and 25% office work seasonally, and travel between the field and the Calgary office. Fieldwork will require long days (8-12 hours), in a range of temperature extremes and wind speeds. Candidates must be comfortable with hazards typical of rural environments (e.g., driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, dust, mud, snow, extreme heat, cold, working around cattle). Fieldwork can also occur in remote locations, which will require candidates to be comfortable and able to work and operate vehicles in rugged, steep terrain. Lastly, fieldwork sometimes occurs in areas with little to no cellphone signal. Candidates must be comfortable using satellite and radio devices for regular communication.

Staff may work independently or in small crews and must be able to communicate and coordinate effectively with site management and WEST supervisors.

This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties that may be associated with this position.

Job Requirements:

• Legally allowed to work in Canada (i.e., Canadian citizen, Canadian permanent resident, or have an existing VISA with no work restrictions) Please note: US citizens require a Canadian work visa to work in Canada
• A completed bachelor’s degree or higher in the biological sciences, environmental sciences, or a related discipline and at least 1 – 3 years of relevant experience.
• Possession of a valid driver’s licence with no restrictions
• Ability to rent a vehicle from a rental agency (e.g., Enterprise)
• Wetland classification skills in boreal, parkland, and prairie habitats
• Experience with Esri ArcGIS Pro and Desktop Suite, and/or QGIS and/or google earth
• Ability to work long days (up to 12 hours) in the field and sometimes long shifts (up to 24 days)
• Ability to hike in rugged, steep terrain for long periods of time
• Capacity to work independently and interact positively with project managers, supervisors, clients, field partners, and landowners
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Ability to work well under time constraints and meet deliverable targets and deadlines
• Highly developed ability to follow protocols and work efficiently in the field and office
• Ability to think critically to solve challenging problems
• P. Biol. or BIT designation or immediately eligible

Other Desired Skills:

• Experience conducting wildlife surveys, water quality monitoring, or fisheries assessments
• Experience with soils surveys
• Strong interest in working with wildlife, in various sectors

Successful candidates must be able to provide a driver’s abstract that meets WEST’s minimum criteria to operate a motor vehicle on behalf of the company. Successful candidates must also be able to pass a drug and alcohol test that meets the minimum criteria of WEST and our clients. Candidates must be capable of adhering to all health and safety requirements, outlined by WEST and our clients, for the duration of their employment.

WEST provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, mental or physical disability, marital status, family status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law.