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.
The Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas works to protect and enhance Alberta’s environment and ecosystems to ensure a sustainable future, making life better for Albertans. The ministry also works with Indigenous communities and stakeholders to ensure the province’s environmental, social, and economic outcomes for the future are met. The ministry engages Albertans to understand the challenges in ensuring Alberta’s natural resources are managed using innovative and responsible approaches. We ensure that air quality, fish and wildlife, water, land, waste management and climate change trends are surveyed so the best interest of Albertans are considered.
For more information about the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas, please visit our website at: https://www.alberta.ca/environment-and-protected-areas.
Job Information
Job Title: Senior Fisheries Biologist
Job Requisition ID: 51389
Ministry: Environment and Protected Areas
Location: Slave Lake
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Regular/Temporary: Permanent
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: Until Suitable Candidate Found
Classification: Subsidiary 05B 3625 Natural Resources 9 Market Adjustment
Salary: ?$3,019.49 to $3,910.86 bi-weekly ($78,808 - $102,073/year)
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.
Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.
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.
Links and information on what the GoA has 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.
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
• Develop Networks: Proactively building networks, connecting and building trust in relationships with different stakeholders.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.
• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.
• Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
How To Apply
Click on the “Apply Now” button.
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.
Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information at https://www.alberta.ca/recruitment-principles.
It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)(https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (https://canalliance.org/en/default.html).
It is recommended that applicants 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 require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Jane McEwen, TAS Administrator via email at Jane.Mcewen@gov.ab.ca.
