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Job Description
Intermediate/Senior Terrestrial Biologist (P.Biol.)
Alberta | Calgary or Edmonton
Support Permitting and Approvals for Projects Across Alberta and Western Canada
We are seeking an Intermediate/Senior Terrestrial Biologist to support transportation, municipal infrastructure, land development, and energy projects throughout Alberta and Western Canada.
This is a hands-on technical role suited to an experienced terrestrial biologist or ecologist who enjoys balancing fieldwork with technical assessment and reporting, regulatory support, project coordination, and client interaction. The successful candidate will independently deliver terrestrial ecology assignments, mentor developing staff, and support project managers with technical scoping, costing, proposals, and project delivery.
The primary technical focus of the position is terrestrial ecology, including the collection, interpretation, and reporting of environmental information related to wildlife, vegetation, species at risk, and terrestrial habitat to support project planning, impact assessment, permitting, and regulatory approvals. Experience with municipal biophysical and natural environment impact assessment, wetlands, and construction environmental compliance would be valuable complementary skills.
What You'll Do
- Lead and participate in terrestrial ecology field programs, including:
- Wildlife and wildlife habitat assessments.
- Species at Risk and species of conservation concern assessments.
- Vegetation and ecological community assessments.
- Breeding bird and other wildlife surveys.
- Rare plant and sensitive vegetation surveys, depending on experience.
- Pre-construction wildlife and nesting-bird surveys.
- Terrestrial habitat assessments and field reconnaissance.
- Identification and assessment of sensitive ecological features.
- Design appropriately scoped field programs based on project characteristics, available information, seasonal considerations, environmental sensitivities, and applicable regulatory requirements including but not limited to Province of Alberta, City of Edmonton, and City of Calgary requirements.
- Assess potential project effects on wildlife, vegetation, and terrestrial habitat and develop practical avoidance, mitigation, restoration, and monitoring measures.
- Support environmental permitting and regulatory processes associated with wildlife, migratory birds, species at risk, vegetation, and terrestrial habitat, including applicable federal and Alberta requirements.
- Independently deliver smaller and moderately complex technical assignments by:
- Developing work plans and appropriately scoped field programs.
- Estimating level of effort and project costs.
- Leading and coordinating field logistics and project activities.
- Interpreting field data and assessment results.
- Preparing clear and concise technical reports, memoranda, impact assessments, and regulatory documentation.
- Contribute technical scopes, approaches, and cost estimates to proposals and larger multidisciplinary projects.
- Support municipal planning and development projects by conducting or contributing to biophysical, natural environment, and ecological impact assessments, including identification of environmental constraints, assessment of project effects, and development of appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures.
- Work collaboratively with aquatic, wetland, planning, engineering, and other specialists to integrate wildlife, vegetation, wetland, riparian, aquatic, and related environmental considerations into multidisciplinary assessments.
- Provide field leadership, training, and mentorship to junior staff, particularly in terrestrial field methods, wildlife and vegetation assessments, field documentation, and environmental compliance.
- Communicate professionally and confidently with clients, contractors, regulators, municipal reviewers, and multidisciplinary project teams regarding field observations, environmental requirements, project constraints, and practical mitigation measures.
- Prepare and support the implementation of Environmental Protection Plans (EPPs) and project-specific environmental mitigation measures.
- Provide construction environmental monitoring and technical support, as required, particularly related to vegetation clearing, wildlife and nesting-bird considerations, sensitive habitats, wetlands and riparian areas, and implementation of environmental mitigation measures.
- Depending on experience, conduct or support wetland delineation, classification, and wetland impact assessments.
Why Join Us
You will take on a key technical role within our growing Alberta ecology practice, combining hands-on fieldwork with increasing project, client, and technical responsibilities.
This position offers an experienced intermediate or emerging senior terrestrial biologist the opportunity to continue developing as a consultant while mentoring junior staff and contributing to the growth of our terrestrial ecology capabilities across Alberta and Western Canada.
Qualifications
What You'll Bring
- B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology, Conservation Biology, or a related discipline.
- Registration as a Professional Biologist (P.Biol.) in Alberta, or eligibility to obtain Alberta registration.
- Approximately 7+ years of relevant environmental consulting experience, with consideration given to candidates with somewhat less experience who demonstrate strong technical capability and the ability to work independently.
- Demonstrated experience in several of the following:
- Wildlife and wildlife habitat assessment.
- Species at Risk and species of conservation concern assessment.
- Vegetation and ecological community assessment.
- Breeding bird or other wildlife surveys.
- Rare plant or sensitive vegetation surveys.
- Terrestrial habitat and ecological feature assessment.
- Terrestrial impact assessment and development of practical mitigation measures.
- Working knowledge of the federal, provincial, and municipal regulatory and planning frameworks relevant to terrestrial ecology in Alberta, and the ability to identify the environmental information and field studies required to support project permitting and approvals.
- Familiarity with applicable requirements under the Species at Risk Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act and Regulations, Alberta Wildlife Act and Wildlife Regulation, City of Edmonton River Valley Bylaw, and associated species and habitat guidance.
- Demonstrated ability and willingness to design and lead field programs while remaining actively involved in fieldwork.
- Ability to independently scope and deliver smaller technical assignments, including estimating effort and costs, coordinating field activities, interpreting results, and preparing technical deliverables.
- Strong technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, concise, and defensible technical documentation and communicate effectively with clients, contractors, regulators, municipal reviewers, and project teams.
- Ability and interest in training and mentoring junior staff through hands-on field and technical guidance.
- Familiarity with municipal environmental planning and impact assessment requirements in Alberta, including experience contributing to biophysical or natural environment assessments for municipal infrastructure, land development, subdivision, or related approval processes.
- Willingness to travel and undertake fieldwork throughout Alberta and, occasionally, elsewhere in Western Canada.
Additional Experience Considered an Asset
Experience in one or more of the following would be beneficial but is not required:
- Wetland delineation, classification, and wetland impact assessment in Alberta.
- Alberta Wetland Policy and associated assessment and regulatory requirements.
- Municipal biophysical or natural environment impact assessments.
- Environmentally Significant Areas, Environmental Reserve considerations, habitat connectivity, riparian areas, wetlands, or other municipal natural environment constraints.
- Rare plant surveys, vegetation community classification, or specialized vegetation assessments.
- Species-specific wildlife or Species at Risk survey programs.
- Transportation and municipal infrastructure projects.
- Construction environmental monitoring.
- Environmental Protection Plan development.
- Energy-sector projects.
- Aquatic ecology or fish and fish habitat assessment experience.
Additional Information
Egis Canada is an equal opportunities employer offering a competitive salary and benefits to those with the skills suited to the needs of our clients. The salary range advertised may exceed the range based on several factors, including relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.
We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
This role is eligible for a referral bonus in line with the Referral Program. If you have been referred, please provide the name of the employee who has referred you at the time of your application.
At Egis, we embrace innovation to tackle challenges and utilize AI in our recruitment process under stringent ethics and compliance policies and in alignment with our values of being a Responsible Company, a People First Company and a Creative Company. Committed to diversity, growth and collaboration, we may leverage AI to support the recruitment process.
