Intermediate/Senior Fisheries & Aquatic Biologist

Job Description

Intermediate/Senior Fisheries & Aquatic Biologist (P.Biol.)

Alberta | Calgary or Edmonton

Support Permitting and Approvals for Projects Across Alberta and Western Canada

We are seeking an Intermediate/Senior Fisheries & Aquatic Biologist to support transportation, bridge and culvert, municipal infrastructure, land development, and energy projects throughout Alberta and Western Canada.

This is a hands-on technical role suited to an experienced fisheries or aquatic biologist who enjoys balancing fieldwork with technical assessment and reporting, regulatory support, project coordination, and client interaction. The successful candidate will independently deliver fisheries and aquatic assignments, mentor developing staff, and support project managers with technical scoping, costing, proposals, and project delivery.

The primary technical focus of the position is fisheries and aquatic ecology, including the collection, interpretation, and reporting of environmental information to support project planning, impact assessment, permitting, and regulatory approvals. Experience with municipal biophysical and natural environment impact assessment, wetlands, broader ecological assessments, and construction environmental compliance would be valuable complementary skills.

What You'll Do

• Lead and participate in fisheries and aquatic field programs, including:
  • Fish and fish habitat assessments.
  • Fish community investigations.
  • Aquatic habitat assessments and field reconnaissance.
  • Watercourse and watercourse crossing assessments.
  • Fish passage and barrier assessments.
• Assess potential project effects on fish and fish habitat and develop practical avoidance, mitigation, restoration, and monitoring measures.
• Support environmental permitting and regulatory processes, including Alberta’s Water Act and Public Lands Act, and federal regulatory requirements including the Fisheries Act requirements, DFO Requests for Review, and authorization processes, where required.
• Independently deliver smaller and moderately complex technical assignments by:
  • Developing work plans and appropriately scoped field programs.
  • Estimating level of effort and project costs.
  • Coordinating field logistics and project activities.
  • Interpreting field data and assessment results.
  • Preparing clear and concise technical reports, memoranda, 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 wetland, terrestrial ecology, planning, engineering, and other specialists to integrate aquatic, wetland, riparian, wildlife, vegetation, and related environmental considerations into multidisciplinary assessments.
• Provide field leadership, training, and mentorship to junior staff, particularly in fisheries and aquatic assessment methods, field documentation, and environmental compliance.
• Communicate professionally and confidently with clients, contractors, regulators, 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 for watercourse crossings, bridge and culvert works, instream or near-water construction, and fish and fish habitat considerations.
• 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 aquatic ecology practice, combining hands-on fieldwork with increasing project, client, and technical responsibilities.

This position offers an experienced intermediate or emerging senior biologist the opportunity to continue developing as a consultant while mentoring junior staff and contributing to the growth of our fisheries and aquatic capabilities across Alberta and Western Canada.

Qualifications

What You'll Bring

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Fisheries Science, 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 with:
  • Fisheries and aquatic ecology field programs.
  • Fish and fish habitat assessment.
  • Watercourse and crossing assessments.
  • Fisheries Act requirements and DFO regulatory processes.
  • Aquatic impact assessment and development of practical mitigation measures.
• 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, 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, riparian areas, wetlands, or other municipal natural environment constraints.
• Aquatic Species at Risk assessments.
• Transportation, bridge, and culvert projects.
• Construction environmental monitoring.
• Environmental Protection Plan development.
• Energy-sector projects.
• Broader terrestrial ecology, wildlife, or vegetation assessment.

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.

Compensation: 90000 to 120000 (CAD) (YEARLY)