Senior Aquatic Biologist

Arcadis is the world's leading company delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 34,000 people, in over 30 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

We are seeking a Senior Aquatic/Fisheries Biologist with 10 or more years of experience to support and lead aquatic ecology and fisheries assessment projects across Ontario and potentially elsewhere in central Canada. The successful candidate will bring strong technical expertise, hands-on field investigation experience and a practical understanding of federal and provincial regulatory requirements. This role is suited to an experienced fisheries professional who can lead field programs, manage technical deliverables, support project work, mentor junior staff and provide sound scientific advice to clients and project teams.

Role accountabilities:

• Lead Ontario and central Canada field programs: watercourse/fish habitat assessments, fish sampling, habitat mapping, spawning and benthic surveys, barrier assessments, sediment sampling/assessment and construction monitoring. Oversee scope, methods, safety, logistics, equipment, data quality and crews.
• Support federal projects, including contaminated sites, environmental/fisheries reviews, authorizations and permits. Prepare/review reports, environmental and impact assessments, permit submissions, mitigation, compensation/offsetting and monitoring plans, and construction specifications; advise on aquatic ecology, fish habitat, species at risk, restoration and regulatory strategy.
• Collaborate with planning, ecology, engineering, geomorphology, hydrology, Indigenous engagement and construction teams. Mentor junior/intermediate biologists through field training, technical review and delivery guidance; maintain documentation, quality assurance and regulatory, project, safety and quality-management compliance.
• Support proposals, work plans, budgets, schedules and project management; track scope, risks and deliverables. Grow business through opportunities, client relationships, technical pursuits and cross-service collaboration; implement Ontario’s Fisheries and Aquatic Ecology strategy for capabilities, recruitment, service diversification and market growth.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s in biology, fisheries biology, aquatic ecology or a related discipline; 10+ years’ relevant experience in fisheries, aquatic ecology, environmental consulting/assessment, infrastructure, natural resources or regulatory projects. Master’s or PhD an asset.
• Federal project experience in fish/fish habitat, impact assessment or permitting, including federal agency coordination. Ability to apply federal/provincial requirements, guidance and best practices for fish habitat, aquatic species at risk, benthic invertebrates and in/near-water construction.
• Hands-on Ontario experience in fish/aquatic habitat surveys, benthic and sediment sampling, defensible data collection and crew leadership. Strong knowledge of Ontario aquatic ecosystems, fish habitat, benthic/sediment assessment methods, sampling protocols, impact assessment, mitigation and environmental monitoring.
• Excellent technical writing, data interpretation, communication and problem-solving; ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, work independently and exercise senior technical judgment in consulting or project delivery.
• Valid Ontario driver’s licence; ability to travel province-wide, including occasional remote assignments, overnight stays and fieldwork in variable weather and terrain.
• Experience with Fisheries Act reviews/authorizations, DFO Permitting, compensation/offsetting and post-construction monitoring; species at risk assessments, aquatic surveys, permitting and mitigation; and sediment assessments, including contaminated sediments.
• Electrofishing crew lead certification, fish identification training, mussel identification experience, boating certifications, First Aid, WHMIS or other safety training; relevant professional/technical registration or eligibility.
• Experience in transportation, municipal infrastructure, energy, mining, federal lands, ports, airports, defence or other federally regulated projects; proposal development, budget/schedule management, client relationships and business development.

Why Arcadis?

We can only achieve our goals when everyone is empowered to be their best. We believe everyone's contribution matters. It’s why we are pioneering a skills-based approach, where you can harness your unique experience and expertise to carve your career path and maximize the impact we can make together.

You’ll do meaningful work, and no matter what role, you’ll be helping to deliver sustainable solutions for a more prosperous planet. Make your mark, on your career, your colleagues, your clients, your life and the world around you.

Together, we can create a lasting legacy.

Join Arcadis. Create a Legacy.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. We are dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.