Join our team! We’re hiring a Wetlands Technician

Posted March 4, 2023

Title of Position: Wetlands Technician

Term of Employment: May 1st, 2023 – April 30, 2024 with potential for permanent employment
Wage: $52,000/year
Location: Must be a full time Columbia Basin resident, must be able to relocate in proximity to the Columbia Wetlands (i.e. Invermere, Fairmont, Radium) for full field season May 1, 2023- Oct 31, 2023
Deadline to Apply: April 10, 2023
Submit Application to: Sarah Gower, HR: info@livinglakescanada.ca
Hours: 40 hours/week, FTE 1.0

About the Organization:

Join our growing team of incredibly dedicated and passionate people about all things water! Living Lakes Canada (LLC) bridges the gap between science and action, to foster citizen-based water stewardship. Our mandate is to help Canadians understand the intimate connections between water quantity, water quality, land-use, climate change, biodiversity, and healthy human communities by building a water stewardship ethic that we can be proud of.

Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners (CWSP) is an NGO founded to protect the Columbia Wetlands and the lands and waters of Columbia Valley in southeast BC. We assess the natural habitats of the Columbia Valley, especially wetlands and the landscapes linked to the wetlands. We use scientific methods to determine the status of the habitats and determine how we can protect and restore Species at Risk and the wetland habitats. In our joint project with LLC, we will restore some floodplain wetlands and some isolated benchland wetlands of the Columbia Valley.

Job Summary:

Living Lakes Canada in partnership with Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partnership is hiring a Wetlands Technician (contracted, full-time). We are seeking an individual with experience in field work, GIS, and data management and analysis. The successful candidate will possess strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Experience and sound judgment to plan and accomplish goals as well as a wide degree of creativity and rigor are expected. The Wetlands Technician will work in the field during field season and will work independently via remote work space, collaborating with the Living Lakes Canada team, the CWSP team, the Columbia Valley Wetlands project team, and external partners on a regular basis.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Columbia Valley Wetlands Project Team, the responsibilities of the Wetlands Technician include but are not limited to:

Extensive field work in the Columbia Valley that can require irregular/long hours, often in remote locations and under a variety of environmental/weather conditions
GIS work including delineating watersheds, land-use mapping, and site overlays
Data collation, management, entry, analysis and reporting
Build and maintain positive and collegial relationships with multi-sector external partners
Engage and consult with Indigenous partners and liaise with the Applied Reconciliation Coordinator
Complete field work logistics planning
Allocate and organize equipment
Assist with CV Wetlands Project goals. The CV Wetlands Project is a 5 year joint partnership project with LLC and CWSP that focuses on restoring a minimum of 75 Ha of wetlands using BDAs (Beaver Dam Analogues). Wetland sites are monitored in an ongoing project: understanding wetland dynamics in the Columbia Valley, and wetland restoration sites are chosen and monitored based on multiple parameters.
The Wetlands Technician will be responsible for assisting or conducting: hydrological surveys and installation of equipment, emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation surveys, nesting bird surveys, wetland site reconnaissance and monitoring, construction of BDAs and other work as identified in the project plan. Work will take place both in the floodplain Columbia Wetlands and in upland wetlands.
Wetland sites will be accessed by vehicle, by kayak and canoe, and on foot, and access may involve carrying equipment (including kayaks/canoes) for long distances over uneven ground. Working from boats will be required.
The Wetland Technician will organize field work, GIS outputs, data collection, and data management.

Fundraising/Administration

Plan and coordinate fundraising applications
Complete funding reports

Communications

Develop monthly blog/reflections for work completed to share with LLC network

Core Competencies:

Field work experience
GIS experience
Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work
Knowledge and experience working with Excel and Powerpoint, Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom
Typing skills
Attention to detail and problem solving skills
Communicates effectively, both verbally and in writing
Adaptable, capable of handling a large amount of information and data
Full driving license and access to a vehicle

Qualifications:

An undergraduate or Master’s degree in a related field, such as ecology, geology, hydrology. Related technical skills/capability.
1-2 years experience in field work and program delivery
1-2 years experience working with GIS software
Reliable, self-motivated and independent with a demonstrated ability to collaborate well within a team
Demonstrated ability to set priorities, meet deadlines and support others to do the same
Understanding of NGO operations, including fundraising, finances and budget, administration
Strong written and oral communication skills
Background capability/skill in any one of the following scientific disciplines: capacity to identify plants, animals, soils, water quality parameters, hydrology processes.
Experience working safely around water
Experience working in wetlands and from small boats would be an advantage, but not required

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and cover letter with three references to info@livinglakescanada.ca no later than April 10, 2023 at 5:00pm PST. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Tracey Mitchell