Junior Spatial Ecologist Jobs

Your Connection to Wildlife

As one of Canada’s largest not for profit leaders in wildlife conservation, research, and advocacy, we are seeking to fill the following position…

Junior Spatial Ecologist

Location: CWF's Head Office in Ottawa, ON.

Reports to: Spatial Ecologist

Fixed-Term for 2-years

Who we are:

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is a national not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring an appreciation of our natural world and a lasting legacy of healthy wildlife and habitat. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, developing and delivering educational programs, conducting research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, and advocating for effective wildlife policy and regulation, CWF strives for a future in which Canada’s wildlife is conserved for generations to come.

Diversity is a fundamental part of our core values; we create every opportunity to become more inclusive. We encourage applications from qualified candidates from all diverse communities including, but not limited to, Indigenous persons, racially visible persons, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+, and women in non-traditional roles. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please notify HR at any time.

Position Overview:

The Junior Spatial Ecologist will support project management and delivery of freshwater watershed connectivity restoration planning (WCRP) projects. They will oversee the technical implementation of data processing, management, and script development for geospatial modelling frameworks to quantify the connectivity status of watersheds and prioritize barriers (e.g., dams, stream crossings) to target for fish passage restoration. This includes establishing the ecological and technical requirements for WCRP geospatial modelling frameworks, leading the development of dashboards and other web-based tools to share and display results and accept updates to the connectivity models, and writing supporting documentation for the models. The Junior Spatial Ecologist will also contribute to strategic and work planning, support contract and budget management, day-to-day supervision of analysts and technicians, and contributing to data processing, conservation planning, and prioritization exercises.

Core Duties:

• Translate ecological requirements (e.g., species habitat requirements) for model outputs to the technical requirements needed to design and develop provincial fish passage and freshwater connectivity modelling frameworks (e.g., PEIFishPass) to support WCRP projects, including development of scripts (Python, SQL, R) to quantify and report on watershed connectivity status using hydrographic networks, barrier data, and species habitat data and prioritize barriers for rehabilitation.
• Work with Program Manager to define project strategic plan, milestones, and timelines.
• Lead the development of WCRP tools, including API infrastructure, R Shiny dashboards, Quarto books, and custom tools to accept updates to the connectivity models.
• Develop training modules to document data processing and management processes and deliver to new staff.
• Develop and implement project processes and workflows to ensure WCRP data processing, management and model development is thorough, efficient, produces high-quality data, and is sustainable over the long term.
• Manage and maintain the WCRP documentation site to ensure project and model information is up-to-date and clearly and thoroughly communicated.
• Support the identification, acquisition, compilation, and aggregation of aquatic barrier and fish habitat data from multiple sources and a variety of formats into standardized data structures.
• Support other Conservation team members, as needed.
• Coordinate with contractors to support development of connectivity modelling frameworks, database management, API infrastructure, and tool development.
• Coordinate team members on a day-to-day basis, including assigning tasks, managing timelines, and providing troubleshooting support.

Qualifications

Necessary

• Minimum one-year work experience developing and executing scripts or models for data manipulation and spatial analysis in Python, SQL, R, or other programming languages.
• Experience producing high-quality geospatial data visualizations, including maps and dashboards.
• Strong English written and oral communication skills, including experience writing technical reports, including expertise in freshwater ecology and geospatial methods.
• Requires minimum Master’s Degree or relevant work experience in related fields (Biology, Environmental Science or Studies, Geography, Geographic Information Systems, Computer Science, Information Technology).
• Minimum one-year work experience demonstrating the implementation of spatial analysis and modelling to solve ecological problems related to freshwater ecosystems.
• Minimum one-year work experience managing spatial data and automating processes in PostgreSQL or similar relational database management system.
• Minimum one-year work experience managing and analyzing large-scale hydrographic, ecological, topographic, and land use geospatial datasets in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment.
• Demonstrated expertise of ecological theories and concepts related to the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems, including connectivity.
• Experience using front-end development frameworks, including R Shiny, pure Javascript, or Javascript frameworks (e.g., Angular, React, Vue).
• Experience contributing to project management activities, including work planning, contract management, and budget management.

Additional Assets

• Experience engaging with end-users and undertaking user needs analysis for tool development.
• Experience managing Microsoft Azure resources.
• Ability to communicate in French.
• Experience supervising one or more team members.

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Work Conditions

• Repetitive work.
• Interacts with employees, various management levels and the public at large.
• Manual dexterity required to operate computer and peripherals.
• Location: Head Office (Ottawa, ON). Remote candidates outside of Ottawa are welcome and will be considered.

Why work with us?

• Opportunity to expand your network of conservation and program experts.
• We are committed to building a more diverse workforce
• Work-life balance
• Friendly and casual work environment
• We are a rapidly growing team of forward-thinking individuals who all share a common passion, the Canadian outdoors!
• Transparency between various levels of management

APPLICATION DEADLINE: June 30, 2023

ANTICIPATED START DATE: Mid-August 2023

HOW TO APPLY: Cover letter and resume should be submitted. Only the candidates who meet the qualifications and experience for the position will be contacted for an interview. We thank you for your interest in the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

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The Canadian Wildlife Federation embraces diversity and equal opportunity and we welcome applications from qualified candidates from all diverse communities. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, religion or any other status or classification protected by law.

Accommodation may be available upon request for candidates taking part in any aspect of the selection process. If you would like to request a specific accommodation because of a disability or a medical need, please advise the Human Resources Department when you are selected to participate in the recruitment process.

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