Download Ecosystems Biologist

JOB PROFILE
JOB STORE # 284
TITLE: ECOSYSTEMS BIOLOGIST
CLASSIFICATION: BIOLOGIST R24
SUPERVISOR TITLE: SENIOR ECOSYSTEMS BIOLOGIST
SUPERVISOR CLASSIFICATION: BIOLOGIST R27
SUPERVISOR POSITION #: 00083333
WORK UNIT: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ECOSYSTEMS
JOB OVERVIEW
The Resource Management Division of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
(MFLNRO) works to maintain and restore the natural diversity of ecosystems, fish and wildlife species
and their habitats. Through the development and implementation of clear strategies, legislation,
partnerships, innovative projects, science-based standards and effective monitoring and reporting, the
Division aims to reduce the number of ecosystems and species at risk, while balancing conservation of
Crown land with resource access and development.
Within Northeast Regional Operations the Resource Management Division achieves the Ministry’s
Service Plan and business goals and objectives by implementing various programs and providing input in
legislation, regulations, guidelines, objectives and policy.
Resource Management works to ensure
environmental expectations and standards are developed and communicated in an effective way to
government, agencies, First Nations, industry, stakeholders, and the public.
Reporting to the Senior Ecosystems Biologist, this position will serve a primary role in providing a broad
range of aquatic and terrestrial (including wildlife and habitat) expertise to Statutory Decision Makers of
industrial proponents proposing exploration and development activities in Northeast BC.
This position will provide a key professional role in the provision of relevant regional and provincial
information and advice to Statutory Decision Makers and industrial proponents relating to key
environmental values, such as species of conservation concern, including species at risk. The successful
incumbent will evaluate proposed project effects related to transactional authorizations or major projects
including an assessment of proposed data collection methods of key environmental values, impacts to
values, proposed mitigation, restoration and offsetting measures. This position will provide professional
advice and opinion on the effectiveness of proposed strategies. The incumbent will offer
recommendations on regional ecological and regulatory monitoring requirements and support or lead
implementation through compliance and effectiveness monitoring programs. In addition, this position will
provide feedback on the efficiency of standards and provide science-based recommendations on
conditional regulatory approvals, permits and transactional authorizations.
The incumbent will have a high degree of interaction with industrial proponents, professional consultants,
First Nations, other professional staff within the Ecosystems and Fish and Wildlife Sections of Resource
Management, the MFLNRO Major Projects Division and Lands Authorization staff and Statutory Decision
Makers associated with regulatory agencies such as the BC Environmental Assessment Office, the BC
Oil and Gas Commission, and the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
This position may provide a supporting or lead role in other business priorities including, but not limited to,
implementation of legislative habitat conservation tools, development and implementation of best
management practices, compliance and effectiveness monitoring, and support to species recovery or
other land planning processes, as required.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Scientific & Technical
Resource Management
Environmental
Management/Biology
Professional
August 2014
NATURE OF WORK AND POSITION LINKS
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Provide written and verbal information and advice to a variety of stakeholders, First Nations and
regulatory agencies.
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Represent the Ministry on Working Groups or other committees associated with proposed major
project developments.
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Provide expertise within areas of professional qualifications and in accordance with Public
Servant responsibilities.
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Identify risks from impacts of development activities to species, habitats and ecosystems and
provide information how to mitigate project impacts to environmental values.
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Be familiar with and work within Ministry policy and business priorities and objectives.
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Where required, work as part of a collaborative multi-discipline team to address a specific
resource management problem or achieve a desired management outcome.
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Write reports and/or give presentations, as needed, for both professional and non-professional
audiences.
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Support the decision making process for proposed high risk industrial exploration and
development across a diverse landscape.
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Support the adjudication processes of the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Required:
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Develops local ecosystem management practices based on biological assessments, changes to
habitat diversity, anticipation of future patterns and impacts.
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Develops mitigation strategies for major and/or high risk project developments by conducting
impact assessments and inspections, gathering data and recommending the approval/rejection of
development applications to the supervisor.
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Develops management strategies and plans including species at risk recovery plans and ensures
goals are represented in land use planning processes.
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Models, simulates and forecasts biological inventories.
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Develops science-based solutions to resolve environmental stewardship issues.
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Develops conservation risk assessments for protected areas.
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Monitors industrial, recreational and commercial activities to ensure compliance with ecosystem
protection standards and/or the terms of specific permits.
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Conducts stakeholder consultations and engagement relating to the outcome and impacts of
ecosystem projects and negotiates with industry, First Nations and government officials in
achieving habitat protection objectives.
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Develops and promotes working relationships with internal and external partners, stakeholders,
and government agencies to achieve program or project objectives.
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Conducts environmental assessments to determine if legal objectives or regulatory requirements
have been met, gathers evidence, documents findings and refers serious non-compliance issues
to supervisor.
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Prepares and/or negotiates contracts, monitors performance and authorizes payment.
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Acts as an expert witness for cases that appear in court.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Scientific & Technical
Resource Management
Environmental
Management/Biology
Professional
August 2014
JOB REQUIREMENTS
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Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, natural resource conservation or
management, including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, conservation biologist, fish or wildlife
management and biodiversity, plus 3 years related experience; or
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Masters of Science in biological sciences, natural resource conservation or management,
including terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, conservation biology, fish or wildlife management
and biodiversity, 1 year related experience; AND
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Registration as Professional Biologist with the BC College of Applied Biology or, eligible to
become a Professional Biologist within 6 months of appointment.
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Lesser qualified applicants may be considered at a lower classification.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
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Experience in interpretation and application of a resource management program under government
legislation and policy.
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Experience in managing and conducting environmental monitoring and assessments, ecological risk
assessments and reporting out on projects.
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Experience with wildlife and/or fish habitat assessments, inventories, sampling design, and scientific
reporting.
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Liaison with environmental regulatory agencies, non government agencies, public and private
resource development agencies.
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Prefer experience related to the development and/or assessment of industrial development
proposals.
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Prefer Experience in (GIS based) spatial analysis, statistical analysis, and database management
related to natural resource management.
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Prefer experience working and collaborating with First Nations.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
 Knowledge of current natural resource management and land use issues.
 Working knowledge of the BC Environmental Assessment process.
 Knowledge of the principles and methods employed in habitat and ecosystem management, land use
planning, resource inventory and biodiversity conservation.
 Working knowledge of project and contract management.
 Knowledge of federal and provincial legislation and policy regarding natural resource management,
land use and species at risk, including the National Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk,
Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, Forest Range and Practices Act, and legislation and policies governing
activities such as mining, oil & gas and land development applications.
 Knowledge of field classification and identification of provincial species and ecosystems.
 Knowledge of capabilities of Geographic Information Systems as an analytical tool.
 Knowledge of database applications.
 Advanced and current scientific knowledge relevant to resource management science.
 Knowledge of First Nations and stakeholder issues related to the management of fish, wildlife and
habitat.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Scientific & Technical
Resource Management
Environmental
Management/Biology
Professional
August 2014
 Ability to foster teamwork, negotiate agreements, maintain credibility and cooperate effectively with
diverse peers, agencies, non-government organizations, contractors and subordinates.
 Ability to chair and participate in complex and controversial natural resource management processes
involving peers, other agencies, and non-government organizations.
 Ability to use standard government computer applications.
 Ability to research, summarize, and communicate specialist scientific information effectively both orally
and in writing to gain understanding of experts and non-experts.
 Ability to exercise initiative, tact, sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
 Ability to act as an agency representative on regional or provincial committees, boards or panels.
 Ability to act as technical advisor to ministry, other agencies or industry.
 Ability to analyze and develop recommendations for legislation, regulations, policy and programs.
 Ability to plan, organize, establish priorities and work independently and effectively.
 Ability to perform well under pressure in sensitive, emotional and rapidly changing circumstances.
Note - Successful completion of security screening requirements of a criminal records check.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
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Building Partnerships with Stakeholders is the ability to build long-term or on-going
relationships with stakeholders (e.g. someone who shares an interest in what you are doing). This
type of relationship is often quite deliberate and is typically focused on the way the relationship is
conducted. Implicit in this competency is demonstrating a respect for and stating positive
expectations of the stakeholder.
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Expertise includes the motivation to expand and use technical knowledge or to distribute workrelated information to others.
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Planning, Organizing and Coordinating involves proactively planning, establishing priorities
and allocating resources. It is expressed by developing and implementing increasingly complex
plans. It also involves monitoring and adjusting work to accomplish goals and deliver to the
organization's mandate.
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Teamwork and Co-operation is the ability to work co-operatively within diverse teams, work
groups and across the organization to achieve group and organizational goals. It includes the
desire and ability to understand and respond effectively to other people from diverse backgrounds
with diverse views.

Results Orientation is a concern for surpassing a standard of excellence. The standard may be
one’s own past performance (striving for improvement); an objective measure (achievement
orientation); challenging goals that one has set; or even improving or surpassing what has
already been done (continuous improvement). Thus, a unique accomplishment also indicates a
Results Orientation.

Service Orientation implies a desire to identify and serve customers/clients, who may include
the public, co-workers, other branches/divisions, other ministries/agencies, other government
organizations, and non-government organizations. It means focusing one’s efforts on discovering
and meeting the needs of the customer/client.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Scientific & Technical
Resource Management
Environmental
Management/Biology
Professional
August 2014
Willingness statements – applicants to this position must be willing to:
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Meet the transportation requirements of the Ministry i.e. possess and maintain a valid B.C.
driver’s licence.
Meet safety standards of Work Safe BC.
Safely operate a variety of equipment (e.g. snowmobile, ATV, boats, etc.).
Conduct field work, which may include the following: travel to remote areas by vehicle, boat, air or
foot, overnight or extended stay in rough camp conditions and outdoor work in all weather
conditions.
Carry equipment and supplies in difficult terrain.
Work evenings, weekends and holidays when required.
Career Group:
Job Family:
Job Stream:
Role:
Revised Date:
Scientific & Technical
Resource Management
Environmental
Management/Biology
Professional
August 2014