Intermediate / Senior Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES)

Lead aquatic, fisheries, and watercourse crossing programs across Alberta. Provide QAES oversight, regulatory support, technical reporting, and mentorship to junior staff.

Position Description

Compass Geomatics is seeking an Intermediate / Senior Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES) to support aquatic, fisheries, environmental construction, and regulatory projects. This position is well suited to a motivated professional who enjoys a balance of field leadership, technical reporting, regulatory coordination, and mentoring junior staff. The successful candidate will work closely with project managers, field crews, clients, contractors, and regulatory stakeholders on projects that may include oil and gas, pipeline, infrastructure, municipal, transportation, forestry, renewable energy, and watercourse crossing work. Work is primarily in Alberta with potential travel across Western Canada; field shifts may require overnight stays in hotels, camps, or remote project areas.

Responsibilities

• Provide QAES oversight for aquatic and fisheries-related field programs, construction activities, and watercourse crossing projects.
• Lead or support fish salvage, fish and fish habitat assessments, watercourse crossing assessments, riparian assessments, water quality and turbidity monitoring, and aquatic-related environmental inspections.
• Support construction monitoring for pipelines, open-cut crossings, horizontal directional drilling, bores, municipal infrastructure, access roads, and other work near aquatic environments.
• Prepare, coordinate, and review technical reports, field summaries, environmental protection documentation, and regulatory submission materials.
• Support regulatory notifications and applications with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and other applicable agencies.
• Interpret environmental legislation, project conditions, approvals, codes of practice, and permit requirements; advise project teams on compliance and mitigation needs.
• Review survey plans, engineering drawings, GIS layers, mapping products, and aerial imagery to support project planning and environmental decision-making.
• Mentor junior staff in field methods, safety, data collection, technical reporting, client communication, and consulting expectations.
• Liaise professionally with clients, contractors, field representatives, project managers, regulators, and internal team members.
• Support the development of internal tools, templates, checklists, and workflows that strengthen quality and efficiency.
• Complete office reporting, data management, QA/QC, and project administration in a timely and accurate manner.

Qualifications

• Diploma or bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in environmental consulting, aquatic sciences, fisheries, environmental monitoring, or regulatory work.
• Self-declaration as a Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES), or the ability to confidently meet QAES expectations for applicable project work.
• Professional designation (P. Biol., R.P. Biol., or similar) or eligibility to obtain one is preferred.
• Electrofishing certification preferred; crew lead certification is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience leading field crews, mentoring junior staff, and making sound in-field decisions.
• Strong understanding of environmental field safety, regulatory compliance, and construction-related environmental risk management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with clients, contractors, regulators, and field staff.
• Strong organization and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Valid driver’s licence and ability to operate light-duty trucks. Experience with ATVs, UTVs, trailers, GPS units, tablets, Avenza, Collector, or similar field tools is an asset.
• Physical ability to work outdoors in remote and challenging conditions including muddy access, steep terrain, dense vegetation, snow, and extended walking with field equipment.

Compass Geomatics maintains a strong safety culture. The successful candidate will follow company safety policies, client site requirements, and applicable environmental and construction safety practices at all times.