Western Canada Aquatic Discipline Lead

Company Description

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There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

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Job Description

Western Canada Aquatic Discipline Lead

AECOM Burnaby is seeking an experienced Aquatic Discipline Lead for Western Canada to support our EPP Ecology and Permitting team. In this role, you will be the go-to expert for aquatic ecology in in Western Canada, providing leadership, technical oversight, and strategic direction. You will guide best practices, ensure high quality project delivering, and collaborate across disciplines, business lines, and with our clients.

As the Aquatic Discipline Lead for Western Canada, you will work closely with other Aquatic Discipline Leads and the Ecological Management Technical Lead for Canada Region to align technical standards and advance practice-wide excellence.

This role may be based at any of our three BC office locations—Burnaby, Kelowna, or Victoria—and requires a minimum in-office presence of two days per week.

Key Responsibilities:

Advance Technical Excellence and Quality

• Develop, implement, and improve technical standards, protocols, and best practices for aquatic work in BC and across Canada
• Provide technical expertise on EPP Ecology and Permitting projects, including reviewing work scopes and client deliverables
• Ensure technical excellence and consistency through project oversight and quality reviews
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement by applying lessons learned and emerging best practices
• Demonstrate creativity and foresight in anticipating and solving both routine and unusual project delivery and technical problems
• Serving as a technical resource to staff, other practices, business lines, and our clients
• Maintain regular communication with regulators, clients, and other AECOM technical staff/project managers to support project delivery

Staff Stewardship and Mentoring

• Provide mentorship and guidance to staff to build technical capabilities and support career development
• Set an example for the best practices of safety, quality and technical excellence
• Identify technical skill gaps and support targeted training, development, and succession planning

Growth, Strategy, and Client Engagement

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a senior technical representative for AECOM
• Support business development by identifying opportunities, leading or contributing to pursuits, and helping position the right technical experts
• Develop strategic proposals, scopes, and budgets to grow the Environment business line backlog
• Work with the technical leadership team to identify market sectors and opportunities that align with our technical skills and experience
• Assess team capabilities to inform hiring and training strategies

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline (Aquatics, Water Quality, Marine Biology, Environment Related Technical discipline, etc.)
• 8+ years consulting experience leading environmental projects
• Experience with regulatory applications and reporting requirements in BC
• Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) with BC’s College of Applied Biologists (or clear evidence of eligibility to meet registration requirements)
• Valid BC driver's License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in a relevant discipline (Aquatics, Water Quality, Marine Biology, Environment Related Technical discipline, etc.)
• 15+ years consulting experience leading projects in BC or more widely in Western Canada
• Proven business development experience, including pursuing and winning environmental work in Canada
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• Experience with regulatory applications and reporting requirements in BC, AB and Northern Canada
• Experience with Federal Impact Assessments

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for obtaining a Canadian work permit is not available for this position

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Artificial intelligence will be used to support the screening, assessment, and selection of applicants for this role. Final hiring decisions are made by the hiring team.