QUALIFIED AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT SPECIALIST (QAES) – Intermediate / Senior
Compass Geomatics is founded on the strengths of its employees. We foster an energetic, positive, and practical team culture where communication, innovation, safety, and exceptional client service guide the way we work. Our people are trusted to contribute directly to the quality of our projects and the continued growth of the company. At Compass Geomatics, employees are eligible for continuing education and training grants to maintain their status as industry leaders. We provide a comprehensive benefits package, an RRSP matching program, competitive salaries, and annual profit-sharing opportunities. If you are committed to excellence and are seeking a rewarding career with a progressive company that values the vital contributions of its employees, please submit your resume and cover letter in confidence to [email protected].
POSISTION 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 to support high-quality project delivery. The role will involve aquatic field assessments, environmental monitoring, construction oversight, technical documentation, and regulatory submissions for projects that may include oil and gas, pipeline, infrastructure, municipal, transportation, forestry, renewable energy, and watercourse crossing work.
Role Level: Intermediate / Senior
Primary Focus: Aquatics, fisheries, environmental monitoring, watercourse crossings, and regulatory support
Work Setting: Combination of field and office work, with a significant field component
Project Area: Primarily Alberta, with potential work across Western Canada
Travel: Field shifts may require overnight travel to hotels, camps, or remote project areas
RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties will include but are not limited to the following:
- Providing QAES oversight for aquatic and fisheries-related field programs, construction activities, and watercourse crossing projects.
- Leading or supporting fish salvage, fish and fish habitat assessments, watercourse crossing assessments, riparian assessments, water quality monitoring, turbidity monitoring, and aquatic-related environmental inspections.
- Supporting construction monitoring for projects involving pipelines, open-cut crossings, horizontal directional drilling, bores, municipal infrastructure, access roads, and other construction activities near aquatic environments.
- Preparing, coordinating, and reviewing technical reports, field summaries, environmental protection documentation, and regulatory submission materials.
- Supporting regulatory notifications, applications, and communications involving provincial and federal regulators, including requirements associated with Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, the Alberta Energy Regulator, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and other applicable agencies.
- Interpreting environmental legislation, project conditions, approvals, codes of practice, and permit requirements, and advising project teams when potential compliance concerns or mitigation needs are identified.
- Reviewing survey plans, engineering drawings, GIS layers, mapping products, aerial imagery, and other spatial datasets to support project planning and environmental decision-making.
- Mentoring junior staff in field methods, safety practices, data collection standards, technical reporting, client communication, and professional consulting expectations.
- Liaising professionally with clients, construction contractors, field representatives, project managers, regulators, and internal team members.
- Supporting the development and improvement of internal tools, templates, checklists, and project workflows that strengthen quality, consistency, and efficiency.
- Completing office reporting, data management, quality control, and project administration in a timely and accurate manner.
TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
The ideal candidate will bring strong aquatic and fisheries experience, along with the ability to make practical, technically sound decisions in both natural and construction environments. Required and preferred experience may include the following:
Aquatics and Fisheries: Fish salvage, fish identification, fish habitat assessments, watercourse assessments, riparian assessments, and aquatic construction monitoring
Water and Hydrology: Water quality monitoring, turbidity monitoring, hydrology, erosion and sediment control awareness, and care-of-water planning
Construction Oversight: Experience around pipeline crossings, HDD, open cuts, bores, access roads, municipal infrastructure, and contractor coordination
Regulatory Knowledge: Working knowledge of provincial and federal environmental legislation, codes of practice, regulatory notifications, applications, and approvals
Technical Documentation:Clear technical writing, report preparation, regulatory submissions, QA/QC, data interpretation, and concise client-facing communication
Mapping and Spatial Data: Ability to interpret GIS/mapping products, survey plans, engineering drawings, aerial imagery, and field data collection outputs
Additional Assets: Wetland assessments, environmental risk assessments, biophysical impact assessments, wildlife sweeps or surveys, environmental inspections, and audit experience
QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
- A diploma or bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, conservation biology, environmental science, natural resource management, or a related discipline.
- A minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in environmental consulting, aquatic sciences, fisheries, environmental monitoring, regulatory work, or a related field.
- Self-declaration as a Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES), or the ability to confidently meet QAES expectations for applicable project work.
- Professional designation, or eligibility to obtain one, is preferred, such as P. Biol., R.P. Biol., or another applicable professional designation.
- Electrofishing certification is preferred; crew lead certification is considered an asset.
- Demonstrated experience leading field crews, mentoring junior staff, and making professional in-field decisions.
- Strong understanding of environmental field safety, regulatory compliance, and construction-related environmental risk management.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with clients, contractors, regulators, project managers, and field staff.
- Strong organization and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and deliverables.
- 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 considered an asset.
- Physical ability to work outdoors in remote and challenging conditions, including muddy access roads, steep terrain, dense vegetation, snow, inclement weather, and extended walking while carrying field equipment.
WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE
You are a practical and solutions-focused professional who enjoys working in the field and contributing to high-quality technical deliverables. You take pride in safe work practices, sound environmental decision-making, and clear communication. You are comfortable leading crews, mentoring developing staff, and representing the company professionally with clients and contractors.
You understand that successful projects depend on strong planning, accurate field data, regulatory awareness, responsive communication, and timely reporting. You are equally comfortable working independently in the field, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team, and supporting project managers with technical insight and regulatory guidance.
WORKING CONDITIONS
This role will include both office and field responsibilities. Field work may take place throughout Alberta and potentially other areas of Western Canada. Candidates should be prepared for travel, overnight stays, variable shift lengths, remote project locations, construction environments, and seasonal field conditions.
Compass Geomatics maintains a strong safety culture. The successful candidate will be expected to follow company safety policies, client site requirements, and applicable environmental and construction safety practices at all times.
Application
If you feel this is the right opportunity for you and you meet the qualifications above, please submit your resume and cover letter in confidence to:
[email protected]
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Compass Geomatics Ltd.
Red Deer: 11-4608 62nd Street T4N 6T3
Calgary: Unit 170 12318 Barlow Trail NE, Calgary Alberta T3N 2A9
T 403.356.0111 | F 403.356.0114
compassgeomatics.ca
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- RRSP match
Work Location: In person
