Higher Ground Consulting (HGC) is seeking an environmental technician join our Environment and Regulatory team. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in both field and office-based settings, with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers throughout the lifecycle of projects. The successful applicants work will be focused on supporting the completion of environmental field work including water quality sampling for both surface and groundwater, regulatory monitoring, and potentially support other environmental field programs including wetlands, wildlife, and vegetation. The successful applicant should anticipate and enjoy a range of field programs throughout the year with a field focus in the summer months.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work closely with project managers and technical staff to plan, organize and execute environmental field programs. All programs require strong safety focus and attention to detail. Programs may include:
o Liaison with environmental laboratories and companies for equipment and supplies and sample analysis
o Following standard field protocols and QA/QC practices
o Collection of standard field parameters including pH, EC, temperature, DO, REDOX using various devices such as YSI, Eagle, etc.
o Collection of water levels both manually and/or utilizing devices such as transducers
o Developing groundwater wells using various techniques such as bailers, low flow sampling, etc.
o Collection of water and soil samples submission to accredited laboratories using standard techniques
o Collection of additional water parameters such as stream flow, turbidity and/or field filtering
o Sample management including labelling, organization, laboratory coding and chain of custody paperwork
o Completion of safety and technical field paperwork
o Data management and organization
- Liaise with clients, regulators, Indigenous communities, and stakeholders as needed.
- Support a close knit and supportive multi-disciplinary teams including biologists, hydrogeologists, indigenous community members, and engineers.
OTHER POTENTAIL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Wetland monitoring programs may include water quality and quantity assessment and vegetation assessment.
- Fish programs may include aquatic habitat and fish assessments to identify and classify waterbodies and watercourses, determine fish habitat potential as well as developing mitigations for work in aquatic ecosystems. This includes water quality & quantity monitoring, fish assessment and mitigations, watercourse crossing inspections, and other similar activities as needed.
- Wildlife programs may include sensitive species surveys, Camera/ARU monitoring deployment and development, nest sweeps, bird surveys, habitat assessments, and other similar activities as needed
- Environmental drilling and/or test pitting for collection of subsurface soil samples and/or installation of groundwater monitoring wells including logging and supervision of drill rig.
- Support the preparation of environmental assessment reports, regulatory applications, and permit documentation (e.g., Section 11, DFO Request for Review, Code of Practice, Water Act applications etc…).
NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS
- Technical Diploma in an environmental program or bachelor’s degree
- Existing and relevant field experience focused on conducting water quality field programs such as groundwater and surface water monitoring programs in Western Canada
- Experience with trucks, highway driving, and lease access in rural areas.
- Adaptable to a flexible work schedule and willing to travel to project sites and work out of town as needed including:
o Ability to travel to locations for up to two weeks at a time
o Willingness to work overtime as required, particularly while working in the field and balance personal and team scheduling in a collaborative approach during busy seasons
o Capable of working in various weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and snow, while maintaining safety and productivity.
o This role may require prolonged periods of physical activity and exposure to uneven terrain or other environmental factors.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
- Flexible working style and willingness to balance personal schedules with project requirements collaboratively with the team
- Familiarity with computers, including Microsoft Office programs, GPS, GIS and field data collection software
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada and have a valid Class 5 driver’s licence
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CONSIDERED AN ASSET
- Demonstrated experience completing other environmental survey programs (fish, wildlife, wetlands, vegetation, soils)
- Demonstrated experience completing intrusive environmental investigations such as drilling programs for soil sampling and/or groundwater well installations
- Demonstrated experience working independently and leading field programs
- Off highway vehicle use such as argo, UTV and/or boating experience
- Knowledge of federal and provincial environmental legislation and Guidelines (e.g., AB Tier Guidelines, BC Contaminated Sites Regulation, Fisheries Act, Water Sustainability Act, Wildlife Act, etc.).
- Proficiency with GIS software used for data collection, analysis, an assessment, open-source experience an asset (R, QGIS)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position will be based in our head office in downtown Calgary, Alberta. Higher Ground Consulting works on a basis of mutual trust and respect with our employees. We want our people to be regularly in the office to foster communication, culture, and efficiency, however, we do not mandate specific office time or working schedules. We have a relaxed, flexible and dog-friendly office.
In addition to a competitive compensation package, the advantages of working at HGC include:
Opportunities for Growth: Higher Ground is a growing consulting company that has thrived on being adaptive to the market and staying open to new strategic growth initiatives. That means when our people come to us with a plan or idea to pursue a client, industry, or geographic region, we want to throw our support behind it. We are always open to supporting our team to grow and explore business opportunities and look to share in the rewards from successful ventures.
Career Development: Our performance management and feedback programs are a core part of how we grow as a company and as professionals. We have an open-door policy and encourage mentorship and active feedback loops. We seek to both provide and collect constructive feedback and collaborate on how to do things better. We are constantly finding areas to improve, both as an individual and as project teams. To support continuous growth, we have training budgets allocated for people to explore ways to grow their technical and soft skills. We understand investing time and resources into our staff is investing in our business.
Team Building: At Higher Ground, our motto is we get stuff done. We take a lot of pride in being reliable consultants that deliver high quality services, so we work hard. But we also take the time to celebrate that. We have various social events and opportunities for the team to relax and enjoy time together outside of the office. To celebrate our successes and to help share what is happening at Higher Ground, groups trade off turns running short Lunch and Learn sessions. This is a fun way for the team to share what they have been up to, and keep the company informed about what new and interesting projects and opportunities we are working on and share knowledge.
ABOUT HGC
Higher Ground Consulting is a full service EPCM company. We comprise a dedicated team of professionals trained and experienced in project management, engineering, design, and sciences, working together to provide practical solutions, with an intense focus on advancing our client’s projects to successful completion.
HGC is home for those of us that like the idea of “Higher Standards. Higher Expectations.” We want to be good at what we do, and we enjoy working with others who care about what they do as well. We don’t expect perfection but consistently strive to be better versions of ourselves.
Interested candidates are asked to email a cover letter and current resume to careers@hgc.solutions.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
Application question(s):
- Are you able and capable of working in the field, in a variety of weather conditions, for up to two (2) weeks at a time?
Location:
- Calgary, AB T2P 3G2 (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Calgary, AB T2P 3G2
