Wildlife Technicians

The Canadian Wildlife Service (Prairie Region) within Environment and Climate Change Canada has exciting opportunities for energetic and adventurous individuals desiring a challenging work experience. The Terrestrial Unit of the Canadian Wildlife Service needs motivated candidates for seasonal positions in three streams surveying either waterbirds and shorebirds, grassland birds, or boreal birds. Candidates can submit one application and identify which streams they wish to be considered for in their cover letter.

Work Term: May – August 2024

Salary:  $33.90 – $37.29 per hour depending on experience

Job Descriptions:

Stream 1: Shorebird and Waterbird Monitoring

Successful candidates will work as part of a team surveying for shorebirds and waterbirds in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The majority of the season will be spent in the field in and around rivers, lakes and wetlands. Surveys will be conducted on foot, by truck, small boat, kayak, and fixed-wing airplane. Staff must be able to swim short distances.

Stream 2: Grassland Bird Monitoring

Successful candidates will work as part of a team capturing, banding, and surveying songbirds in some of the largest remaining areas of grasslands in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Our research program focuses on large-scale population monitoring and uses the Motus wildlife tracking system to understand the migratory ecology of key grassland specialists. Staff will be in the field for two months from mid-May to mid-July, starting work well before sunrise.

Stream 3: Boreal Bird Monitoring

Successful candidates will work as part of a team conducting wildlife (emphasizing birds) and habitat surveys in the boreal forest of Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba. Staff will spend between 1-2 months (mid May through ~ mid July) in the field. During field work, staff will largely be living in tents or trailers (camping). Travel may include flights in fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, canoeing and/or boating, truck and all-terrain vehicles.

Job Locations:

Stream 1: Office work based in Regina, field work is located in AB, SK, and MB

Stream 2: Office work based in Edmonton, field work is located in AB and SK

Stream 3: Office work based in Edmonton or Saskatoon, field work is located in SK and MB

Transportation, meals, and accommodations (mainly camping with some hotels) will be provided while travelling in the field. Technicians will be responsible for finding their own accommodations in the city where office work is based for their stream.

Job Duties:

• Learning to identify birds by sight and sound and/or improving these skills
• Hiking off-trail (5-10 km/day) to survey sites in hot prairie, thick brush, wetlands and/or dense forest
• Surveying birds and vegetation in a variety of habitats using a variety of protocols
• Collecting and managing field data
• Organizing and maintaining field equipment

Essential Qualifications for All Streams:

• Working towards or completion of a B.Sc or technical diploma in Ecology, Natural Resource/Wildlife Management, Biology, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, or another related discipline/program
• Experience working outdoors in remote areas for long hours, and ability to maintain good morale under challenging conditions (being bitten by insects, early mornings, wildlife encounters)
• Highly adaptable as field work plans often change due to unforeseen weather, wildfire or equipment challenges
• Demonstrates integrity and respect and the ability to work effectively with others
• Shows initiative and has excellent organization, interpersonal, and communication skills
• A valid driver’s license and experience driving 4x4 trucks on rough roads

Desired Additional Experience:

Stream 1:

• Experience identifying shorebirds and waterbirds by sight  
• Experience with small boats, kayaking, and/or canoeing.
• Experience driving trailers.

Stream 2:

• Experience identifying grassland birds by sight and sound
• Experience using mist nets and banding songbirds
• Experience driving trailers

Stream 3:

• Experience identifying boreal birds by sight and sound
• Experience working for extended periods in very remote conditions
• Experience with small boats and/or canoeing

Particulars:       

• Preference will be given to Canadian citizens (a requirement for all federal government positions), but all applicants with a valid work permit for Canada will be considered.
• Hours of work are Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 4:30 (full time, 37.5h/week) while in the office. During field work, hours vary and you may be required to work weekends.

Application review starts January 15, last date to apply is January 31, 2024

Please identify which streams you wish to be considered for in your cover letter and email your cover letter, resume and three references in a single word or pdf document to janine.mcmanus@ec.gc.ca.

The Government of Canada seeks to identify and eliminate barriers to hiring members of employment equity groups. We welcome any member of a designated employment equity group to self-declare in your cover letter, or at any point during the appointment process. There are 4 designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities, as identified by the Employment Equity Act.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest, however only those invited for an interview will be contacted.