Location: Calgary and Edmonton preferred.
Employment Type: Full Time – Permanent
Salary Range: SP4, Level 6, $113,564- $141,955 per year. The final compensation for this position will be determined based on individual factors, including education, qualifications, experience, and internal equity.
Senior Hydrogeologist, Contaminant Modelling- Hybrid
The Opportunity
The Alberta Energy Regulator is recruiting for a Senior Hydrogeologist, Contaminant Modelling to join its talented team of professionals in the Technical Science and External Innovation Branch. The Senior Hydrogeologist, Contaminant Modelling will work within the Principal Environmental Scientist Team in an advanced technical role that contributes scientific capacity to achieving organizational objectives. The role uses methods in geochemistry to determine energy sector contributions to sources, movement, and fate of substances in the environment, and is applied to environmental risk assessment for surface water, soil and groundwater. The position involves maintaining and analysing environmental monitoring data and developing and maintaining environmental chemistry simulation models, within an overall environmental monitoring and modelling decision support system. The Senior Hydrogeologist, Contaminant Modelling develops novel decision support tools to enhance regulatory and compliance processes.

What your day-to-day will look like:

• Develop, update and maintain environmental monitoring databases, geochemistry models simulating the fate of substances in the environment, and associated software tools.
• Conduct project-based work applying quantitative risk assessment methods to evaluate baseline geochemical conditions and environmental risk related to contamination, spills, seepage, loss of containment, ground disturbance, metal leaching and acid mine drainage assessments, and in situ redox hydrochemical effects.
• Support the AER in conducting analysis related to energy sector contributions to sources, movement, and fate of substances in the environment.
• Support the Regulatory Applications Branch: reviewing industry submissions, such as tailings management plans, contaminant transport models, contamination mitigation and remediation plans, and providing risk-based recommendations.
• Support the Regulatory Compliance Branch: performing analysis related to investigations involving geochemical conditions, through monitoring data analysis and development of tools for inspectors and for investigations.
• Support Regulatory Enhancement Branch: through analysis of environmental risk related to changes to regulatory instruments, forecasting changes to geochemical conditions under alternative regulatory options and mitigations.
• Work actively with Alberta Geological Survey: interact with AGS scientists (modellers, hydrogeologists) using earth observation techniques.
• Act as a subject matter expert for AER Hearings on topics relating to environmental risk assessment for surface water, soil and groundwater.
• Collaborate with the Government of Alberta in representing the AER on governmental committees and joint initiatives. Support generation of environmental geochemistry monitoring data and information products.
• Provide technical leadership, guidance, coaching and mentoring to staff across the Operations Division to foster a culture of technical and regulatory competence. In collaboration with the Principal Environmental Scientist, participate on discipline-specific communities of practice
• Disseminate discipline-specific information to stakeholders and the public through presentations and information sessions and scientific publications in peer reviewed journals, conferences and seminars.

What we’re looking for in you:

• Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline (Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering) with focus on simulation modelling the fate of substances in the environment, or equivalent M.Sc. and professional experience.
• 7-10 years of applied experience.
• Advanced working knowledge in areas of fate and transport computational modelling of geochemistry focused on waterborne pathways, with awareness of airborne pathways.
• Knowledge of national and provincial guidelines for the protection of aquatic life, Tier 1 and Tier 2 soil and groundwater remediation guidelines.
• Expertise in managing data, building and maintaining databases, and developing novel tools and decision support systems.
• Expertise in writing computer scripts to process monitoring data and model outputs, generate GIS maps, and perform statistical analysis and comparison to thresholds and standards.
• Knowledge of the AER’s regulatory system, with a particular emphasis on the regulations, directives and standards for water quality management, groundwater protection, contamination management, tailings management, contamination and remediation.
• Ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner to non-technical audiences in both in verbal and written formats. Track record of peer-reviewed publication.

Additional Information:

• All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada at the time of application.
• Should an individual with the required qualifications not be available, applicants with closely related qualifications may be considered. As a result, the position may be redesigned and/or reclassified.
• If you need accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please email

Peopleservices@aer.ca
. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

What we offer you:

• Great benefits from your first day of work.
• Flexible Work Program - hybrid work and flexible hours.
• Defined benefit pension plan(s).
• Flexible benefits program options, including Personal & Health spending account(s).
• Generous vacation entitlement and flex days

More information about working at the AER’s including our comprehensive Total Rewards package can be found in the careers section of our website
https://www.aer.ca/providing-information/about-the-aer/careers/what-we-offer
.
Our Commitment to Diversity:
At the AER, our values of Accountability, Collaboration, Transparency, and Trust & Respect are foundational to our culture – a culture where every individual, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected factors, thrives and contributes their unique perspectives.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion fuels innovation, creating a brighter, more sustainable Alberta for all. Join us in shaping this dynamic future.

LI-Hybrid

Application closing date: October 28th, 2024 at midnight

Please refer the Job description for details