Wildlife Technician

at  City of Edmonton

Job Number: 51250
Natural Areas Operations functions within the Open Spaces unit of Infrastructure Operations within the Parks and Roads Services Branch. Key focus areas of Natural Areas Operations include: maintaining the City-wide trail network (including tree risk mitigation, wildfire risk mitigation and biodiversity related activities of tree preservation, ecological monitoring, regulated weed control and restoration work, as well as management of abandoned and vacated Encampments across the City.
Reporting to the Ecologist, the Wildlife Technician is responsible for identifying any potential conflict areas between wildlife and the work that is planned by all of the Open Spaces Teams.

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS:

• Knowledge of wildlife absence/presence survey techniques
• Demonstrated ability to ID plants and wildlife
• Demonstrated understanding of federal, provincial and municipal legislation as it relates to natural areas and wildlife
• Demonstrated outstanding communication skills, both verbal and written
• Demonstrated ability to work with GPS and GIS information
• Demonstrated ability to conduct field surveys
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other technicians, or colleagues from other disciplines
• Ability to prioritize work within functional teams to meet the needs of various client groups
• Ability to present information/findings, and facilitate presentations
• Ability to work in cross functional teams, across programs and work collaboratively to share resources and information
• Ability to implement and to ensure compliance with the City’s policies and procedures
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as in a team environment
• Ability to critically analyze issues to make decisions, recommend viable and effective solutions and summarize and manage information
• Alignment to our Cultural Commitments and Leadership Competencies
• Alignment to our Art of Inclusion: Our Diversity and Inclusion Framework
• Alignment with the goals of the City Plan and the Environmental Management System Enviso

Qualifications:

• University degree in biological science, ecology or a related degree OR
• Completion of 2 year technology diploma in Ecology, Biological Science or a related field from a recognized institute of technology
• A minimum of 4 years experience with a degree or 6 years with a diploma in ecology, wildlife biology, or ornitholog

• Work with Functional Teams across Open Spaces Operations (and other internal and external stakeholders) to coordinate any wildlife monitoring requirements for landscapes that require operational maintenance
• Liaise with internal and external partners to ensure regulatory compliance and best practice awareness
• Research the impact of construction and other human activity on wildlife
• Visit sites to undertake wildlife sweeps and survey their environment
• Advise on regulations and legislation in relation to protected species
• Lead and mentor field staff conducting sweeps for bird nesting sites, or other sensitive wildlife sites, and any other field work
• Review maps, field notes and markings, and communicate to operational teams how to work safely in allowable proximity to protected wildlife sites
• Visit sites during construction/maintenance seasons to monitor that work is carried out as agreed
• Provide recommendations for habitat management and creation
• Conduct habitat evaluations, including presence/absence surveys
• Lead and conduct ecological monitoring surveys
• Coordinate consultants for wildlife surveys
• Aid Natural Areas Urban Foresters with tree risk mitigation, wildfire risk mitigation, and 311 inquiries as required
• Ensuring compliance with safety protocols and procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• University degree in biological science, ecology or a related degree OR
• Completion of 2 year technology diploma in Ecology, Biological Science or a related field from a recognized institute of technology
• A minimum of 4 years experience with a degree or 6 years with a diploma in ecology, wildlife biology, or ornithology