Senior Soils Scientist - (1656)

Western EcoSystems Technology (WEST), founded in 1990, has grown to be one of the premier environmental and statistical consulting firms in the United States and Canada. With over 200 scientific publications, WEST provides a unique blend of scientific inquiry with environmental consulting and has published on a variety of environmental topics. In North America, WEST is well known for its work in the renewable energy industry, having worked on thousands of projects since 1990 as well as writing and developing industrial protocols, procedures, and analyses that have since become industry standards. 

In 2017, WEST expanded into Canada by opening an office in Calgary, Alberta, and has since expanded into Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. WEST and WEST staff have worked on over 200 renewable energy projects in Canada, including: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently, these projects involve constraints analyses, pre- and post-construction surveys, environmental assessment, monitoring, mitigation, expert testimony, and research for wind, solar, battery, and power line clients.

In our continued drive to provide outstanding professional consulting services and original solutions to a wide range of natural resource problems, we are looking for an experienced Senior Soil Scientist.

Number of positions available: 1

Positions Type: Permanent/Full Time

Location: Calgary, AB

Tentative Start Date: January 6, 2025

Job Closing: Open until filled

Pay: $90,000 - $100,000+ (CAD)

Benefits: WEST Benefits

Job Description:

The Senior Soil Scientist will be primarily responsible for coordinating and managing our soils scope for Alberta projects, but also other Canadian projects. The ideal candidate will have experience and expertise in soils study design, project management, environmental consulting, and business development.

Primary duties may include:

• Complete and direct various tasks related to soils desktop and field delineations, classifications for eco-types, mitigation plan development, permitting, and restoration monitoring.
• Complete and direct soil classification and terrain surveys, including field data collection, soil sampling, field and analytical data interpretation, determining soil map units, and mapping soil according to the Canadian System of Soil Classification, Canadian Soil Information System and Alberta Soil Names File (Generation 4) User’s Handbook.
• Ensure that soil sampling is conducted in accordance with defined protocols and the work progresses in a timely manner, including Ground Disturbance protocols.
• Develop and conduct Pre-Disturbance Site Assessments (PDSAs) prior to construction and Interim Monitoring Site Assessments (IMSAs) after construction of renewable facilities, including direction of junior and intermediate staff.
• Prepare reports including, but not limited to, Conservation & Reclamation Plans (C&Rs), Mitigation Plans, Environmental Protection Plans (EPPs), PDSAs and Site Restoration, and Soil Management Plans, including direction of junior and intermediate staff.
• Provide on-site soil knowledge for construction and reclamation projects to ensure compliance with environmental and regulatory guidelines and/or commitments.
• Onsite monitoring and audits.
• Promote WEST’s core values of quality client service and a collaborative team approach while maintaining a positive and respectful work atmosphere.
• Summarizing and entering data.
• Completing Ground Disturbance packages and Codes of Practice for site surveys.
• May assist in conducting wetland, watercourse and wildlife surveys.

This position consists of approximately 60% office-based work and 40% field based work (fieldwork occurring mostly under snow free conditions), and travel between the field and the Calgary office. Fieldwork will require long days (8-12 hours), in a range of temperature extremes and wind speeds. Candidates must be comfortable with hazards typical of rural environments (e.g., driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, dust, mud, snow, extreme heat, cold, working around cattle). Candidates must promote WEST’s core values of quality client service and a collaborative team approach while maintaining a positive and respectful work atmosphere. Fieldwork can also occur in remote locations, which will require candidates to be comfortable and able to work and operate vehicles in rugged, steep terrain within areas with large carnivores. Lastly, fieldwork often occurs in areas with little to no cellphone signal. Candidates must be comfortable using satellite and radio devices for regular communication.

Staff may work independently or in small crews and must be able to communicate and coordinate effectively with site management and WEST supervisors.

This is a general description of the functions for this position and is not inclusive of all the duties that may be associated with this position.

Job Requirements:

• Legally allowed to work in Canada.
• A completed diploma or bachelor’s degree (or higher) in the soil science, land reclamation, ecology or environmental sciences, or a related discipline and at least 10 years of relevant experience.
• Possession of a valid driver’s licence with no restrictions.
• Ability to rent a vehicle from a rental agency (e.g., Enterprise).
• Soil classification skills according to the Canadian System of Soil Classification, Canadian Soil Information System and Alberta Soil Names File (Generation 4) User’s Handbook in boreal, parkland, and prairie habitats of western Canada.
• Competent in Microsoft Office (advanced knowledge of Word and Excel), ArcGIS/QGIS.
• Ability to work long days (up to 12 hours) in the field and sometimes long shifts (up to 24 days) and lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to hike in rugged, steep terrain for long periods of time.
• Capacity to work independently and interact positively with project managers, supervisors, clients, colleagues, field partners, and landowners.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work well under time constraints and meet deliverable targets and deadlines, with high personal accountability, and minimal supervision.
• High level of initiative and ability to think critically to solve challenging problems.
• Highly developed ability to follow protocols and work efficiently in the field and office.
• Experience completing the Ground Disturbance process from beginning to end.

Other Desired Skills:

• Experience conducting vegetation and/or wetland surveys.
• Experience with construction or environmental monitoring.
• Knowledge of common weeds in Alberta.
• Experience with data management processes.
• Knowledge of, or previous experience conducting wetland, watercourse and wildlife surveys.

Successful candidates must be able to provide a driver’s abstract that meets WEST’s minimum criteria to operate a motor vehicle on behalf of the company.  Successful candidates must also be able to pass a drug and alcohol test that meets the minimum criteria of WEST and our clients. Candidates must be capable of adhering to all health and safety requirements, outlined by WEST and our clients, for the duration of their employment.

WEST provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, mental or physical disability, marital status, family status or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law.

Deltek Talent Management - Senior Soils Scientist - (1656)