Resource Scientist

**Department**:Natural Resources & Renewables

**Location**:KENTVILLE

**Type of Employment**:Permanent

**Union Status**:NSGEU - NSPG

**Closing Date**:16-Feb-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

**About Us**:
Nova Scotia is rich in natural resources including biodiversity, forests, geological resources, provincial parks and the land we manage. The Department of Natural Resources and Renewables is responsible for the development, management, conservation and protection of forest, mineral, parks and wildlife resources and the administration of the province's Crown land. Together we are working with Nova Scotians to build a better future through sustainable natural resource management as we all benefit from the natural health and wealth of the province.

**About Our Opportunity**:
As the Biologist 3 - Resource Scientist (Ecosystems and Habitats) you will provide senior expertise and leadership in the specialist field of wildlife habitat and ecosystem research applied to temporal and spatial landscape level planning for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Reporting to the Manager of Ecosystems & Habitats, the Resource Scientist initiates, designs, conducts and reports on biodiversity/habitat/ecosystem research projects. The incumbent will require exceptional creativity and initiative to advance provincial-level research and modelling approaches in support of science-based natural resource management.

The Resource Scientist provides leadership as well as professional and expert technical advice to branch and regional staff, thereby ensuring effective implementation of new scientific approaches. The incumbent takes a leadership role in multidisciplinary research projects involving department staff and/or collaboration with partners that may include federal/provincial government departments, first nations, universities, industry, and non-government organizations (NGOs).

The incumbent plays a key role in the development of provincial legislation, regulations and policy related to biodiversity/habitat/ecosystem conservation and sustainable use for Crown and private lands.

**Primary Accountabilities**:
Leads development and implementation of provincial wildlife habitat and ecosystem research initiatives in support of provincial policy and strategy development and implementation. The research process will use various data sources (wildlife population/community data, habitat and ecosystems data, climate and remote sensing data, etc), draw upon forested and non-forested ecosystem science initiatives, and incorporate modelling to assess ecological and economic impacts of resource management decisions, strategies and scenarios.

Leads working groups and research initiatives on ecosystems and wildlife response to temporal/spatial and biotic/abiotic conditions experienced at relevant scales under an ecosystem-based management paradigm. Will require interactions with other departments, government agencies, researchers, universities and consulting firms.

Provides strategic advice and makes recommendations on procedural adjustments and research to improve resource analysis capabilities, prepares ministerial briefing notes, and prepares documentation outlining resource issues related to analysis findings.

Provides advanced expertise in the development of wildlife population, habitat and ecosystem models requiring a strong understanding of population dynamics and ecological relationships within an ecosystem-based management framework. Facilitates the development of new and useful approaches to inform wildlife population, habitat and ecosystem management analysis and modelling of resource data by evaluating current practices and procedures and recommending changes.

Plays a central role in ensuring the provincial natural resource forecasting is informed by and based on biodiversity metrics including population, community, habitat and ecosystem metrics at local to landscape scales. The incumbent will be required to collaborate with a team of specialists in growth and yield, forest modelling, forest inventory & forest ecosystems for support and to set direction on the development of integrated forest management planning tools.

Engage in regional, national and international management programs and research initiatives pertaining to conservation and sustainable use of natural resources by information/data sharing, participation and leadership on various boards, committees, working groups and conferences/workshops within and outside of Nova Scotia.

**Qualifications and Experience**:
This may be the right opportunity for you if you have a Bachelor of Science along with 6 years of related experience, a Master of Science along with 4 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

You have a demonstrated ability to undertake collaborative research with Universities, NGOs and other organizations. Adjunct status, or the ability to secure adjunc