Environmental Biologist

The Gorge Waterway Action Society (GWAS) is seeking a hardworking and motivated individual to assist with public scientific outreach and biological monitoring of plants and animals in the vicinity of the Gorge Waterway, located in Victoria, BC. **This position is funded through Canada Summer Jobs Grant and will be for a 7 week long term. The work term will tentatively be from June 13 - July 31.**

The biologist will be responsible for a number of different tasks including working closely with the GWAS Board of Directors and an associated network of NGOs to assess biological diversity in Esquimalt Gorge Park. They will assess species richness and abundance primarily for plant and insect taxa, maintain digital inventories and databases for plant and animal species, and monitor the incidence and extent of rare and invasive species found in the park.

The biologist will also be responsible for assisting with the development and delivery of educational seminar programming relevant to ecology, biodiversity, conservation biology, applied scientific monitoring, and other pertinent biological topics focused in Esquimalt Gorge Park and its Gorge Waterway Nature House for both youth and adult audiences. The biologist will also take a lead role in planning and leading interpretive nature walks around the park for local residents and tourists interested in the natural history of urban-adjacent parks. The role also includes assisting the GWAS interpreter and restoration programs.

Additional responsibilities include:

- Maintaining a database of several baseline abiotic measurements that may inform future conservation or restoration projects including water quality, temperature, storm event hydrographs, shoreline erosion rates, and suspended sediment transport;
- Curating a collection of insects for research and educational exhibition at the nature house; conducting pollinator phenological and taxonomic surveys;
- Engaging in coliform bacterial sampling;
- Working on restoration or conservation projects within the park;
- The preparation of grant proposals;
- Planning fundraising events;
- Supporting projects by GWAS collaborators in marine or terrestrial biological studies, such as with World Fisheries Trust, CRD, or Esquimalt Parks;
Co-managing the Gorge Waterway Nature House and its volunteers; and Maintaining consistent and professional communication with volunteers, community groups, and co-workers will also fall within the environmental biologist's duties.

You will also be taught health and safety practices, including COVID-19 and social distancing practices, workplace hazardous materials information, and the principles of a safe, inclusive and healthy work environment free of harassment and discrimination.

All activities will be led with proper COVID-19 protocols in place to ensure the safety of our participants, our staff and the public.

**Qualifications**:
Education field of study: biology, ecological restoration, geography, environmental studies, earth and ocean sciences, or a related field;
Assets

Experience in the following is not required, but considered an asset:

- Biology;
- Ecological monitoring and assessments;
- Biological and abiotic sampling practices;
- Study design and report writing;
- Data management;
- coastal biodiversity, marine animals, and ecology;
- collaborating with ENGO networks and First Nation communities;
- Public outreach; and
- restoration, conservation, stewardship or related fields.

Eligibility

**Job Type**: Fixed term contract

**Salary**: $16.00 per hour

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift