Regional Ecologist

**Job Req ID**:1056**Department**:Community PlanningRegional Ecologist

**Job Number**:1056**Job Type**: Full-Time
- **Temp Contract Length**:
**Location**: 150 Frederick St - Regional Admin Headquarters
- **Job Category**: Environmental
- **Number of Positions**:1
- **Department**: Community Planning
- **Division**: Planning, Development and Legislative Services
- **Hours of Work**: 35
- **Union**: CUPE 1883
- **Grade**: CUPE 1883 Grade 016
- **Salary Range**: $47.78 - $54.17 per hour**Our Story**:

- Committed to fostering opportunities for current and future generations, the Region of Waterloo is an inclusive, thriving and sustainable region of connected rural and urban communities with global reach. Our mission is to serve, engage and inspire, by delivering quality services to a diverse population of 630,000+, while creating a healthy, collaborative environment of learning, respect and innovation.- This is a place where employees are valued and recognized for their talents and contributions to our success. Our employees take pride in making a difference in people's lives through the work that we do. We are looking for people like you to help make it happen.The Role
Leads complex regional environmental planning initiatives to establish, plan, and achieve the Region’s long-term vision for sustainable growth and development. Manages projects in a multi-stakeholder environment internal and external to the organization. Ensures the Region’s and area municipalities’ policies and interests in ecology, natural heritage, and sustainability are communicated and implemented across a broad range of studies, initiatives, and projects related to land use planning, and corporate and infrastructure projects.
- Duties/Responsibilities
- Provides ecological expertise to support the management of municipal infrastructure, land development, renewable energy projects, environmental sustainability initiatives, and natural heritage planning. Contributes to strategies, technical studies, policies, management and master plans, capital projects, monitoring and implementation of projects to ensure the ecological integrity of natural resources is sustained.
- Recommends, plans, coordinates, and implements long-term ecological assessments, monitoring, and enhancement projects to conserve, protect, rehabilitate, establish, and manage natural heritage.
- Prepares briefings advising senior management and elected officials on high profile ecology and natural heritage related matters. Prepares reports for committee and council and attends committee and council meetings, making presentations as required.
- Acts as an expert witness at Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearings and other proceedings to ensure the Region’s interests are represented. Works closely with Legal staff to prepare for hearings, including the preparation of witness statements, mediation, and settlement negotiations.
- Prepares for and conducts stakeholder consultation (e.g., public meetings, open houses, workshops) representing the Region. Incorporates key findings into ongoing work and future communications with Council and the public.
- Builds, maintains, and strengthens relationships with area municipal staff, the public, development community, and other stakeholders.
- Contributes as a regional liaison for area municipalities on initiatives, studies, and projects. Coordinates initiatives in partnership with area municipalities that harmonize planning policy and practice.
- Acts as project manager for environmental planning and sustainability projects, including project design, work planning, resourcing, and evaluating projects. Prepares project work plans, policy documents, and background reports, terms of reference, and RFPs for consideration by management. Assists in the evaluation and selection of outside consultants/contractors, and acts as a liaison between consultants and regional staff on specific projects, including updates to council.
- Represents the Division on committees, working groups, and advisory bodies to provide and receive feedback on interdepartmental and inter-municipal initiatives. Occasionally represents management at internal and external meetings. Provides staff support to advisory committees.
- Develops and recommends policies and procedures for new programs, initiatives, and ongoing collaboration, and participates in the formulation and evaluation of planning policy, including providing input on recommendations to committee and council.
- Administers budgets for projects and programs and writes grant proposals.
- Schedules and prioritizes work according to the divisional strategic/work plan and rigid deadlines set by legislation and political schedules/agendas. Assists management in setting divisional work plan objectives and goals. Meets with management regularly to discuss progress, update priorities, and address key issues and questions.
- Performs related duties as assigned.
- Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of ter