Principal Technical Consultant, Fisheries Biologist

Shape Canada’s Fisheries Outcomes on Complex, High‑Impact Projects

ERM is seeking a Principal Technical Consultant, Fisheries Biologist to provide senior technical leadership on some of Canada’s most complex mining and energy projects. Based in one of ERM’s western Canadian offices (Vancouver, Calgary, Whitehorse, or Smithers), this role blends deep technical expertise with strategic oversight—guiding fisheries assessments, offsetting programs, and permitting for large‑scale capital projects across diverse and often remote environments.

As a trusted technical authority within ERM’s Fisheries and Aquatics team, you’ll influence project outcomes that matter—supporting responsible development, advancing regulatory approvals, and helping clients address evolving environmental and sustainability challenges. You’ll collaborate with an exceptional, multidisciplinary group of scientists and engineers in Canada and across ERM’s global network, while mentoring the next generation of fisheries professionals.

Why This Role Matters

Canada’s mining and energy sectors are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, societal expectations, and environmental complexity. In this role, you serve as a senior fisheries advisor—setting technical direction, ensuring scientific rigor, and helping clients design and implement solutions that protect aquatic ecosystems while enabling project progress. Your expertise will directly influence environmental assessments, offsetting strategies, and long‑term aquatic management outcomes nationwide.

What Your Impact Is

• Lead and shape fisheries and aquatic programs that support major capital projects from planning through operations
• Provide senior technical oversight that ensures defensible, high‑quality deliverables aligned with federal, provincial, and territorial requirements
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, regulators, and internal teams on fisheries biology, habitat management, and offsetting strategies
• Mentor and develop junior and intermediate staff, strengthening ERM’s fisheries capability for the future
• Contribute to ERM’s national and international fisheries and aquatics technical communities

What You’ll Bring

Required

• B.Sc. in Fisheries Biology, Natural Resource Management, or a related discipline.
• Registered Professional Biologist (or equivalent).
• 6+ years of environmental consulting experience.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and managing junior staff.
• Extensive field experience in fish and fish habitat assessment and aquatic biology.
• Strong knowledge of federal, provincial, and territorial regulations and guidelines as they apply to the mining and oil & gas sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, and quality of technical deliverables.
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision in dynamic, fast‑paced environments.
• Strong commitment to health and safety, including adherence to established H&S procedures.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel and conduct fieldwork in remote locations.
• Driver's License Required: A valid driver’s license and/or ability to operate a company vehicle.

Preferred

• M.Sc. in Fisheries Biology, Natural Resource Management, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of environmental consulting experience.
• Experience designing and overseeing fisheries field programs in remote locations, including complex logistics and multi‑team coordination.
• Experience supporting mining and/or oil & gas projects.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities, government agencies, and public stakeholders.
• Experience delivering fisheries projects within multidisciplinary teams, including environmental assessments, offsetting plans, in‑stream flow assessments, and monitoring programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the design and implementation of fish and fish habitat field programs in freshwater ecosystems across Canada.
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of fisheries offsetting and compensation programs.
• Draft, review, and provide technical oversight for high‑quality environmental assessments, baseline studies, offsetting plans, and permitting documents.
• Provide senior technical review and quality control for fisheries data collection, analysis, and management.
• Compile, manage, analyze, and contribute to databases related to fish habitat, community, and biological data.
• Provide expert guidance and technical advice to clients and internal project teams.
• Deliver field leadership and technical support for complex fisheries projects.
• Contribute to proposal development, including technical scopes and cost estimates, in alignment with ERM policies and processes.
• Manage project phases as required, including task delegation, subcontractor oversight, health and safety management, and client engagement.
• Actively participate in ERM’s national and international fisheries and aquatic technical networks.

For the Principal Technical Consultant, Fisheries Biologist position, the anticipated annual base pay is $117,540–$174,235 (CAD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible).

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Note: Bonuses, commissions, and other forms of additional compensation are not guaranteed and subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures.

Notice Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Hiring

• Our organization uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to assist in the recruitment process. These tools may help screen, assess, and/or evaluate applicants based on information provided in resumes, applications, and other submitted materials. All AI systems are designed to support fair and efficient hiring decisions and operate under human oversight.
• By submitting your application, you acknowledge and consent to the use of AI tools in evaluating your candidacy. If you have questions or need accommodations, please contact us at.

ERM welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

ERM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, Indigenous identity, or status as a protected veteran or qualified individual with a disability.

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