Ecologist

Status: Permanent, full-time.

Location: Work-from-home (Greater Golden Horseshoe preferred, other Ontario locations may be considered).

Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Geography, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Planning, or a related discipline.

Terrastory Environmental Consulting Inc. (founded 2018) is a policy-oriented client-focused environmental consulting firm specializing in a wide range of natural heritage and arborist studies. Operating across the Greater Golden Horseshoe, southwestern Ontario, southern shield and beyond, Terrastory supports diverse projects and applications including land development, aggregates, municipal infrastructure, natural areas/park/public space design, etc. We also assist public sector and non-profit clients with unique and diverse interests.

Terrastory offers a challenging and balanced work environment with the potential for growth as well as flexible work arrangements (including a reduced work week), an above-average professional development allowance, employer paid benefits, group RRSP contributions, and competitive salary, annual bonus, sick days, and vacation. Salary is negotiable and will be commensurate with experience and capability.

We are currently seeking an experienced Ecologist with strong working knowledge of natural heritage policy to service our ongoing growth. This position offers a high degree of autonomy and entails the following broad responsibilities:

• Preparing and reviewing technical reports (e.g., EIS, NHE, NER, constraints assessments, arborist reports, etc.) and permit applications (e.g., Species Conservation Act, Fisheries Act, etc.), with a commitment to project quality and client service.
• Corresponding with clients and regulatory agencies on a regular basis.
• Project budgeting, invoicing, scheduling, and evaluation.
• Contributing to various business-related tasks on an as-needed basis, including but not limited to developing and maintaining client relationships.
• Undertaking fieldwork and ecological surveys for a variety of taxa across southern/central Ontario using established protocols.
• Staff mentorship.

The successful candidate will possess the following:

• At least 5 years’ experience in a similar position (consulting preferred).
• Thorough knowledge of the legislative and regulatory context directing development activities in southern/central Ontario (e.g., Provincial Planning Statement, Municipal Official Plans, Conservation Authorities Act, Species Conservation Act, Fisheries Act, Aggregate Resources Act, Greenbelt Plan, Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan, Lake Simcoe Protection Plan, etc.).
• Thorough technical analysis and writing skills.
• Strong project management, organization, critical thinking, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Experience interfacing with private and public-sector clients as well as colleagues from multiple disciplines (e.g., engineers, landscape architects, planners, etc.).
• Ability to work remotely (e.g., home office).
• Ability to work safely.
• A valid driver’s license and reliable access to a private vehicle.

The successful candidate will possess most (though not necessarily all) of the following certifications and/or skill sets:

• Ecological Land Classification (ELC) or demonstrated ability to conduct three-season vascular plant surveys in southern/central Ontario.
• Ontario Wetland Evaluation System (OWES) or demonstrated ability to distinguish between obligate and facultative wetland/upland plants in southern/central Ontario.
• ISA-certified Arborist.
• Experience conducting aquatic habitat and community assessments using the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP).
• Demonstrated ability to conduct breeding bird surveys in southern/central Ontario.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct anuran calling surveys in southern/central Ontario.
• Demonstrated ability (or willingness to learn) to prepare mapping deliverables in GIS (particularly QGIS).

The following certifications and/or skill sets are assets and also considered desirable:

• Experience with OMB/LPAT/OLT.
• Experience with public engagement.
• Experience with Indigenous consultation.
• Butternut Health Assessment (BHA) certification and/or experience.
• Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP).
• Experience preparing restoration/planting plans for a variety of habitat types.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct visual encounter surveys for herpetofauna (e.g., Survey Protocol for Blanding’s Turtle, etc.) in southern/central Ontario.
• Experience with deploying ultrasonic acoustic monitoring units for bats and assigning spectrograms to species-level.
• Experience with survey/inventory techniques for other taxa in southern/central Ontario (Odonata, butterflies, moths, salamanders, mussels, bryophytes, lichens, etc.).

Working at Terrastory might be right for you if:

• You thrive in a small-company environment and enjoy leading and contributing to all facets of project delivery and business development, including proposal writing, fieldwork, GIS mapping, reporting, and project management.
• You balance detail-orientation with big picture thinking.
• You are committed to client-centred service.
• You are focused on improving processes, procedures, and workflows.
• You consider yourself a naturalist with broad interests in the biophysical world.
• You have a curious mind and relentlessly pursue the best available information.
• You are comfortable with undertaking fieldwork under varying conditions (always within safe and reasonable limits), including (but not limited to) remote field sites, working alone, and inclement weather.
• You are comfortable completing ecological surveys and collecting field data via tablet.
• You enjoy permanently working from home (when not in the field) with the occasional (rare) overnight stay near a project site and opportunities for in-person office and field co-working days.

Interested candidates should send a brief cover letter (one page max.) and resume/CV demonstrating how their skills and experiences reflect this career posting to info@terrastoryenviro.com with the subject line "Ecologist Position". The use of artificial intelligence to craft a cover letter and/or resume/CV is strongly discouraged - we want to hear from you! We are reviewing applications on an ongoing basis. This posting will remain open until the position is filled. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Terrastory welcomes and promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including those with disabilities consistent with being able to fulfill the requirements of the position. Candidates requiring accommodations during the selection process are encouraged to self-identify.

Terrastory is not currently accepting third-party applications.