Senior Project Scientist

Department: Liquid Waste Services

Employee Group: Teamsters Local 31

Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby

Salary Range/ Wage Rate: PG T31 $4,413.08 - $5,217.83 bi-weekly

Our Liquid Waste Services Department is seeking a Senior Project Scientist who will work within a team of environmental monitoring technicians, scientists and engineers to plan and deliver large scale complex environmental management initiatives and projects such as environmental studies, monitoring and modeling programs, human health and ecological risk assessments, and ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory framework requirements for liquid waste management in the region. You have formal education and a professional designation as a scientist and substantial experience in an environmental science setting related to discharges to the aquatic environment. This is complex technical and strategic work and involves overseeing, reviewing and directing work of professional and technical staff, providing senior scientific leadership and technical oversight and acting as the technical expert on various technical working groups and committees.

You are: A strategically oriented critical thinker, a natural leader, a great communicator orally and in writing, a team player, well organized, detail oriented, and experienced in planning and delivery of large scale complex environmental management projects.

This role:

• Leads and oversees the planning and delivery of large scale complex environmental management programs and projects that support the utility’s operational, regulatory, and strategic objectives such as environmental studies, monitoring and modeling initiatives, human health and ecological risk assessments; and coordinates with interdisciplinary staff and management in accordance with project objectives, standards and requirements.
• Researches, investigates, analyzes and interprets the overall impact of Metro Vancouver liquid waste discharges on the receiving environment; leads the development of project phases in consultation with interdisciplinary staff and consultants, including project scope, design, scheduling, permitting, procurement, budget management, risk mitigation, stakeholder engagement and deliverables for project phases.
• Directs and oversees the work of consultants engaged in project development and delivery activities; ensures performance of contracts according to contractual documents and corporate standards; oversees the preparation of required project specific deliverables; and provides project direction within the boundaries of regulatory requirements, policy and operational issues.
• Assembles, researches, analyzes and interprets complex technical information; writes and presents technical reports and provides recommendations to management for next steps; ensures environmental management initiatives and projects such as environmental studies, monitoring and modeling programs, human health and ecological risk assessments are in compliance with legislative and regulatory framework requirements for liquid waste management in the region.
• Plans, assigns, reviews and directs the work of professional and technical staff; provides senior scientific leadership and technical oversight; and acts as the technical expert on various technical working groups and committees.
• Coordinates an interdisciplinary project team of staff and consultants to ensure delivery of project requirements throughout the project life cycle; builds contingency for staff coverage of projects within the team; and ensures projects conform to corporate, regulatory, contractual and environmental objectives, standards and requirements.
• Monitors project progress to ensure requirements are within project scope, timeline and budget; manages scheduling conflicts; carries out field work, coordinates tasks and resources; assesses requirements for extra work and changes in scope; provides explanations and justifications for variances; provides project status updates; and prepares presentations to management.
• Consults with and provides clear technical recommendations to management team and external stakeholders; and participates in team budget planning and forecasting.
• Maintains liaison with a variety of internal and external departments on matters related to the work; attends or organizes meetings with various departments and committees related to the work.
• Represents the department as a subject matter expert; presents on technical topics, work plans and study findings to internal and external committees, various technical working groups, forums and management.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:

• University graduation in biology, environmental science, chemistry, oceanography or related discipline, preferably at the post-graduate level, and extensive related post-graduate experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, procedures, methods and techniques related to the work performed.
• Thorough knowledge of the legislation, regulations, policies, procedures and requirements guiding liquid waste management in the region and protecting human and ecological health.
• Thorough knowledge of contaminants, receiving environment, receptor, exposure pathways and severity of potential impacts in assessment of cumulative effects in regional waterbodies.
• Considerable knowledge of department objectives, operations and activities as they relate to the work.
• Ability to lead the planning and delivery of large scale complex environmental management programs and projects, and to oversee all requisite activities to ensure project delivery throughout the project life cycle according to established standards.
• Ability to collect, analyze and synthesize technical, statistical, costing and related data and information in the review and evaluation of plans and proposals.
• Ability to plan, assign, review and directs the work of professional and technical staff, and to provide senior scientific leadership and technical oversight.
• Ability to oversee the work of consultants and contractors and ensure performance criteria and contract specifications are met.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and to prepare various technical reports, recommendations and presentations related to the work.
• Ability to operate a corporate vehicle for field work as required.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts and stakeholders.
• Registered Professional Biologist with the College of Applied Biology, or Professional Chemist with the Association of the Chemical Profession, or similar professional designation.
• Class 5 Driver's Licence for the Province of British Columbia.