Early Professional, Water Quality

WSP USA; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Comprehensive benefits

Virtual healthcare

Wellness programs

Savings plans

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Water Quality Scientist to join our Canada team. You will develop and apply surface water, mine water, and water quality models to support mining projects from exploration through closure, and support environmental assessments across Canada.

You will work with environmental scientists, geochemists, engineers, biologists, and planners to deliver defensible solutions for water resources, contribute to technical reports and regulatory submissions, and apply QA/QC to datasets while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or graduate degree in Environmental Science, Water Science, Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, or a related discipline.
• Experience assessing water quality data in mining environments.
• Experience developing and applying water quality and hydrodynamic models for lakes, rivers, estuaries, watersheds, or municipal systems.
• Experience with industry modelling software is an asset.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and data management skills.
• Experience using GIS, Python, R, or other tools for data analysis and visualization.
• Eligibility for registration or registration as a P.Eng. or P.Geo. is considered an asset.
• A passion for solving complex environmental challenges through science and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply surface water, mine water, and water quality models to support mining projects across all stages of development.
• Design and support water quality monitoring programs, including baseline characterization, environmental effects monitoring, compliance monitoring, and adaptive management programs.
• Analyze, manage, and interpret large water quality datasets to support environmental impact assessments, regulatory approvals, permitting applications, and operational decision-making.
• Analyze hydrodynamic, water quality, and environmental datasets to support project planning, design, assessment, and regulatory approvals.
• Evaluate contaminant fate and transport, metal loading, nutrient dynamics, mixing zones, assimilative capacity, and receiving environment responses to mine-related discharges.
• Support water quality predictions and effects assessments for environmental assessment and permitting processes, including federal and provincial regulatory reviews.
• Collaborate with hydrogeologists, geochemists, hydrologists, aquatic biologists, engineers, and environmental assessment specialists to develop integrated and defensible solutions for mining clients.
• Contribute to technical reports, impact assessment chapters, regulatory submissions, permit applications, and presentations that effectively communicate complex scientific findings.
• Prepare technical reports, modelling documentation, visualizations, and presentations that clearly communicate complex results.
• Apply rigorous QA/QC procedures to environmental datasets and contribute to the development of defensible technical conclusions and regulatory commitments.

Skills

Water quality modelling

Hydrodynamic modelling

Data analysis

GIS

Python

R

Education

Bachelor's or graduate degree in Environmental Science/Water Resources

Tools

GoldSim

CE-QUAL-W2

WASP

MIKE

HEC-RAS

QUAL2K

EFDC

Delft3D

Job description

What if you could redefine what's possible?

With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it.

We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers.

With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions.

We are pathfinders and impact makers.

We are Visioneers.

We are WSP.

The Opportunity

Shape the Future of Water Resources – Join a team that helps clients solve complex water quality challenges that directly impact communities, ecosystems, and the environment. As a Water Quality Scientist, you'll apply advanced modelling techniques and scientific expertise to support major infrastructure, watershed, environmental, and climate resilience projects across Canada. You'll work alongside environmental scientists, geochemists, engineers, biologists, and planners to deliver innovative solutions that help protect and manage our most valuable natural resource.

What you can expect to do here:

• Develop and apply surface water, mine water, and water quality models to support mining projects across all stages of development, from exploration and environmental assessment through operations and closure.

• Design and support water quality monitoring programs, including baseline characterization, environmental effects monitoring, compliance monitoring, and adaptive management programs.

• Analyze, manage, and interpret large water quality datasets to support environmental impact assessments, regulatory approvals, permitting applications, and operational decision-making.

• Analyze hydrodynamic, water quality, and environmental datasets to support project planning, design, assessment, and regulatory approvals.

• Evaluate contaminant fate and transport, metal loading, nutrient dynamics, mixing zones, assimilative capacity, and receiving environment responses to mine-related discharges.

• Support water quality predictions and effects assessments for environmental assessment and permitting processes, including federal and provincial regulatory reviews.

• Collaborate with hydrogeologists, geochemists, hydrologists, aquatic biologists, engineers, and environmental assessment specialists to develop integrated and defensible solutions for mining clients.

• Contribute to technical reports, impact assessment chapters, regulatory submissions, permit applications, and presentations that effectively communicate complex scientific findings.

• Prepare technical reports, modelling documentation, visualizations, and presentations that clearly communicate complex results.

• Apply rigorous QA/QC procedures to environmental datasets and contribute to the development of defensible technical conclusions and regulatory commitments.

What you'll bring to WSP:

• Bachelor's or graduate degree in Environmental Science, Water Science, Water Resources Engineering, Hydrology, or a related discipline.

• Experience assessing water quality data in mining environments

• Experience developing and applying water quality and hydrodynamic models for lakes, rivers, estuaries, watersheds, or municipal systems.

• Experience with industry modelling software such as GoldSim, CE-QUAL-W2, WASP, MIKE, HEC-RAS, QUAL2K, EFDC, Delft3D, or similar tools is an asset.

• Strong quantitative, analytical, and data management skills.

• Experience using GIS, Python, R, or other tools for data analysis and visualization.

• Eligibility for registration or registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) or Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) is considered an asset.

• A passion for solving complex environmental challenges through science and innovation.

Why Choose WSP?

We exist to shape communities and advance humanity.

• Proudly Canadian, with a global network of technical experts and industry leaders.

• Meaningful work that supports environmental stewardship, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

• Opportunities to collaborate on high-profile and technically challenging projects across Canada and beyond.

• Flexible work options that support work-life balance.

• Comprehensive benefits, virtual healthcare, wellness programs, and savings plans.

• Limitless opportunities for growth, development, and career advancement.

Compensation

AB, BC, NT, NU, SK, & YT - $30.80 - $40.80

MB & ON - $28.10 - $38.70

NB, NL, NS, PE & QC - $27.80 - $36.90

Disclosure:

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes

Ready to Shape the Future?

Launch your engineering career with meaningful work, expert mentorship, and opportunities to contribute to projects that have a lasting impact on communities. Join WSP and discover how far your talent, curiosity, and ambition can take you.

At WSP , we exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges - engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion - to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

At WSP , you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day - applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Join us.

Please Note:

Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here (https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/corporate/ca/health-safety) .

Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits).

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

WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Full details here (https://www.wsp.com/en-ca/careers/notice-to-staffing-agencies) .