Environmental Field Technician Co-op Student

City of Barrie; Barrie; On-site; CAD 28,000 - 37,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

OMERS pension plan (optional)

EFAP access

Transit Pass discounts

City Fitness membership discounts

Job summary

The City of Barrie is seeking a temporarily‑appointed Environmental Field Technician Co‑op Student to support the Environmental Risk Management and Compliance team within the Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability Department. You will assist Senior Officers with inspection and sampling duties to protect water sources and public health.

In this 4‑month term (Jan–Apr 2027), you will conduct data collection, samples, and reporting, gain hands‑on field experience, and develop knowledge of

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a recognized College or University co‑op program.
• Standard First Aid Certification required.
• Minimum of 16 years of age or turning 16 by year end and must be enrolled or returning to study.

Responsibilities

• Perform data collection, sampling, and reporting to ensure compliance with approvals and by-laws.
• Collect surface water samples for the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program.
• Support monitoring, inspection, and sampling of storm and sanitary sewers.
• Conduct inspections in the ICI sector.
• Investigate discharges and contain spills.
• Operate, maintain, and calibrate sampling equipment.
• Maintain stock levels in vehicles and storage bays.
• Input data, scan and file records.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Skills

Field sampling

Data collection

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Physical stamina

Education

College/University co-op program

Standard First Aid Certification

Minimum age 16

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 11:59 pm

Posting Number: COOP

Job Type: Co-op, Temporary-Full-time, Up to 4 Months, Union (2 vacancies)

Posted: Wednesday, October 7, 2026

The Opportunity

The Environmental Risk Management and Compliance team is part of the City of Barrie's Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability Department. The team works to protect the City's drinking water sources, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and public health through environmental monitoring, compliance, risk management, and enforcement programs. Key areas of work include source water protection, environmental investigations, spill response, groundwater and surface water monitoring, sewer use compliance, contaminated site management, and environmental review of development applications. Working alongside experienced environmental professionals, this position offers a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on field experience supporting programs that help protect and enhance Barrie's environment.

Under the general guidance and direction of the Manager of Environmental Risk Management and Compliance, the Environmental Field Technician Co‑op Student is responsible for supporting the Senior Environmental Officers, Environmental Officers and Environmental Field Technician with inspection and sampling duties.

The successful applicant to this position will perform and/or assist with the following tasks:

• Performing data collection, sampling, and reporting duties to ensure compliance with Certificates of Approvals, Environmental Compliance Approvals and Permits to Take Water and applicable Municipal By‑laws such as the Sewer Use and Site Alteration By‑laws
• Collecting surface water samples as part of the City of Barrie’s Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Supporting the monitoring, inspection, and sampling of storm sewers and sanitary sewers in the City of Barrie
• Conducting inspections in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) Sector
• Conducting investigations and evaluations of discharges into the natural environment, including the containment of spills
• Operating, maintaining, and calibrating various types of sampling equipment
• Maintaining stock levels in vehicles and storage bay
• Related administrative duties such as data input, scanning and filing
• Other related duties, as required

Our Culture And Qualifications Of The Job

Corporate Culture

Your workplace values align with our corporate values of Strive, Share and Care and you want to join us in providing exceptional services and programs to build a prosperous, growing and sustainable community.

Equally important to what we do is how we do it - your actions reflect our core accountabilities of Personal Awareness, Teamwork and Collaboration, Respect and Inclusion, Innovation, and Service Excellence, which define how we work together to succeed.

Education

• Currently enrolled in a recognized College or University co‑op program*
• Standard First Aid Certification
• Minimum of 16 years of age or turning 16 by the end of the calendar year and must have attended one of the academic establishments listed above the year in which they are applying for employment and/or returning the following year

Experience

• Demonstrated field sampling experience

Knowledge/Skill/Ability

• Demonstrated ability to regularly exert physical effort to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects exceeding 10 kg
• Demonstrated ability to carry out the physical duties of the position which include climbing stairs and walking over rough terrain and wading in creeks
• Basic computer literacy utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Intermediate oral and written communication skills
• General knowledge of environmental field sampling techniques
• General knowledge of current environmental industry legislation, regulations and best practices including the following:
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act and associated regulations
  • Environmental Protection Act and associated regulations
  • Clean Water Act
  • Provincial Water Quality Objectives
  • Regulation 347

Conditions of Employment

• Valid Ontario Class "G" Driver's License in good standing
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check*
• Please note that this is a requirement for any new employees to the City of Barrie in accordance with the Police Record Check Policy. Existing employees who have met this criteria will be exempt from this requirement.

Other Important Information

Work Term:

January - April 2027 (4 Months)

Location:

Environmental Center, 272 Ferndale Drive North, Barrie, Ontario

Hours:

The normal hours of work are 35 hours per week in accordance with the Collective Agreement, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm

Wage:

$20.04 to $27.30 per hour

What We Offer:

This position includes optional enrollment in the OMERS Primary pension plan, prorated paid sick time based on the expected duration of employment and in accordance with the Employment Standards Act, access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP), discounted rates for City Fitness Memberships and Transit Passes, and access to the Perkopolis Perks program, which provides exclusive access to discounts on a wide range of products and services available to all City employees.

Why Barrie?

The City of Barrie is a vibrant, progressive, and growing community with deep connections to our heritage, to nature and to the opportunities surrounding us.

Our community values quality of life; the ability to play year-round with 300 hectares of park space, our beautiful waterfront, our lively downtown core and the nearby hills, wetlands, and forests. We also value connections; to our neighbours and the community, to our road and rail network, and to the opportunity Barrie provides to enjoy life.

Everything Barrie has to offer, from the water we drink to the roads we travel on, has one thing in common - municipal workers. Joining a municipality is one of the most rewarding, engaging, and exciting careers you could choose. It is a career you can take pride in knowing that every day you make a positive impact on an entire community. We are one team, with one goal and we all work together to continue making our community great.

The City of Barrie is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness and welcomes applications from qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices and we will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. If contacted for an employment opportunity, please advise if you require Code-protected accommodation and we will work with you to meet your needs.