Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) - (Summer 2027)

Employment and Social Development Canada; Canada; Hybrid; CAD 2,066,000 - 3,031,000; Full time

Job summary

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) invites applications for the Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) for Summer 2027 across multiple Canadian locations. The program provides paid, hands-on federal work experience in conservation and protection of Canada's fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.

Participants will work alongside experienced Fishery Officers, gain real-world exposure to conservation operations, and receive mentorship in a structured learning environment.

Qualifications

• Reliable, calm, and able to exercise sound judgment.
• Motivated, hardworking, and eager to learn.
• Flexible and comfortable working in both office and field environments.
• Strong communicator with ability to communicate in English and/or French, depending on location.

Responsibilities

• Participating in public education and outreach activities.
• Accompanying Fishery Officers on routine patrols.
• Assisting with management of fisheries-related materials and inventories.
• Responding to public inquiries and document preparation.
• Preparing and maintaining vehicles, vessels and equipment.
• Performing general office administration and organizational duties.

Job description

Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) - (Summer 2027)

Federal Student Work Experience Program

Bay Roberts (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Campbell River (British Columbia),

Charlottetown (Prince Edward Island),

Clarenville (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Corner Brook (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Duncan (British Columbia),

Grand Falls (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Happy Valley-Goose Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Kedgwick (New Brunswick),

Langley (British Columbia),

Marystown (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Pacific Rim (Tofino) (British Columbia),

Pictou (Nova Scotia),

Port Alberni (British Columbia),

Port Hardy (British Columbia),

Prince Rupert (British Columbia),

Richibucto (New Brunswick),

Salmon Arm (British Columbia),

Shediac (New Brunswick),

Shippagan (New Brunswick),

Stephenville (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Summerside (Prince Edward Island),

Terrace (British Columbia),

Twillingate (Newfoundland and Labrador),

Looking for meaningful summer work that gets you out of the classroom and into the field?

The Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) offers post‑secondary students a paid opportunity to gain hands‑on experience with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) while supporting the conservation and protection of Canada’s fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.

Work alongside experienced fishery officers, learn how conservation and enforcement operations support communities across Canada, and build practical skills for a future career in the federal public service.

DFO is seeking curious, motivated students from diverse backgrounds who are eager to learn and make a difference.

What you will gain

The Fishery Officer Student Program (FOSP) offers students a meaningful opportunity to gain paid, hands‑on federal work experience with DFO while exploring a future career in conservation and protection. Through the program, students will:

• Work alongside experienced Fishery Officers;
• Gain real‑world exposure to fisheries conservation;
• Learn how conservation and enforcement operations function in the field and office;
• Receive professional mentorship in a safe, structured learning environment; and
• Contribute to the protection of Canada’s fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.

This experience can help students build a strong foundation for future public service careers, including in the Fishery Officer Initial Training Program.

What you will do

Students will support Fishery Officers by:

• Participating in public education and outreach activities;
• Accompanying Fishery Officers on their routine patrols;
• Assisting with the management of fisheries‑related materials and maintaining inventories;
• Responding to public inquiries and document preparation;
• Preparing and maintaining vehicles, vessels and equipment; and
• Performing general office administration and organizational duties.

Candidates must be available to work full‑time from May 3, 2027 through the end of August 2027.

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located:

• in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first; and/or
• in Yukon, qualified members of the Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

The ideal candidate is:

• Reliable, calm, and able to exercise sound judgment;
• Motivated, hardworking, and eager to learn;
• Flexible and comfortable working in both office and field environments;
• A strong communicator with the ability to communicate in English and/or French, depending on the work location;
• Interested in the marine environment and supporting fishery officers.

Fields of Study

Students from a variety of disciplines are encouraged to apply. Relevant fields of study may include, but are not limited to:

This is a unique opportunity to gain practical experience while contributing to real‑world conservation and protection efforts.

Conditions of employment

This work may involve field, outdoor and operational environments, students must meet the following conditions of employment:

Security Requirement: Various depending on the work locations (Enhanced Reliability or Enhanced Secret). For more information, please visit the following website: security screening process .

Driver’s Licence: Possess and maintain a valid Canadian driver’s licence that authorizes you to operate a motor vehicle independently in Canada.

Age Requirement: Must be at least 18 years old at the time of the employment.

Physical Condition

• Students must be physically capable of safely lifting and carrying items weighing between 10 kg and 20 kg on a regular basis.
• Students must be physically fit and be able to spend significant periods standing, walking, hiking or working on vessels.

Willingness to work irregular hours and overtime

• Must be willing and able to work:
  • Shift work;
  • Weekends and holidays;
  • Extended hours when operationally required; and
  • Overtime on short notice when operationally required.

Field and outdoor work

• Must be willing and able to work:
  • Outdoors;
  • On, in and near water;
  • In remote and/or coastal locations; and
  • In all weather conditions.

Travel and deployment

• Must be willing and able to travel for work and accept assignments based on operational needs, if required.

*Note

Travel required for operational purposes will be arranged and/or reimbursed in accordance with Government of Canada travel directives and departmental policies.

Additional requirements

• Housing or relocation assistance will not be provided for this position. Students are responsible for securing their own accommodations and covering any costs associated with relocating to the selected work location.
• Students can expect to receive communications within one week of the closing date.
• It is your responsibility to regularly monitor your email account, including your junk/spam folders, for communications related to this selection process, and to notify us of any changes to your mailing address, telephone number, or email address by contacting [e-mail] .
• Following the closing date, you will receive an email invitation to complete your candidate profile in the VidCruiter platform. Completion of this profile is mandatory in order to be considered further in the staffing process. Students who do not complete this step within the specified timeframe will not be considered for this job opportunity.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is dedicated to protecting Canada's aquatic ecosystems, supporting sustainable fisheries, conserving marine habitats, promoting marine safety, and advancing reconciliation and international collaboration. As a Public Service employer, DFO is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We recognize the value that diverse perspectives bring to our organization and are committed to removing systemic barriers that may limit equitable access to employment opportunities, beginning with the hiring process.

To support the continued diversification of our workforce, preference will be given to students who self‑declare as belonging to one or more of the following Employment Equity groups: Indigenous Peoples, Members of Racialized Groups, Persons with Disabilities, and Women, where regional or national representation gaps exist. As part of your application for this student employment opportunity, you are encouraged to voluntarily self‑declare your membership in any Employment Equity group(s) to which you belong. This information may be used to support employment equity objectives and staffing decisions. To learn more about self‑declaration and how this information is used, please visit the Government of Canada’s Self‑declaring for Government of Canada jobs webpage.

At every stage of the process, from the submission of your application through the end of the evaluation process, accommodations or adjustments are available to you. The information you provide regarding accommodations will remain confidential.

Let us know what you need. This may include accessible environments, different formats, larger fonts, assistive technology, extra time, or individual testing, among other things.

Accommodations are designed to remove barriers to a fair evaluation and allow candidates to fully demonstrate their skills.