Junior Photo Interpreter

PRI Consultants; Kelowna; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health and dental

RRSP matching

Professional dues paid

Job summary

PRI Engineering Consultants in Kelowna, BC and other offices across Canada invites applications for a Junior Photo Interpreter to support forest inventory, vegetation resource inventory, and change monitoring projects.

You will interpret aerial imagery, LiDAR, and satellite data, while collaborating with GIS specialists and field crews to produce accurate mapping products. A mentorship path offers growth into more senior technical roles.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Forestry, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Remote Sensing, GIS, or a related field.
• Experience or coursework in stereo photo interpretation, remote sensing, or aerial image analysis.
• Proficiency with GIS software (ArcGIS or QGIS).

Responsibilities

• Interpret aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and LiDAR data to delineate and classify forest stands and land cover.
• Support forest inventory and Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI) projects with stand delineation and attribute classification.
• Contribute to Change Monitoring Inventory (CMI) projects, identifying landscape change over time.
• Conduct quality control checks to ensure accuracy and consistency of interpretation products.
• Use GIS software to compile, edit, and maintain spatial databases.
• Collaborate with GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews to validate interpretation against ground-truth data.
• Assist with data collection and periodic summer fieldwork in remote areas.
• Prepare clear documentation of methods and results for internal and client use.

Skills

Attention to detail

Strong communication

Willingness to travel

Education

Diploma or degree in Forestry, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Remote Sensing, GIS, or related field

Tools

ArcGIS

QGIS

Job description

Junior Photo Interpreter

PRI Engineering Consultants | Kelowna, BC, Vancouver, BC, Peterborough, ON & Halifax, NS

Full-time, permanent

The Future of Consulting Starts Here.

About the role

PRI Consultants is an independent, Canadian-owned multidisciplinary engineering and environmental consulting firm of roughly 150 professionals across eleven offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. We are hiring a Junior Photo Interpreter to join our Forestry & Inventory team, based out of our various offices listed above.

In this role, you will interpret aerial imagery, satellite imagery, and LiDAR data to support forest inventory, vegetation resource inventory, and change monitoring projects for public and private sector clients across Canada. You will work closely with GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews to produce accurate, defensible mapping and classification products.

This is a junior role with room to grow. You will receive mentorship from senior analysts as you build your technical skills in photo interpretation and remote sensing.

What you'll do

• Interpret aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and LiDAR data to delineate and classify forest stands, vegetation types, and land cover
• Support forest inventory and Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI) projects, including stand delineation and attribute classification
• Contribute to Change Monitoring Inventory (CMI) projects, identifying and classifying landscape change over time
• Conduct quality control checks on photo interpretation products to ensure accuracy and consistency
• Use GIS software, such as ArcGIS or QGIS, to compile, edit, and maintain spatial databases
• Collaborate with GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews to validate interpretation against ground-truth data
• Assist with data collection and field verification, including periodic summer fieldwork in remote areas
• Prepare clear, well-organized documentation of methods and results for internal and client use

What you bring

Required

• Diploma or degree in Forestry, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Remote Sensing, GIS, or a related field
• Experience or coursework in stereo photo interpretation (ability to see in 3D and no colour blindness), remote sensing, or aerial image analysis
• Proficiency with GIS software, such as ArcGIS or QGIS
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate, consistent classification work
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to project and field sites, including remote locations

Preferred

• Experience with VRI (BC Vegetation Resources Inventory) FRI (Ontario Forest Resource Inventory) standards and procedures
• Familiarity with LiDAR data and its application to forest inventory
• Consulting industry experience

Candidates who demonstrate strong capability and a willingness to work extended field tasks in remote areas during the summer will be viewed favorably. Certification in CMI (Change Monitoring Inventory) would also be considered a strong asset.

Why PRI

• Varied work across forest inventory, change monitoring, and remote sensing projects for public and private sector clients across Canada
• A collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment working alongside GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews
• Genuine mentorship and a growth path toward intermediate and senior technical roles
• Hands‑on summer fieldwork opportunities alongside steady office-based analytical work
• Extended health and dental, RRSP matching, and professional dues paid

PRI is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from Indigenous professionals.