Principal Aquatics Specialist

Jacobs; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 118,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work policy

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking a Principal Aquatics Specialist to lead the aquatics practice with strategic, technical and operational oversight across Canada, guiding projects from proposal through operations. You will mentor staff, shape technical direction, manage budgets and supervise aquatic fieldwork, with a focus on regulatory compliance and client relationships.

The role requires 20+ years in aquatic biology in Western Canada, professional designation, and deep experience with Fisheries Acts and

Qualifications

• 20+ years of Aquatic Biologist experience in Western Canada (consulting preferred).
• Strong regulatory act knowledge (Fisheries Act and related legislation).
• Experience overseeing fieldwork and leading diverse biologist teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior SME and provide technical oversight for aquatics assessments, permitting, monitoring, and regulatory compliance.
• Lead resolution of complex technical challenges and support project teams with specialized expertise.
• Mentor staff development and contribute to team capacity and capability.

Skills

Technical leadership

Mentorship

Regulatory knowledge

Technical writing

Driver's license

Education

BSc/MSc/PhD in fish/aquatic studies

Professional designation (BC/AB)

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

When it comes to environmental consulting, we’re helping our clients protect our world’s natural resources. Pave the way for your career with a company that inspires and empowers you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow, and succeed—today and into tomorrow. You'll impact the world around you by helping us solve real-life challenges.

As a Principal Aquatics Specialist, you will provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the aquatics practice. This role is responsible for advancing technical excellence, mentoring staff, supporting business growth, and guiding the delivery of high-quality aquatics services. The position influences practice direction and team development through expertise and leadership, without direct supervisory responsibilities.

Based out of Alberta or British Columbia, this will be a full-time, mostly office-based role. You’ll have the opportunity to work with multidisciplinary project teams guiding aquatic environmental planning and permitting efforts for government and privately-owned infrastructure projects. You will provide technical direction and supervision for the duration of these projects, throughout the proposal, design, construction, and operations phases, with the opportunity to lead the implementation of the work, the development of budgets, methodology, and the review of deliverables, and regulatory applications. In this position, you will leverage relationships with clients, regulators, and subcontractors and provide insight into business development. The successful candidate will have a reputation in the industry as a technical expert and possess a demonstrated ability to defend the technical rigor of the work completed.

Bring your expertise in environmental science and desire to conserve our natural resources, and we’ll empower you to deliver the boldest solutions for our clients.

Core Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior subject matter expert and provide technical oversight for aquatics assessments, permitting, monitoring, proposals and regulatory requirements
• Lead resolution of complex technical challenges and support project teams with specialized expertise
• Monitor emerging science, regulations, methodologies, and industry practices to ensure continual improvement

Strategic Direction

• Contribute to team capacity and capability development
• Advise leadership on emerging risks, opportunities, and trends affecting aquatic resources and regulatory environments
• Assist in interviews and identify skill gaps within the team to build capacity across Canada
• Support business development efforts from a technical perspective, including proposal preparation and client relationship management
• Represent the organization with regulators, industry associations, Indigenous communities, and other stakeholders as a senior technical advisor

Mentorship and Skill Development

• Mentor and support staff development through coaching, training, and knowledge sharing
• Help develop a collaborative and inclusive team culture

Operational Effectiveness

• Assist Project Managers in matching staff skills to project needs
• Identify efficiencies in field programs, reporting processes, and project execution.

Here’s what you’ll need

• B.Sc., M.Sc, or Doctorate degree in fish or aquatic-related studies with relevant experience conducting and managing aquatic studies (such as fish and fish habitat assessments, water quality monitoring, fish sampling, etc.)
• Hold Professional Designation under the BC College of Applied Biology and/or the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists
• 20+ years of experience as an Aquatic Biologist in the natural resources sector in Western Canada, preferably in a consulting environment
• In-depth knowledge and experience with the Federal Fisheries Act and other relevant provincial and federal environmental legislation in Western Canada and how it applies to natural resource projects
• Previous experience overseeing aquatics fieldwork, directing and/or managing aquatic crews in remote settings from the office
• Previous experience leading and providing mentorship for a team of biologists of varying skill levels and experience. Desire to be involved in hiring and growing positive mentoring relationships
• Excellent technical writing skills and experience providing technical reviews and edits as needed
• Relevant linear development (e.g., roads, conveyance) or oil and gas regulatory experience
• Experience liaising with regulators and providing strategic regulatory advice to clients and internal teams during all stages of the project life cycle
• Must have a driver's license and clean driver’s abstract for any work travel

Ideally, you’ll also have

• Experience working with a diverse range of private and municipal clients, including oil and gas, mining, transportation, water, infrastructure, and energy
• Experience growing and maintaining client relationships and business development opportunities
• Time management skills, with the ability to simultaneously work on multiple tasks/projects and meet project deadlines within budget.
• Familiarity with digitally collected field data in a web browser or desktop-based digital solution.

Posted Salary Range Minimum

117,900.00

Posted Salary Range Upper

184,200.00

The base salary range for this position is $117,900.00 to $184,200.00. This range reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across British Columbia, Canada locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.