Senior Wildlife Ecologist

SLR Consulting; Nanaimo; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking company as a Senior Wildlife Ecologist, where you'll lead innovative projects across Canada. This role offers the chance to shape the future of wildlife consulting, focusing on species at risk and sensitive habitats. You'll collaborate with diverse teams, mentor junior staff, and engage with clients and stakeholders, all while navigating complex regulatory frameworks. With a commitment to sustainability, this firm provides a supportive environment for professional growth and advancement, making it an exciting opportunity for passionate ecologists ready to make a significant impact.

Benefits

Competitive compensation plan

Flexible scheduling

Benefits package

Opportunities for professional growth

Wellness initiatives

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as a Wildlife Ecologist in environmental consulting.
• Demonstrated leadership on multidisciplinary project teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex wildlife projects across Western and Northern Canada.
• Provide technical guidance on wildlife and habitat assessments.

Skills

Wildlife Ecology

Project Management

Regulatory Compliance

Data Analysis

Technical Writing

Communication Skills

Education

Master's degree in Wildlife Ecology

PhD in Wildlife Biology

Tools

Environmental Assessments

Habitat Suitability Models

Job description

Job Title Senior Wildlife Ecologist

Vacancy No VN5017

Employment Type Permanent

Contract Type Full-Time

Advert

• Lead work on projects across Canada, with a primary focus on wildlife related projects in western and northern Canada
• 10+ years of experience as an ecologist in the environmental consulting
• Registered as a professional biologist (RPBio. and/or P.Biol.)
• Based in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Regina, or Saskatoon with flexible work options available
  
  
  

We are SLR Consulting (Canada), a 600+ team of advisory, environmental/engineering, and regulatory professionals across 18 office locations in Canada. We deliver environmental and sustainability services to our clients through the integration of advisory and over 30 technical environmental and engineering disciplines to help clients address some of their most complex challenges around sustainability, we are Making Sustainability Happen.

Job Description

As we continue to grow our Wildlife team in Western Canada, we’re looking for a Senior Wildlife Ecologist who is ready to lead, mentor, and shape the future of our practice. If you're looking to pair your technical expertise with team building, client development, and practice leadership, we’ll give you the platform, autonomy, and support to make it happen.

Success in this role will depend on your ability to provide technical leadership in wildlife sciences while effectively collaborating with other disciplines within SLR, clients, regulators, Indigenous groups, and stakeholders. You will bring a strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and best practices for biophysical assessments, habitat management and mitigation. In addition to your technical expertise, you will have experience in project management, proposal development, and mentoring technical staff.

You will take on a leadership role in wildlife and terrestrial habitat assessments, with a primary focus on species at risk, migratory birds, and sensitive habitats. You will work closely with a team of experienced Ecologists and Permitting professionals to navigate complex regulatory requirements, including Environmental Assessments, the federal Impact Assessment Act, Species at Risk Act, Migratory Birds Convention Act, and provincial wildlife legislation and regulations. Your role will include designing and overseeing field programs, guiding the development of high-quality technical reports (e.g., Wildlife Mitigation and Monitoring Plans, Effects Assessments, and Habitat Suitability Models), and providing strategic advice to clients on regulatory compliance and best practices for managing and protecting terrestrial wildlife and their habitats.

In addition to your project responsibilities, you will provide mentorship and guidance to technical staff; conduct business development, including building and maintaining client relationships and seeking and preparing proposals; and support the growth of our national wildlife services, enhancing our capabilities and industry presence.

This is more than a technical role — it's an opportunity to grow a business, shape a team, and leave a legacy. So if you’re entrepreneurial at heart, excited about growth, and ready to be given the space to really shine at what you’re good at, you’ll excel with us.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex wildlife projects across Western and Northern Canada, particularly for renewable energy, infrastructure, federal and mining clients
• Provide technical guidance on multidisciplinary project with aspects of wildlife and wildlife habitat assessments, regulatory permitting, and environmental assessments
• Contribute to and/or lead business development, including strategy, proposals, and expanding service offerings in Western and Northern Canada
• Build trusted relationships with clients, Indigenous communities, regulators, and stakeholders
• Design and guide field programs, ensuring scientific rigour and regulatory compliance
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to a collaborative, growth-focused culture
  
  
  

Working @ SLR

With us, there is no doubt you’ll continue to grow your subject-matter expertise and industry knowledge. We care about investing in our employees for the long-run, and if you ask our team, they’ll tell you that’s just one of the many benefits of working here. We want to be a place where you can experience career growth and satisfaction for many years.

Here’s what else you’ll enjoy as part of our team:

• Competitive total compensation plan, including benefits, vacation, RRSP contribution, and a suite of wellness initiatives
• Full-time, permanent role with flexible scheduling available (core hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm)
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement
  
  
  

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as a Wildlife Ecologist in the environmental consulting industry
• Master's degree or PhD in Wildlife Ecology, Biology or a related field would be considered an asset
• Demonstrated leadership on multi-disciplinary project teams and mentoring technical staff
• Exceptional communication skills — with technical and non-technical audiences alike
• Strong skills in data analysis and interpretation, as well as technical writing and review
• Proven ability to navigate regulatory processes for major projects in BC and/or Saskatchewan
  
  
  

SLR strives to build diverse teams that reflect the communities we work in, and encourages applications from traditionally underrepresented groups including women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, people identifying as 2SLGBTQI+, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Country Canada

Office Kamloops; Nanaimo; Regina; Saskatoon; Vancouver; Victoria