Flood Forecasting and Warning Coordinator
A principal mandate of Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) is to reduce the risk to life and damage to property caused by flooding. We do this by providing local municipalities and the public with notice, information, and advice so that they can respond during severe rainfall events with the potential for flooding, and during flood-related emergencies.
Why work for us?
SVCA’s Administrative Office is situated in the heart of the Saugeen Valley watershed. We offer competitive public sector pay and comprehensive benefits. With our small, but passionate team, you will know your co-workers by name and will have direct access to the considerable knowledge of these individuals.
Summary of Functions
Conservation Authorities and municipalities prepare for, track, and manage local flooding in much of Ontario. Advance warning of a potential flood enables conservation authorities to support their municipal partners whom can then put emergency plans into operation, evacuate communities if necessary, and secure property in areas that are more likely to flood.
Reporting to the Manager, Water Resources, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Coordinator will be responsible for the development, improvement, coordination, and implementation of SVCA’s hydrometric programming. While continuing to improve SVCA’s hydrometric network and using state of the art hydrometric technology, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Coordinator will oversee SVCA’s hydrometric program consisting of precipitation and stream gauge networks. This position will ensure data continuity and quality for SVCA’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Program and other users of this data. The Flood Forecasting and Warning Coordinator will be responsible for SVCA’s Flood Warning System.
Eligibility Requirements:
The ideal candidate will have the following competencies:
Education
- Post-secondary degree or diploma in Environmental Science, Hydrology, Water Resources or Civil/Environmental Engineering.
- 3 years experience in hydrometrics data acquisition, stream/rain gauge installation and maintenance, developing stage/discharge measurements, and project management.
- Valid driver’s license.
Technical Knowledge
- You have experience applying the theory, principles, practices, and techniques of water resource engineering and/or hydrology pertaining to water flow and volume, flood and drought management, surface water information management and modeling.
- You have demonstrated understanding of how water resource engineering and hydrology is applied to natural resource management in the areas of water-related hazard management, water resource and quantity management, water supply, use and demand, ecological sustainability, hydrologic concepts, principles, management practices, planning approaches.
- You have knowledge of engineering analytical, problem solving techniques, data and information analysis and interpretation techniques and software to evaluate, interpret and respond to real-time raw data streams, to develop/evaluate data quality influences on model results and to support program development.
- Experience and knowledge with Water Information Systems by Kisters(WISKI) and Simultaneous Data Acquisition (SODA) considered an asset.
- Full membership with the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) would be considered an asset.
Project Management, Planning and Leadership Skills
- You have demonstrated planning, organizational and coordination skills to assist with program planning, priority setting, program evaluation, project estimates/budgeting, organizing/assigning work, scheduling staff coverage and developing strategies for dealing with operational pressures.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- You have experience providing expert water resource and hydrological advice, reporting on projects, data analysis reviewing/directing the work of consultants, responding to inquiries and presenting results of investigations and watershed conditions analysis to various audiences.
- You have demonstrated ability to develop/prepare a variety of written materials such as reports, plans, proposals, and training materials.
- You have proven interpersonal and stakeholder relations skills to liaise, communicate, negotiate and facilitate partnerships and teamwork.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Provides strategic direction and services to support the operation of SVCA’s hydrometric network, including the development and maintenance of the monitoring network, tools, techniques and models, as well as the latest information and science (e.g. network design, changes in thresholds due to new/revised standards or science developments) related to surface water monitoring.
2. Prepares and circulates flood and drought forecasts, SVCA Duty Roster, messages and reports to municipalities, stakeholders, and the public based on real-time raw data collected by the hydrometric network.
3. Provides team leadership and coordination related to the operation of SVCA’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, as well as SVCA’s Water and Erosion Control Infrastructure.
4. Provides direction, reports, training, and guidance with respect to operational procedures, data collection, modelling, analyses and issues resolution, reviews and ensures quality of work.
5. Responsible for program planning, priority setting and evaluation (e.g. identifying and recommending improvements to the hydrometric network, assessing effectiveness in identifying sensitive and risk prone areas for flooding and drought).
6. Develops and delivers knowledge transfer through workshops, seminars, training sessions and development of training materials.
7. Participates in the budget development and administration process by recommending infrastructure and equipment needs associated with SVCA’s hydrometric networks.
Work with other Water Resources Department staff to deliver programs and services, when necessary.
8. Supervising contract staff as required, including independent contractors, interns, as well as cooperative education students and summer staff.
Additional Information:
Work Environment/Conditions:
- This position requires work in an office environment as well as out-of-doors during all seasons. The outdoor field work will require some physical effort (e.g., navigating uneven terrain).
- The position will require monitoring of streamflow, river ice and meteorological conditions outside of typical working hours. Occasionally, shift work will be required in the event of flooding conditions.
- Travel is normally within the Saugeen watershed, however, additional meetings outside of the watershed may be required.
Location:
- Position is based at the SVCA’s Administrative office at 1078 Bruce Road 12, Formosa.
Wage and Benefits:
- Salary: $63,822 -$75,618
- Hours: 37.5 hours per week
- Benefits:
- OMERS pension
- Comprehensive Benefit Package
Start Date: March 29, 2021
Closing date for applications: March 10, 2021
Please submit your cover letter and resumé outlining how your experience meets the necessary qualifications to:
Jo-Anne Harbinson, Manager, Water Resources
j.harbinson@svca.on.ca
Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority
1078 Bruce Road 12, P.O. Box 150, Formosa, ON N0G 1W0
Email is the preferred submission method. Submit your cover letter and resume as one .pdf document. Document file name and email subject line should be your name followed by _FFWCOOR2021 (EG. Joanne.Harbinson_FFWCOOR2021.pdf).
We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. Late applications will not be considered.
SVCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In accordance with AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005), SVCA will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. If you require disability – related accommodations, please inform SVCA Administrative Staff (publicinfo@svca.on.ca). All personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
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