NBM Research Assistant
Position Title: NBM Research Assistant
Position Type: Full-Time (Term)
Program: Northern Boreal Mountains
Position Location: Whitehorse, Yukon
Date Written/Revised: 25 January 2024
Reports to: Dr. Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Co-Director of Northern Boreal Mountains program
Supervises (Direct supervision only): N/A
Term: 2 years with possibility to extend
Salary: $65,000 to $75,000 plus health benefits, travel and research expenses
Start date: April 1, 2024
Closing date: February 13th, 2024 at 6pm ET
Position Contact: Dr. Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle, Co-Director of Northern Boreal Mountains program
Position Summary:
The WCS Canada Northern Boreal Mountains (NBM) program seeks a motivated candidate to support our applied research and conservation program. The NBM Research Assistant will lead and implement field programs, conduct data management and analysis, assist with report writing, and contribute to communications. The Research Assistant will principally support a study of the cumulative impacts of human disturbance on breeding bird communities, while also contributing to the vision and strategies of the NBM program.
The NBM program is set in one of WCS Canada’s key geographic areas in Yukon and northern BC. Our vision is for the landscapes and biodiversity of the region to remain intact, have high ecological integrity, and be resilient to climate change. The NBM program is committed to reconciliation and advocating for a whole-of-society approach in which biodiversity is not just protected but truly valued and mainstreamed into decision-making. Our core strategies are: supporting land use planning through collaborative partnerships and by providing and enabling technical capacity; conducting targeted research on biodiversity and threats to it (including climate change and cumulative effects); and, engaging strategically in policy development and reform by providing scientific evidence and expertise.
Position Objectives:
- The Research Assistant will implement field research programs, including field logistics, overseeing field equipment inventory and maintenance, acoustic deployments and retrievals, data downloads.
- The Research Assistant will lead statistical and spatial analysis of the research project.
- The Research Assistant will assist with web-based communications, social media, office administrative support and training courses.
- Coordinate and communicate outcomes of projects and relevant information and research to community engagement initiatives and events, stakeholder meetings and organize round table discussions with industry to share our recommendations with industry.
- Contribute to other NBM field related projects through activities such as field planning, environmental monitoring, presentations, and communications.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Assist with the design and implementation of NBM conservation projects, including scoping, site selection, study design, data collection, field and spatial database maintenance, statistical and GIS analysis, and mapping of results using GIS tools.
- Conduct thorough and timely literature reviews using relevant information sources in support of the rigorous design and implementation of science-based field and non-field conservation projects.
- Assist with the preparation of NBM communication materials including reports, scientific publications, presentations, web content, and video and photographic media.
- Assume the role of Field Supervisor for all field programs:
- Schedule and manage field activities with consideration of project goals, logistics, safety, weather, and other relevant factors;
- Assist with the development and implementation of field safety protocols;
- Conduct field activities, which may include but not be limited to study site reconnaissance, bird surveys, habitat surveys, camera trapping, trail mapping, snow tracking, water quality testing, among others;
- Provide supervision, training, and general guidance to field assistants;
- Maintain field equipment, including project vehicle, and be responsible for replacing lost or broken equipment;
- Operate field vehicle according to all relevant laws and regulations;
- Manage field expenses, budgets and expense reporting
- Ensure the accuracy and completeness of data collection by all field staff, oversee data entry, and manage field project databases;
- Coordinate and communicate with relevant government agencies (Yukon Government, Canadian Wildlife Service, First Nations) and other partners as needed with respect to field operations;
- Other activities relevant to the success of field-based project activities.
- Support WCS Canada’s goal of transforming WCS Canada’s conservation practice through reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
- Contribute to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace that promotes engagement and belonging.
Required Qualifications:
- MSc or equivalent with field and research experience in wildlife or forest ecology
- Experience leading and implementing field programs and supervising field staff.
- Experience identifying birds by sight and sound
- Experience conducting remote fieldwork and operating 4×4 trucks on rough access roads
- Must possess a valid driver’s license
- Proficiency in computational skills, statistics, and ecological modelling to acoustic data, terrestrial ecology, conservation biology
- Experience using ArcGIS Pro, Q GIS or other open-source GIS software for mapping and spatial analysis
- Experience using R for statistical analyses
- Experience using Microsoft Excel for data management
- Demonstrated skills in writing scientific publications
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to collaborate with community partners on projects
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work in a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary work environment
- Strong organization and time-management skills
- Strong problem-solving skills, detail oriented and resourceful
- Positive, flexible, and team-oriented approach, with the ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working in an applied conservation field
- Knowledgeable of boreal ecology and relevant conservation issues
- Familiarity with Yukon’s land claims and self-governing agreements, the Aboriginal Rights and Title of unceded First Nations, UNDRIP, and FPIC; knowledge of Federal, Territorial, and/or Provincial legislation and policy relevant to biodiversity conservation is beneficial
- Two years of experience supervising field crews
- Remote or wilderness first aid and bear safety training
Additional information
WCS Canada provides an annual Northern Travel Allowance to employees that reside in a Northern Zone for the purpose of employment with WCS Canada.
The cost of transportation, accommodation, campground fees, fuel, and food will be covered for this position while in the field. In total, this position will involve a minimum of 8 weeks of field work in central Yukon per year. The remaining time will be spent on data entry, equipment organization, community engagement, data analysis, and scientific writing.
Overtime will be at the discretion of the project supervisor and will be calculated based on time averaging. We require the successful applicant to be flexible with work hours and changing work schedules.
How to apply:
Please submit your CV with cover letter explaining your interest in this position and relevant skills and experience.
For questions regarding the position, please contact Chrystal Mantyka-Pringle at cmantykapringle@wcs.org
For questions regarding the application process, please contact Okechukwu Ezibe at oezibe@wcs.org
Deadline for applications: February 13, 2024 at 6pm ET
WCS Canada is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices. Applicants with a disability or any special needs may make a request for accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, and we will work with you to meet your needs. Such requests should be communicated to Okechukwu Ezibe (oezibe@wcs.org) or by phone 437-770-2776.
About WCS Canada
WCS Canada (www.wcscanada.org) was established as a Canadian conservation organization in July 2004. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our mission is to conserve wildlife and wild places by improving our understanding of and seeking solutions to critical problems that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. We implement and support comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and then seek to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of stakeholders. We also provide technical assistance and biological expertise to local groups and agencies that lack the resources to tackle conservation concerns. WCS Canada is independently registered and managed, while retaining a strong collaborative working relationship with sister Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) programs in more than 60 countries.
Diversity and inclusion are core WCS Canada values. We value the diversity of the people we employ and work with and we strive to provide an inclusive and equitable workplace in which we recognize the unique characteristics, skills and experiences of all employees. We are committed to engaging our employees in our diversity, equity and inclusion work and together we aim create a work place where all staff feel they belong and can grow.
WCS Canada’s programs occur on the homelands of Indigenous Peoples whose relationships various governments are described in historic Treaties, modern land claim agreements, and negotiations around unceded lands. We recognize and support Indigenous Peoples in Indigenous-led conservation initiatives as well as the international ecological and social commitments and responsibilities to Indigenous Peoples that Canada has signed, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Our commitment to collaboration with Indigenous Peoples ranges from provision of scientific advice to co-creation of research and conservation priorities. We respect Indigenous knowledge systems and include Indigenous ways of knowing in research and conservation programs. We engage in land use planning and impact assessment processes that affect Indigenous Peoples, seeking ways to advance conservation as well as opportunities to sustain the livelihoods and cultures of Indigenous communities. We seek to motivate positive conservation outcomes by supporting effective governance and decision-making processes by Indigenous communities, particularly by supporting Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas.
WCS Canada is committed to contributing to the field of conservation science and the professional development of its employees. Employees are encouraged to participate in professional societies and present their research at conference and meetings, as well as participate in relevant workshops and training opportunities. Employees are likewise encouraged to mentor graduate students, participate in relevant graduate student committees, and pursue adjunct status with Universities as appropriate.
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