BC Public Service - Internal Job Opportunities

The Team
The Water, Fisheries and Coast Division brings together program areas responsible for water management, watershed stewardship and security, aquatic ecosystems, freshwater fisheries, and coastal marine stewardship and fisheries. The Coastal Marine Stewardship & Fisheries Branch leads implementation of the Coastal Marine Strategy, the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast, the Great Bear Sea Marine Protected Area Network, the Trilateral Salmon Accord and other strategic priorities. 

The Role
The Marine Ecosystems Biologist, as part of the Coastal Marine Stewardship and Fisheries Branch, provides scientific technical expertise to support the development of new Marine Ecosystems Stewardship function focused on aquatic plant resources and coastal ecosystems. The position is responsible for analysing, interpreting, and integrating aquatic resource information from multiple sources, including satellite imagery, field monitoring programs, harvest records, resource inventories, spatial data, and ecological assessments to support evidence-based stewardship and authorization decisions. The role contributes to addressing significant information gaps that currently affect aquatic plant authorization timelines and increase reliance on applicant-provided information. Through the development of objective resource data, monitoring programs, and scientific analyses, the position improves the consistency, transparency, and scientific defensibility of aquatic resource management decisions.

Qualifications:
Education and Experience Requirements

●    Bachelor's degree in biological sciences or a related field and 3 years of related experience.
●    Must possess and maintain a valid Class 5 BC Driver's Licence (or equivalent).

Related Experience may include:
●    Experience interpreting and analyzing ecological, biological, geospatial, or remote sensing datasets. 
●    Experience conducting resource assessments and providing scientific advice to support regulatory or natural resource management decisions. 
●    Experience working with aquatic plants, marine ecosystems, fisheries resources, or coastal resource management. 
●    Experience working with First Nations on natural resource management, monitoring, planning, or consultation initiatives. 
●    Experience using GIS, spatial analysis, remote sensing products, or satellite imagery to support resource management decisions.

Professional Registration and Certification Requirements:
●    Registered, or immediately eligible for registration, as a Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) in B.C. with the College of Applied Biologists (CAB). Note: immediately eligible is defined as being able to transfer a current membership to the CAB withing six months of employment.

Willingness Statements:
●    Must meet safety standards of Work Safe BC.
●    Must be willing to travel, including working evenings, weekends, and holidays when required.
●    Must be able to conduct physically demanding field work.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Natalie.Schell@gov.bc.ca.

About this Position:
This is a Temporary Full Time opportunity until January 3, 2028. This position may be extended or become permanent.
Flexible work options are available; this position may be able to work from home a few days a week subject to an approved telework agreement.
This position can be based in any Water, Land, Resource Stewardship office. The locations listed above are to assist applicants in searching for this opportunity and are not a complete list of locations.
An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary and/or permanent vacancies.
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be required.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.

Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

We are committed to ensuring that reasonable accommodations are available throughout the hiring process, including the assessment and selection stages. Please email the individual or contact listed on the posting if you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to Indigenous (First Nations [status or non-status], Inuit or Métis) applicants originating from the land now known as Canada, seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. Indigenous applicants can contact this service for personalized guidance on the BC Public Service hiring process including job applications and interviews.

How to Apply:
Your resume and/or cover letter must clearly show that you meet the education and experience requirements. Highlight the required qualifications and support them with specific examples, such as your responsibilities, projects you've worked on, or accomplishments. Find more information on the recruitment process, including helpful tips and videos about the application process, visit the Your Job Application page of MyHR.

Professional Designation: YES - Please include your registration number in your application. You must be registered, or immediately eligible for registration, as a Professional Biologist (RPBio) with the BC College of Applied Biologists (CAB). Note: "Immediately eligible for registration" means meeting all requirements for full professional registration and completing the process of obtaining full registration with the relevant BC professional association within six (6) months of employment.

Cover Letter: YES - A cover letter is required as part of your application. The content and/or format of your cover letter may be evaluated as part of the assessment process.

Resume: YES - Ensure your resume includes your educational accomplishments, employment history including start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and any relevant information that relates to the job to which you are applying.

Questionnaire: YES - You will need to complete a standard questionnaire (current employment status, eligibility to apply, etc.).

Applicants who are selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on their knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and other position related requirements as outlined in the Job Profile at the bottom of the posting. Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Time on the closing date of the competition. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, visit the Technical Assistance page of MyHR.