Current Opening:

Terrestrial Ecologist

The Company:

Founded in 2013, Chu Cho Environmental (CCE) is a 100% Tsay Keh Dene Nation owned company, established under the Nation’s Economic Development Corporation. As an Indigenous-owned business, CCE reflects the values of the Nation and delivers high-quality environmental services rooted in respect for community and territory. 

As a for-profit social enterprise, CCE creates employment, builds local capacity, and supports economic growth for Tsay Keh Dene Nation. Our mission is to build a resilient, skilled, and multidisciplinary team that delivers professional environmental services across northern British Columbia. 

CCE provides a wide range of environmental services, including baseline studies, regulatory support, environmental research, and long-term monitoring for resource development projects. Our multidisciplinary team brings expertise in botany, reclamation, atmospheric science, fisheries, wildlife,  data science and GIS. Here are a few example projects within the Terrestrial team: 

See the Chu Cho Environmental YouTube, Instagram or LinkedIn pages for more content focused on our work.

Position Summary:

Chu Cho Environmental is seeking a Terrestrial Ecologist to lead a diverse portfolio of projects from proposal development through field execution and final reporting. The successful candidate will hold a Registered Professional Biologist (R.P.Bio.) or Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) designation and have demonstrated scientific technical, project management, and business development experience. 

This role requires strong leadership, technical expertise in soils, reclamation science, and vegetation, and a commitment to relationship building and professionalism in interactions with clients, regulatory agencies, and First Nations. 

Key Responsibilities:

Implement Integrated Project Development, Fieldwork and Reporting

  • Lead and oversee multidisciplinary terrestrial ecology and environmental (soils, reclamation, vegetation) consulting and monitoring projects from proposal development through execution and final reporting 

  • Implement fieldwork on select projects (25%), oversee staff implementing fieldwork (75%) 

  • Coordinate data management, complete statistical analyses, technical reporting and present on results to decision makers 

  • Provide expert technical review and professional sign-off on monitoring programs, site pre-disturbance assessment and reports 

Leadership, Team Development & Culture

  • Support the strategic direction of the Terrestrial Ecology discipline 

  • Provide technical leadership, and mentorship of junior and intermediate staff 

  • Foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration, learning, and accountability 

  • Identify and organize professional development opportunities 

  • Contribute to building a resilient, multidisciplinary team aligned with organizational values 

  • Coordinate with other discipline leads within CCE, external companies, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation 

Client & Community Engagement

  • Cultivate respectful, collaborative relationships with project partners, clients, governments, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation citizens 

  • Complete regular community engagement to ensure alignment between community priorities and Chu Cho Environmental projects 

  • Ensure projects and services reflect the values, priorities, and interests of Tsay Keh Dene Nation 

  • Conduct work in a manner rooted in respect for community, culture, and territory  

Business Development

  • Identify and pursue new business opportunities in environmental consulting, permitting, research, reclamation and restoration 

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, including government agencies, industry, developers, and corporate sustainability teams 

  • Support and mentor intermediate staff involved in business development and proposal preparation 

Operations & Project Delivery

  • Plan, schedule, budget, and manage projects to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery 

  • Coordinate with partner organizations and professionals 

  • Lead proposal development and submission, including scope development, costing, and scheduling 

  • Collaborate with your own team, as well as our teams of wildlife biologists, fisheries biologists, and regulatory specialists to deliver projects 

  • Ensure all work meets regulatory requirements, professional standards (e.g., R.P.Bio., P.Ag.), and internal QA/QC processes 

  • Stay current with environmental legislation, permitting requirements, and industry trends

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Technical Implementation

  • High quality written and communication products 

  • On-time and on-budget project delivery 

  • Compliance with regulatory and professional standards 

Client & Community Engagement

  • Strength and growth of client relationships 

  • Client satisfaction and project renewal rates 

  • Contribution to employment of Tsay Keh Dene community members 

Organizational Development

  • Employee satisfaction, retention, and professional growth 

  • Expansion of client base across target sectors 

Innovation & Knowledge Sharing

  • Participation in professional development and knowledge-sharing initiatives 

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

  • Registered Professional Biologist (R.P.Bio.) or Professional Agrologist (P.A.g.) designation or immediately eligible (required) 

  • Master’s degree in discipline related to Terrestrial Ecology (soil science, reclamation science, ecosystem mapping, botany, or related terrestrial ecology disciplines) (preferred) 

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or a related discipline (required) 

  • 6 or more year’s experience in the field of terrestrial ecology, including environmental consulting with project management as a primary responsibility (required) 

  • Strong knowledge of environmental legislation, permitting, impact assessment, and sustainability standards (required) 

  • Experience conducting remote fieldwork in challenging environments (required) 

  • Experience managing staff (required) 

Technical & Professional Skills

  • Excellent communication, and writing skills at the level of peer-reviewed publications (required) 

  • Ability to translate complex technical information into clear recommendations to decision makers (required) 

  • Experience using the Canadian systems of soil classification and Field Manual for Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems in British Columbia in the field (required) 

  • Demonstrated knowledge of land reclamation concepts and the integration of soils, vegetation, and ecosystem mapping data in restoration planning and design (required) 

  • Demonstrated experience creating terrestrial mapping products as they may relate to baseline or biodiversity studies (preferred) 

  • Demonstrated knowledge of common vascular plants of northern BC, including proficiency in species identification and familiarity with the use of dichotomous keys to identify unfamiliar taxa (required) 

  • Demonstrated use of version control to manage report documents, communications and open-source workflows (preferred) 

  • Proven ability to work effectively in collaborative, multi-agency teams (preferred) 

Working Conditions:

  • Primary focus on office-based work with requirement to complete remote fieldwork, including work in all weather conditions.

  • Expected 25% field based, 75% office based position. 

Compensation & Benefits:

  • Annual salary: $95,000–$120,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications 

  • Comprehensive health and benefits package 

  • Professional development and training opportunities 

  • Additional Health and Wellness funding 

  • Meaningful work with an Indigenous-owned company delivering high-quality environmental services 

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications to: 
careers@chuchoenvironmental.com

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