Biodiversity Program Coordinator

Competition 869

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position has an initial term length of 1 year plus 1 day with a strong possibility of extension and offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed on our Benefits Overview page.

Location

This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person at our North Campus.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 14,000 faculty and staff, over 40,000 students and 260,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute

The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI) detects large changes in biodiversity in Alberta with the annually updated Biodiversity Intactness Index and Human Footprint Inventory. This research provides ongoing, relevant, scientifically credible information on Alberta's living resources to meet the information needs of government planners, industrial developers and local communities.

Position

Working in the ABMI's Operations Centre, the Biodiversity Program Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the design and delivery of collaborative monitoring projects across a breadth of ecological topics, for example, wetlands and habitat mapping, species monitoring of multiple taxonomic groups and ecological data initiatives. This is a highly collaborative position, serving as the point of connection between multiple internal and external partners.

Duties

• Work with multiple ABMI centres, government, industry, non-government organizations and the scientific community to understand the knowledge needs of the natural resource management system and to advance ABMI's biodiversity monitoring science and information management.
• Provide leadership and expertise related to the planning and implementation of multiple biodiversity programs across a breadth of topics that vary over time.
• Develop and manage project work plans and ensure the successful completion of work plans on time and on budget through effective project management (tracking deliverables, clarifying project roles, prioritizing tasks).
• Work independently, with ABMI senior leadership, ABMI staff and project collaborators to conduct necessary project work.
• Support project initiation including proposal writing, logistical planning and field delivery (e.g., protocol development, site selection, training, data upload and checking).
• Schedule, organize and facilitate project meetings, including tracking and following up with project team members on action items and maintain project documentation.
• Facilitate direct and indirect understanding of ABMI knowledge among environmental resource managers, policy analysts and the public.
• Develop and deliver project presentation materials and summaries to non-technical and technical audiences.
• Communicate project outcomes in written and oral form, including peer-reviewed publications and support communication and reporting initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in natural science, ecology, geography, biological sciences or related discipline. 
• MSc or PhD in ecology, environment or natural resource management is an asset.
• 2+ years of recent experience in biodiversity, ecosystems, forestry or hydrology conducting field research in western Canada within the environmental monitoring, ecology or natural resource management fields.
• Excellent organizational, writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge and experience in operational biodiversity monitoring, including hands-on experience with data collection and program coordination. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Commitment to ABMI's values, vision and mission.
• Direct experience managing multi-partner, multi-year projects and collaborating with government agencies and biologists.
• Experience in project or product management.
• Interest in promoting sustainable resource management and environmental monitoring.
• Self-motivated and ability to motivate others.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills.
• A proactive approach to managing problems with the ability to adapt and evolve as required.
• Formal project management training and experience using project management tools and software.
• Informal or formal leadership experience.
• Familiarity with applications of remote sensing, geospatial methods or modelling in environmental monitoring.
• Experience conducting and/or using data from field-based monitoring programs.