Lead Biologist (Regulatory Specialist) - Roe Environmental Inc.
POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking an experienced Lead Biologist with a regulatory focus to join our team as a senior technical and client-facing role. The Lead Biologist manages multiple concurrent environmental projects, leads permitting and regulatory submissions, provides Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) opinions, and mentors project biologists, junior biologists and field technicians. This role requires sound independent professional judgment, a strong working knowledge of federal, provincial and municipal environmental legislation, and the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and regulatory agencies in a fast-paced, field-based environment.
Key responsibilities include:
- Manage multiple concurrent environmental projects of varying complexity and scale, exercising independent professional judgment and escalating novel or high-risk matters to senior staff.
- Apply and interpret pertinent federal, provincial and municipal legislation to project work and regulatory submissions.
- Prepare, review and lead permit applications, technical reports and regulatory submissions to a high standard of quality and professional presentation.
- Coordinate with regulatory agencies and municipalities on permitting, approvals and compliance matters.
- Provide technical review and quality assurance of reports, permit applications and regulatory submissions prepared by project staff.
- Provide QEP opinions for environmental assessments and regulatory submissions in accordance with RPBio designation.
- Provide environmental mitigation advice and monitor compliance of construction activities as a QEP.
- Design, implement and refine environmental and biological survey, monitoring and management programs, and conduct field assessments, surveys and monitoring as required.
- Serve as primary client contact for assigned accounts, maintaining client relationships and ensuring service quality.
- Coordinate with clients, contractors and multidisciplinary project teams, and oversee project planning, scheduling and budget tracking.
- Contribute to proposal development, project scoping and fee estimation.
- Supervise and mentor project biologists, junior biologists and field technicians, providing guidance on technical methods, quality standards, professional conduct and performance feedback.
- Participate in Roe’s Environmental Response Call-out Program, providing environmental emergency response during and after working hours, with rotational after-hours and weekend availability.
- Work locally and remotely in the field, including projects requiring travel and time away from the home office.
- Maintain project files, field documentation and quality assurance protocols, book and sign out equipment and vehicles, and track time and expenses daily in time tracking software.
- Act safely and think critically about tasks, surroundings and emerging risks, and support health and safety program implementation across all Roe operations. Participate in the Joint Health and Safety Committee as requested.
- Support an environment of respect and inclusiveness with coworkers, clients and the public.
- Participate in professional development activities and training programs directed by Roe, and maintain and expand expertise across technical disciplines relevant to Roe’s service areas.
- Report to the Principal, Sr. Biologist – Development Permitting Lead, and communicate effectively with Project Managers, Shareholders and Directors, health and safety, coordination and administrative staff.
- In addition to the above listed primary duties and responsibilities, other duties may be assigned from time to time by Roe’s Management Team, Shareholders and Directors.
POSITION TERM
Full-time position, with a 6-month onboarding period. Roe’s operations require schedule flexibility, including availability during evenings, overnight shifts, weekends and holidays depending on project demands and environmental conditions, and outside normal working hours during busy seasons. We make every effort to provide advance notice of scheduling requirements; however, last-minute requests are a regular part of environmental response and client service delivery, and consistent availability is essential to maintaining effective team coverage.
POSITION LOCATION
- This is an office-based position located in North Vancouver, BC. Travel within BC to project sites is a regular requirement of this role, including projects requiring time away from the home office.
- The principal work location and regular hours of work are established in the Employment Agreement.
REQUIREMENTS
- Degree in Environmental Sciences.
- Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio) in good standing with the College of Applied Biologists, with the ability to meet professional development requirements and obligations under BC’s Professional Governance Act (PGA).
- Demonstrated experience preparing and leading permit applications and regulatory submissions, and coordinating with regulatory agencies.
- Experience acting as a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP), including environmental monitoring of construction activities.
- Experience managing multiple concurrent projects, including scheduling, budget tracking and client relationships.
- Experience supervising or mentoring junior staff and providing technical review of others’ work.
- Strong technical writing, interpersonal and communication skills for working with clients, regulators, contractors and colleagues at all levels.
- Ability to participate in Roe’s rotational after-hours and weekend Environmental Response Call-out Program.
- Physical fitness to meet the demands of field work, including prolonged standing, walking distances of up to 5 km over uneven, slippery or rough terrain without rest breaks, frequent bending, and safely lifting and carrying items weighing up to 20 kg.
- Valid Class 5 Driver’s License and clean Driver’s Abstract.
- Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- CAD fluency (e.g., AutoCAD), including preparing and reviewing environmental drawings and figures for permit applications.
- Experience preparing and securing municipal permits, such as environmental development permits and tree, watercourse or streamside protection permits, and working with municipal staff through the approvals process.
- Riparian Area Protection Regulation certification is an asset
- Experience with GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS or QGIS).
- Experience in environmental consulting, construction or field-based operations.
COMPENSATION
Competitive wage based on experience and education - $93,600- $118,650 . Overtime per provincial standards.
BENEFITS
Extended health/dental (6-month initial wait period), paid vacation and professional development allowance.
