Field and Research Assistant - Lower Mainland - Jobs in Vancouver, BC

Job Description

Watershed Watch Salmon Society is seeking a Field & Research Assistant for our summer fieldwork in the lower mainland of BC. The Field & Research Assistant will: assist with the advancement of the fieldwork components of the Resilient Waters project which aims to reconnect vital wild salmon habitat by upgrading aging flood control infrastructure to allow fish to access these habitats along the Lower Fraser River.The Field and Research Assistant will be a key member of the Resilient Waters Field Team. This role will support data collection on water quality, habitat and fish at waterways in the Lower Mainland that will inform future projects to improve habitat quality and connection for declining Fraser River salmon populations. When not in the field, this role will support research on struggling Fraser River Chinook populations. Research on these at-risk populations will help boost restoration efforts to the benefit of recreational and First Nations fishermen in the lower Fraser.Through the nature of our organization, the Field & Research Assistant will learn a great deal about salmon, habitat, challenges they face, and potential solutions such as fish-friendly infrastructure. A wide range of skills crossing multiple disciplines will be developed in this position. The successful candidate will learn a lot about salmon and related issues, but the lessons learned in how to effectively engage audiences and communicate on important issues will reach far beyond our particular area of focus.Learning opportunities will include data collection, team coordination, building professionalism, time management, building meaningful relationships with community members, habitat restoration, researching salmon-related topics.Responsibilities:Work with Watershed Watch’s Science and Communications Coordinator and Resilient Water’s fieldwork team from Pearson Ecological in collecting data on water quality and fish at identified waterways in the lower mainland impacted by flood control infrastructure.Assist with other fieldwork such as clean-ups, plantings, restoration site maintenance and site tours at key waterways we are seeking to protect and restoreGather and enter field dataConduct research as requiredAssist staff with occasional administrative and clerical tasksRequired Qualifications:Eligible applicants must satisfy all of the following criteria:Has prior fieldwork experienceUnderstanding of using a GPS/mapping unitExcellent data entry skillsStrong organizational and interpersonal skillsKeen to learnDemonstrated willingness and ability to perform repetitive work in all weather conditionsCreativity, enthusiasm and interest in ecology and the environmentAbility to work independently as well as in a team environmentFlexibility in schedulingOwn laptop is required for this jobMust have a valid BC Driver’s License and access to a vehicle (work requires moving field equipment; vehicle use and parking will be reimbursed)Must be between the ages of 18 - 30 at the time of hiringPlease note that fieldwork is labor-intensiveWatershed Watch is a registered charity working for the conservation and restoration of BC’s wild salmon and their habitats. We use scientific expertise, strategic alliances, public education, citizen engagement, and innovative projects to tackle threats to salmon and promote solutions.Resilient Waters reconnects vital wild salmon habitat by upgrading aging flood control infrastructure to allow fish to access these habitats along the Lower Fraser River. We provide capacity, expertise, and resources where the need to replace infrastructure aligns with salmon and community needs.