Job Description

Wildlife Officer \xe2\x80\x93 NSMA Environment Department Job Type:

• Full-time (7.5 hours/day, 37.5 hours/week) 2-year term with potential for extension \xe2\x80\x93 start date ideally in May or June 2023.
• In-person, Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. Possibility of a remote start for a short duration if relocating to Yellowknife.
• Mix of office duties, physically demanding fieldwork in remote areas, operating vehicles and other equipment, and travel by land, water, and air.

Renumeration and benefits:

• $44.99 hourly ($87730.50/year) following successful completion of a 6-month probation period at 90% of the full pay rate.
• Travel benefit of $3699.80/year added to annual salary.
• 2 weeks paid vacation in year 1 followed by 3 weeks paid vacation in Year 2.
• Full pension, health, and dental plan (Northern Employee Benefits Service).
• Access to paid training and professional development opportunities.

Application instructions:

• Please email a resume and 1-page cover letter specific to this job posting which demonstrates how the mandatory requirements are met to lands@nsma.net with the subject \xe2\x80\x9cWildlife Officer \xe2\x80\x93 NSMA Environment Department\xe2\x80\x9d before April 24th, 2023.
• Priority hiring consideration will be given to candidates with a connection to The North and current members of the NSMA when deciding among candidates with similar qualifications.

Background: The North Slave M\xc3\xa9tis Alliance (NSMA) is a non-profit society based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The society is an Indigenous Government Organization which represents Indigenous M\xc3\xa9tis people of the Great Slave region of the Northwest Territories (NWT) who possess Aboriginal rights protected under s. 35 of The Constitution Act, 1982. Our mandate is 1) the assertion, protection, and implementation of the Aboriginal rights of M\xc3\xa9tis people, and 2) the exercise of M\xc3\xa9tis responsibility to protect the environment and to promote and enhance M\xc3\xa9tis education, economic, social, political, and cultural development. The NSMA Environment Department is a multidisciplinary team which undertakes a variety of activities to support the NSMA\xe2\x80\x99s mandate including consultation and engagement, research and monitoring fieldwork, training, and community services delivery. The Environment Department also maintains a remote community gathering camp in the North Arm of Great Slave Lake. Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Environment Department Manager, the Wildlife Officer will lead a variety of files relating to consultation and co-management of wildlife, wildlife regulatory processes, wildlife research and monitoring programs, community services and opportunities relating to wildlife, and the management of associated project budgets and finances. Key culturally important species include boreal caribou, barren-ground caribou, wood bison, wolves, and various species at risk.
• A large portion of the job will be devoted to working with processes established under the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act including Renewable Resource Boards, Land and Water Boards, Environmental Impact Review Boards, The Governments of Canada and Northwest Territories, and Indigenous Governments. This includes engagement and consultation for wildlife co-management (e.g., the creation of range plans and management strategies) and regulatory decisions (such as permits and licenses associated with mineral developments, and wildlife research permits).
• Another portion of the job will be devoted to leading environmental research and monitoring programs with a strong focus on wildlife. The NSMA is running several field programs including a species at risk monitoring program using eDNA and cameras + autonomous recording units, a winter road caribou monitoring program, fieldwork at contaminated sites, and various other collaborations with governments and academia. There may be opportunities to expand existing programs and design new ones.
• Additionally, the Wildlife officer will assist in training staff and community members (e.g., bringing community members along for fieldwork), providing services such as administering support programs for harvesters, assisting the Environment Department in maintaining the community camp, and sitting on funding review committees.
• The Wildlife Officer will be required to write funding applications and manage budgets relating to all areas of the above work categories.

Mandatory Requirements \xe2\x80\x93 Please indicate how these conditions are met on your resume/cover letter Skills/Qualifications

• Legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Clean driving record with valid Class 5 driver\xe2\x80\x99s license or equivalent driver\xe2\x80\x99s license from another jurisdiction.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a possession acquisition license for firearms (requires clean criminal record).
• Must be physically fit to perform fieldwork including the ability to hike through irregular terrain, lift field equipment, work under extreme heat/cold/insects.
• Must be able to be trained in the operation of motorized watercraft, snowmobiles/ATVs. Training will be provided.
• Must be comfortable with travel in helicopters and small aircraft.
• Ability to work in a team and independently, and to supervise staff and community members.
• Ability to budget and manage finances.
• Familiarity with Indigenous issues, Canada\xe2\x80\x99s north, and environmental laws and regulations.
• Very good communication skills (oral and written) ease of speaking in public.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills for writing reports, formatting data, and giving presentations.

Education

• A bachelor\xe2\x80\x99s degree in a field related to environmental science, biology, conservation, wildlife/natural resources management or similar discipline or demonstrably equivalent experience gained from a combination of post secondary education and relevant work experience.

Experience

• 2+ years of full-time experience in any combination of positions related to the environmental sector or northern/Indigenous governance.
• Experience conducting project management functions individually and with others, including planning/proposal writing, working with budgets and finances, overseeing contracts.
• Experience implementing scientific research, natural resource and wildlife management, or environmental conservation projects; includes project design, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results.
• Experience conducting regulatory, environmental, scientific, and technical reviews, and writing reports of a similar nature; equivalencies will be considered.
• Experience conducting environmental fieldwork in remote environments; equivalencies such as experience hunting, camping, or being a long-time land user will be considered.

Assets \xe2\x80\x93 These are not mandatory but highly desirable

• Experience or education in Indigenous or northern governance.
• Experience or education in northern development or resource management.
• Experience managing projects and supervising staff, students, and volunteers of various ages.
• Graduate degree (i.e., M.Sc. or Ph.D.) or diploma in a relevant discipline is an asset.
• Experience using a variety of environmental monitoring devices.
• Experience operating or fixing boats and/or off-road vehicles such as ATVs and snowmobiles.
• Experience with property/grounds/camp maintenance, including the use of power tools.
• Certifications including Intermediate First Aid, worker\xe2\x80\x99s safety, boater safety and operations, drone operator, predator defense training, firearms, and other courses related to safety and environment.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 24 months Salary: $87,730.50 per year Benefits:

• Company pension
• Dental care
• Extended health care
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance

Flexible Language Requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus pay

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Yellowknife, NT X1A 0G2: reliably commute or be willing to relocate with an employer-provided relocation package (required)

Application question(s):

• Are you legally entitled to work in Canada?
• Are you a current member of the NSMA in good standing?
• Are you a resident of Canada\'s North, or are you a person with a connection to the North such as prior work or residency?

Language:

• English (required)

Work Location: In person Application deadline: 2023-04-24
Expected start date: 2023-05-01