Intermediate Biologist

About Mc Elhanney

Based in Western Canada for over 110 years, McElhanney offers innovative and practical engineering, surveying, mapping, planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. As a 100% employee‑owned and operated firm, with over 1,400 staff members in 31 locations, we are proud to offer qualified staff with shareholding options in our company. At McElhanney, we work in teams to build strong connections with our staff, clients, and local communities.

Our employees enjoy working here because of our varied projects, high levels of autonomy, opportunities for career development, excellent total compensation and benefits package, and collaborating with a team of great professionals.

McElhanney is seeking an experienced and motivated Environmental Biologist to join our Kelowna, Vernon, or Penticton BC offices. The successful candidate will be a full‑time key member of our environmental team with the ability to draw on support from over 45 environmental professionals within the company, with a wide range of expertise.

In this role, you will work on a variety of projects across our three market sectors: cities and communities, energy and resources, and transportation and transit. Your expertise will influence the execution of projects and the coordination of project‑related tasks which may include field descriptions of ecosystems and their components, habitat suitability and capability assessments, fish and riparian area assessments, synthesis of data into reports, and interpretation and application of environmental statutes including but not limited to the Water Sustainability Act, Fisheries Act, Species at Risk Act, and Riparian Areas Protection Regulation.

We are solution‑oriented environmental professionals focused on integrated, multi‑disciplinary solutions for planning, design, permitting, construction, risk mitigation, assessment, remediation and reclamation. As recognized leaders and trusted advisors for industry, Indigenous groups, private, and government clients, we strive to protect ecological integrity and integrate natural assets, while balancing our clients’ needs.

• Complete all stages of environmental studies from proposal preparation through data collection, interpretation, and reporting.
• Coordinate and execute baseline studies to characterize the natural environment within a given project’s spatial and temporal assessment boundaries.
• Assess environmental impacts from proposed infrastructure and develop and integrate solutions which are compliant with regulatory requirements across all levels of government.
• Provide environmental advice and solutions to guide engineering designs in accordance with applicable mitigation hierarchies.
• Design and implement terrestrial and aquatic habitat mitigation and compensation measures.
• Coordinate regulatory permitting for, but not limited to, WSA Change Approvals, DFO Project Reviews, Fisheries Act Authorizations, and fish and wildlife salvages.
• Perform field work on a variety of tasks including biological inventories, environmental assessments, bird nest surveys, fish and wildlife salvages, and environmental monitoring during construction.
• Mentor junior staff members on technical work and with report writing and interpretation.
• Coordinate or oversee environmental management and monitoring during project construction phases.

• Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) designation in good standing with a professional organization in British Columbia or the ability to obtain it within 3 months.
• A minimum of 4‑7 years of experience with proposal preparation, aquatic or terrestrial habitat assessments, permitting, and reporting.
• Demonstrated experience in the field with environmental monitoring, fish, amphibian and/or wildlife work (e.g., bird surveys).
• Ability to work independently and mentor junior members of an integrated consulting team.
• Experience liaising with clients, First Nations, and government agencies.
• Proficiency with GIS, Arc Map, mobile data collection, and/or data management would be considered an asset.

The salary range for this position is $72,000 – $107,000…