WSP invites a Senior Fisheries Biologist to join our team, contributing to projects that protect and enhance Canada's vital aquatic environments. This role focuses on applying expertise to support climate resilience, responsible development, and long-term ecological health across a diverse portfolio of work.
You will engage in meaningful projects ranging from habitat restoration and fish passage improvements to major infrastructure, mining, and remediation initiatives, all while prioritizing environmental responsibility. This position offers the chance to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, influencing decisions that preserve freshwater and marine systems for future generations. This is a purposeful role where your work will have visible and measurable impact, shaping solutions that balance community needs with ecological protection.
This role offers flexibility, with the successful candidate able to be based in Calgary, Edmonton, or Saskatoon, and opportunities to support projects across Canada and globally.
Key Responsibilities
As a Senior Fisheries Biologist, you will provide technical leadership for fisheries and aquatics programmes. This includes designing studies, applying advanced field techniques, developing comprehensive analyses, and guiding the production of high-quality reports. You will oversee and review fisheries assessments for a wide array of multidisciplinary projects spanning infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, remediation, power, and land development sectors.
A key part of your role involves evaluating projects for federal and provincial permitting requirements, developing essential regulatory submissions such as Fisheries Act Authorizations, Requests for Review, amendments, and offsetting plans. You will manage and deliver aquatic resource baseline studies, impact assessments, and all necessary regulatory documentation for environmental assessments.
Beyond technical contributions, you will lead scopes of work, manage budgets and timelines, and ensure all deliverables surpass both technical and client expectations. You will directly engage with clients and regulators, offering trusted guidance and clear technical insights. Additionally, you will support business development through client relationship building, proposal preparation, and scope development, while collaborating with WSP’s national and global technical community on interdisciplinary projects. Mentoring and coaching junior scientists to foster their growth and technical excellence will also be a significant part of your contribution.
What You'll Bring
Candidates should possess a university degree in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a closely related field, complemented by approximately 15 years of relevant professional experience. Registration or eligibility as a Professional Biologist (P.Biol or R.P.Bio) is required. You must have extensive experience working within Canadian regulatory frameworks, including federal and provincial approvals, along with proven project management capabilities across diverse multidisciplinary environmental projects.
Essential technical skills include hands-on expertise in conducting various aquatic studies, such as fish habitat assessments, fish community sampling, fish passage evaluations, and flow needs assessments. You should also have experience in developing and monitoring fish habitat offsetting plans. Strong field leadership skills are crucial, encompassing the design and operation of fisheries programmes, team supervision, logistical planning, and adherence to safety protocols.
Proficiency with standard fisheries field equipment and techniques, including backpack and boat electrofishing, river and lake sampling, and vessel operation, is expected. A valid driver’s licence and the willingness to travel or work extended hours when project demands require are also necessary. The ability to meet client-driven requirements, such as random drug and alcohol testing, is a prerequisite for this role.
Why Join WSP?
At WSP, we are committed to shaping communities and advancing humanity, bringing together brilliant engineers, advisors, and scientists globally. We are proud to be a Canadian company, recognized as a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026. Joining WSP means becoming part of a global community where your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always accessible, offering limitless potential for growth tailored to your ambition.
We champion flexible work arrangements and a true commitment to work-life balance, recognizing its importance in our employees' lives. WSP fosters an environment where you are encouraged to prioritize your well-being while contributing to impactful projects across Canada and beyond.
Compensation for this role varies by region. For Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, the salary range is $132,700 – $175,800. In Manitoba and Ontario, the range is $121,100 – $166,700. For New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, the salary range is $119,900 – $159,200. The final salary may vary based on factors including education, qualifications, experience, skills, and geographic location.
