Field Technician

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), near Kenora, Ontario

IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is one of the world’s most influential freshwater research facilities. It features a collection of 58 small lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada. For over 50 years, scientists at IISD-ELA have conducted whole-ecosystem experiments and made significant scientific discoveries related to issues such as acid rain, mercury from air pollution, algal blooms, and pharmaceutical chemicals in water. The facility is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development—an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional land of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and homeland of the Métis Nation.

IISD-ELA acknowledges that its research facility is located on Treaty 3 lands, and the care of these lands during experimentation and restoration to their original state is implicit in its mission. Many regional schools come to the facility to learn more about the science of aquatic ecosystems and how humans serve a role in sharing and working with one another to protect these resources.

About The Position

IISD-ELA’s In-situ Monitoring Program provides modern technological approaches to environmental and ecological monitoring to various IISD-ELA research programs: meteorology, hydrology, limnology, and fisheries science. The In-Situ Monitoring Field Technician will be responsible for coordinating the design, deployment, and maintenance of networked monitoring instruments (in-situ instruments, e.g., Wiz probes, YSI EXO sensors, Hobo loggers) and related electronic equipment on lakes at IISD-ELA. The research assistant will work with other technical staff at the IISD-ELA to ensure research and facility operations are conducted and completed efficiently and will have the opportunity to engage in research and development of new platforms or applications.

Responsibilities

• Calibrating, deploying, retrieving, and storing in-situ instruments.
• Maintaining instrumentation, ensuring they are in good working order, and troubleshooting technical issues that may arise.
• Programming data loggers for interfacing with in-situ instruments.
• Managing data collection, storage, and analysis from in-situ instrumentation.
• Configuring and troubleshooting communication processes and data transfers from in-situ instrumentation.
• Identifying any defects in equipment, and cleaning or repairing damaged or worn equipment when needed.
• Advising the IISD-ELA team on technical requirements and specifications for the design and procurement of new systems.
• Monitoring the performance of in-situ instrumentation and proactively identifying and addressing any performance-related concerns.

Qualifications

• Degree from a recognized college or university in electrical engineering, computer science, electrical technologies, or another related field.

• Experience programming, troubleshooting, and repairing electronic components.

• Experience with and knowledge of digital networking/communication protocols.

• Experience with analytical instrumentation and software.

• Experience with data analysis and quality assurance/quality control.

• Ability to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.

• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.

• Must be willing to work long hours in diverse weather conditions.

• Must be willing to live in shared accommodations.

• Must possess valid:

  • First Aid/CPR certificate
  • Pleasure Craft Operators Card
  • Driver’s licence

Asset Skills

• Experience supervising assistants, delegating tasks, and ensuring the quality and integrity of data.

• Experience collecting or working with water chemistry data from lakes and streams.

• Experience weather-proofing electronic components and working with outdoor electronic equipment.

• Experience operating small-motorized vessels with an outboard motor.

• Valid ATV certification.

Work Conditions

The successful applicant will be required to have full vaccination against COVID-19 (two doses plus booster dose). This is a condition of employment due to the congregated living aspect of the facility and no teleworking being possible.

IISD-ELA provides on-site living accommodations and food. Accommodation includes a bedroom, shared washrooms, and lounge areas. Bed linen and laundry facilities are provided on-site. Transportation to and from the field research station to Kenora and Winnipeg will be available on weekends.

Term: The contract is for a full-time term, permanent position starting April 3, 2023.

Compensation: CAD 46,692 to 64,459 per year, depending on experience and education.

Application deadline: March 6, 2023, or until filled

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.

Please include the following:

• A CV (no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (one page)
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire (optional)

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

IISD has implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires employees who are required or choose to be at an office or participate in in-person team events or in-person meetings/events to be fully vaccinated. Anyone unable to be fully vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or a disability that prevents them from being fully vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply for this position. Preference will be given to the equity-deserving groups during the hiring process. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants’ advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.