Role Responsibilities

The Water Monitoring Technologist is part of a regional team responsible for year-round monitoring of meteorological conditions, snowpack, lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. This position collects, verifies, and reports high-quality meteorological and snow survey data that supports hydrological forecasting, watershed management, regulatory decisions, emergency response, and long-term environmental planning. This role combines intensive winter fieldwork, technical instrumentation, real-time station operations, data processing, collaboration with partners, and support for emergency events such as floods, droughts, and spills.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect high-quality meteorological and snow survey data through year-round field and office operations.
• Install, operate, calibrate, and maintain monitoring stations including real-time meteorological monitoring stations and specialized instrumentation to ensure accurate and reliable data.
• Conduct snow surveys following established standards.
• Validate, compute, and enter environmental data into provincial databases, ensuring accuracy and adherence to QA/QC protocols.
• Plan and coordinate project activities, including logistics, scheduling, safety assessments, equipment needs, and collaboration with scientists.
• Operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair equipment, vehicles including snowmobiles, and field infrastructure, including remote or hard-to-access monitoring sites.
• Travel safely in winter terrain, with experience in skiing and snowshoeing to support access to remote backcountry sites.
• Participate in environmental emergency response for floods, droughts, spills, and other critical events, providing timely field data.
• Collaborate with internal teams to collect high-quality water quality, water quantity and groundwater data.
• Prepare, process, and submit environmental samples in accordance with strict preservation and documentation standards, where applicable.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners and provide technical guidance, training, and support to staff, stakeholders, and community groups.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Position Specific Competencies: 

• Creative Problem Solving: Troubleshoot complex field and lab equipment, adapt standard operating procedures to varying environmental conditions, and develop practical solutions to ensure accurate and reliable water monitoring data.
• Agility: Respond effectively to changing priorities, adverse weather, and emergency events such as floods, droughts, and spills, while maintaining safety, efficiency, and data quality.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Foster teamwork and knowledge sharing, mentor colleagues, and coordinate with internal teams, external partners, Indigenous groups, and community monitoring programs.
• Drive for Results: Deliver high-quality, timely water data; plan and execute field operations, maintain monitoring networks, and ensure programs meet scientific and operational objectives.

Qualifications

Requirements

Education: Two-year technical diploma in Environmental Science, Water Resources Technology, Hydrology, Aquatic Biology or a related field.

Experience: Minimum 6 years of direct experience in water monitoring programs, including:

• Collecting meteorological field data and conducting environmental sampling.
• Operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting monitoring equipment.
• Data validation and supporting emergency response activities.

Equivalency: Related experience or education may be considered as an equivalency on a one for one basis.

Other:

• A Valid Class 5 Driver’s License (or equivalent).
• A recent driver’s abstract with a clean driving record.
• Ability to operate and maintain specialized vehicles and field equipment in remote or extreme environments.
•  Experience with backcountry skiing or snowshoeing to safely access remote areas for conducting snow surveys.
• Willingness and physical ability to travel and perform demanding fieldwork in remote locations and varying weather conditions.
• Knows how to swim.

Assets:

• Occupational Health & Safety Certifications.
• Field-specific certifications such as ATV/Snowmobile Safety, Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP), Marine Emergency Duties (MED-A3), Avalanche Safety (AST1), Ice Safety and Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Fall Arrest/Tower Rescue, Chainsaw Operation, and Wilderness Survival.
• Experience with laboratory analytical techniques, QA/QC procedures and environmental data management.
• Experience in emergency response monitoring for floods, droughts, spills, or other critical events.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

This is a full-time, permanent position based in Lethbridge. The work schedule is 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

Work Conditions:
This is a field-based position, with some office work for data analysis, reporting, and program planning. The role requires full-time hours, with the possibility of extended hours during field campaigns or emergency response events, including standby and on-call duties for urgent environmental monitoring such as floods, droughts, or spills. Work is conducted in remote, rugged, and environmentally challenging locations, including lakes, rivers, wetlands, and snow-prone areas, and may involve exposure to adverse weather, wildlife, and physically demanding tasks. The position requires operation of specialized vehicles and equipment, including ATVs, snowmobiles, boats, and drone, and involves a combination of independent and team-based work with limited supervision. This role requires to demonstrate willingness and comfort working in challenging winter field conditions, often involving remote travel, deep snow, cold temperatures, and variable weather. Strict adherence to safety protocols, standard operating procedures, and environmental regulations is mandatory.

Please submit your cover letter and updated resume. In your resume, clearly indicate the duration of each role by providing the month and year, and specify your employment status (e.g., full-time, part-time, or casual). For example: Water Monitoring Technician - July 2018 to December 2021, Full-time.

For your post-secondary education, specify your major, program length, and year of graduation. For example: Two-year Technical Diploma in Environmental Science, 2-year program, Sept 2012 to June 2014.

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
• Leadership and mentorship programs.