Watershed Stewardship, Ecological restoration

Position: Watershed Stewardship Assistant
Organization: Oldman Watershed Council
Location: in-person in Lethbridge, Alberta, with travel throughout the watershed
Contract: June 2, 2025 - March 31, 2026
Deadline to apply: April 9, 2025

Position Description:

OWC is seeking one dynamic and safety-minded individual to join our team and assist with restoration, education, and stream sampling throughout the Oldman watershed. This exciting position requires exceptional communications skills and a willingness to engage in hands-on stewardship and fieldwork activities.

Watershed Stewardship Assistants work full-time five days/week, with two consecutive days off (e.g. Sunday-Monday). The positions are based in Lethbridge with extensive travel throughout the Oldman watershed. Duties include attending outreach events and assisting with restoration, stewardship, and aquatic monitoring activities, possibly without cell service. Occasionally, tenting at campgrounds may be required. Satellite communication devices, safety equipment, 4WD vehicle, and some camping gear will be provided. Training (including CABIN Field Technician certification) will be provided - a great addition to your résumé!

Wage: $21-25/hour, depending on candidate qualifications/experience, at the discretion of the OWC. Vacation time, sick days, professional development budget, and healthcare spending according to OWC’s policies.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with restoration and stewardship activities, including (but not limited to) bioengineering/willow staking, weed pulls, installing fences, garbage pickups, bridge & sign installation, and tree planting.
• Assist with delivery of OWC’s educational programs, including school programs, virtual reality, attending public events and engaging passersby in conversation and interactive educational activities.
• Conduct aquatic assessments using CABIN protocols (training/certification will be provided)
• Data collection and record-keeping, including tracking metrics and keeping a log/journal.
• Write blogs, social media posts, articles, reports, journals, and other written materials. Photograph activities and add to digital archive. Videorecording. Some data entry/management as needed.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures.
• Additional related duties as needed.

Qualifications:

General Requirements:

• A valid driver’s license with a clean driving record and willingness to travel throughout the watershed is required; experience with rural and backcountry driving is an asset.
• Standard First Aid & CPR/AED is required prior to commencing employment. Additional safety training and supplies will be provided.
• Must be willing to work most weekends and some evenings. Occasionally 1-2 nights of tenting at campgrounds may be an option. Some camping gear will be provided.
• Preference for degree or diploma in restoration, natural sciences, biology, environmental sciences, resource management, education, communications, or a related field.
• Must be hard-working, take direction, able to problem-solve, take initiative, and work with minimal supervision. A willingness to learn, try new things, and adapt is a must!

Restoration & Stewardship Activities:

• Must be physically fit: able to spend long hours standing, walking, or in a vehicle; digging, pulling weeds, swinging a sledgehammer, lifting and carrying heavy loads.
• Comfort and experience with rural and remote conditions: driving a truck in 4WD, hiking, navigating, and camping in variable weather. Comfort working around animals, including dogs and livestock, is an asset.
• Experience with tasks such as riparian restoration, fencing, weed control, using hand tools and power tools is an asset.
• Familiarity with the Oldman watershed, and experience working with landowners and Indigenous communities, are assets.

Education/Outreach:

• Proficient with social media (Instagram, TikTok), photography, videography, and/or graphic design.
• Strong verbal and writing skills required (interviewees will be asked to provide a writing sample and give a presentation). Experience communicating for a non-scientific audience is an asset.
• Experience with environmental education/outreach and public engagement is an asset.

Additional Requirements for aquatic sampling:

• Able to follow detailed sampling and decontamination protocols.
• Organized, strong attention to detail.
• Experience using scientific equipment to collect data in the field and working in streams are assets.

How to apply:

Email your cover letter and resume to OWC’s Education Program Manager,
Sofie Forsstrom ( sofie@oldmanwatershed.ca ) as a single PDF file entitled YOUR NAME.pdf

Please mention you saw this at GoodWork.ca.

Thank you for your interest. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.