Research Associate - Forest Ecology

In order to ensure your application is received by NAIT for thorough review and consideration, please apply directly through our Careers site at www.nait.ca/careers

Please note: This is a temporary position for 3 years. This position requires relocation to Peace River, AB. There is no remote-working option available for this role.

This position is located at the NAIT’s Centre for Boreal Research in Peace River, Alberta. Peace River is a small community of approximately 6,700 people in the heart of the Boreal Forest of Northwest Alberta. We encourage all applicants to visit the town website to learn more about the amenities the community has to offer as well as the geographic distance from other major cities in Alberta. If you love the outdoors and like the idea of living in a town with only 4 traffic lights, then this may be just the place for you!

We are looking for a self-motivated and science-minded individual to join our research team within the Forest Reclamation and Reforestation Team at the Centre for Boreal Research (CBR). Our team is focused on the development, execution, and communication of applied research projects with the goal of providing industry (forest products sector, oil and gas and mining sectors) with a suite of strategies and tools that will better support the development of functional forest ecosystems.

This is a senior role in our team that will lead a subset of these projects at all stages including conceptualization and proposal development to project execution and technical deliverable preparation. Demonstrated experience supervising junior staff and students is required for this position. This position includes a mix of field work, lab, and desk-based work, requiring a variety of skills including independent thinking and strong organizational and interpersonal abilities to work in a fast-paced and busy team setting. Necessary pre-requisites for this role include field experience, extensive writing and communication expertise and ability to analyse complex data sets in an R environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Executing applied research projects which may encompass the following activities:

• Working with and supervising summer research assistants.
• Conducting field work in a variety of remote locations and climatic conditions.
• Planning and coordination of project activities with centre staff, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Manage and respond to project related email.
• Lab and Greenhouse related experiment design, execution, and data collection.
• Search, selection, and request of supplies necessary for the project.

• Proposal writing, literature reviews, preparation of technical reports of completed projects for clients, presentation of results to clients and funders.
• Preparation of research extension and communication products: technical notes, white papers, and scientific manuscripts.

Skills & Abilities needed for this role:

• Experience in conceptualization and execution of applied research projects in land reclamation or forestry.
• Demonstrated experience in a working environment that presents a wide variety of technical and operational challenges.
• Extensive experience with R statistical software and strength in the analysis of complex data sets, use of generalized linear mixed effects models and multivariate techniques employed in the analysis of plant community data.
• Demonstrated competence in Microsoft office; expertise in ArcGIS software is considered an asset.
• Knowledge and experience in fundamental and applied forest ecology is necessary.
• Demonstrated experience working in the field; this position requires extensive outdoor work on uneven terrain and in remote locations.
• Experienced and comfortable with driving 4WD trucks on gravel roads.
• Extensive experience conducting vegetation identification surveys.
• Leadership – ability to communicate effectively with teammates and junior staff to ensure effective workflow and project execution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills through preparation of technical reports, manuscripts, and research proposals.
• Strong verbal communication skills demonstrated through experience in teaching, presentation of findings at conferences as well as previous project work requiring communication with the broader public.

Qualifications:

• PhD in ecology or forestry – research focus should be related to study of forest plant communities.
• At least 10 years of post-graduate related research experience.
• Post-doctoral experience is considered an asset.
• Experience in experimental design and execution.
• Demonstrated training and/or use of R software.
• Class 5 license with clean drivers abstract.

Remuneration: $77,076.74 - $102,768.64 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package. (Classification – Research Associate lI).

This position is covered by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Collective Agreement.

Please submit a Cover Letter that describes how you qualify for this position as well as a Resume to be considered for this opportunity.

About NAIT

We are proud to have been named one of Alberta’s Top Employers for 14 consecutive years. Being part of a community that makes a difference in the lives of students, staff, industry clients and partners, NAIT’s culture reflects our shared values of respect, collaboration, celebration, creativity, and accountability.

People are what make NAIT great, and we prioritize the employee experience. We offer benefits and unique perks focusing on health and wellness, work-life balance, recognition, and professional and personal growth. In addition to excellent vacation time, we offer paid time off between Christmas and New Year's.

NAIT supports a flexible work environment, enabling staff to request approval for on-campus, off-site, or hybrid work arrangements based on the nature of the role. Please note that remote positions require employees to reside within Canada.

NAIT is committed to fostering an environment that supports equity and cultivates inclusion through our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy. We are a proud partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and Pride at Work Canada. While we encourage all qualified applicants to apply, only those being considered will be contacted. If you require any accommodations, please connect with us at careers@nait.ca.

#LI-MO1 #LI-Onsite