Are you passionate about protecting Ontario's freshwater ecosystems?Step into a unique role as a Vessel Operator and Instrument Technologist, where you'll combine marine operations with advanced environmental technology to safeguard the health of the Canadian Great Lakes and connecting channels.
This hands-on position offers the best of both worlds:
• Operate and maintain specialized monitoring vessels in diverse conditions.
• Deploy and manage cutting-edge scientific instruments that support environmental investigations, long-term monitoring, and emergency response.
If you thrive in dynamic outdoor environments, enjoy working with equipment and technology, and want to make a meaningful impact on Ontario's aquatic ecosystems, this is your opportunity to work where science meets stewardship, on the water, with a team that values innovation, precision, and environmental responsibility.
About the job
Vessel Operations
• Operate large Ministry vessels (up to 13 metres, 15 tonnes) in compliance with Transport Canada regulations and safety standards.
• Trailer, launch, and retrieve vessels across Ontario; ensure readiness for diverse weather and lake conditions.
• Maintain and troubleshoot vessel systems, including engines, hydraulics, navigation electronics, and communication equipment.
• Operate heavy-duty vehicles and towing equipment safely throughout the province.
• Ensure crew safety and enforce health and safety procedures during field surveys and emergency operations.
Instrumentation & Technical Systems
• Install, calibrate, and maintain water quality monitoring instruments and computerized data acquisition systems.
• Troubleshoot electronic monitoring equipment and assist in the design and construction of new systems.
• Coordinate implementation of sensors and specialized sampling equipment; ensure QA/QC standards for data collection.
• Provide technical advice and recommendations for study plans involving instrumentation and electronic systems.
• Offer leadership and training to support crews of scientists, technicians, and students during surveys.
Additional on-the-job Training/Certifications
• Ability to obtain AZ category license, Transport Canada Masters Limited 60GT License, Small Vessel Operator Proficiency, Marine Basic First Aid, and Restricted Marine Radio Operator Certificate,
• Ability to obtain designation as a Provincial Officer.
What you bring to the team
Mandatory
• The position requires the successful candidate to have a valid G license or equivalent. The offer of employment is conditional upon the successful candidate providing proof that s/he has a valid driver's license upon being hired.
Environmental and Technical Knowledge
• You understand and/or have experience using vessel navigation systems (GPS, radar, depth sounding) and electronic monitoring instruments such as water quality sensors and data acquisition systems.
• You have knowledge of safety procedures for operating vessels and handling specialized scientific equipment, and you follow relevant health and safety regulations.
• You know how to operate, maintain, and calibrate a wide range of water quality monitoring instrumentation as well as troubleshoot vessel systems including engines and hydraulics.
• You are familiar with Great Lakes nearshore environments such as harbours, embayments, water currents, and weather patterns, and can apply boating restrictions and rules while planning safe operations.
• You have knowledge of principles and practices of water quality investigation and assessment techniques, and can integrate these with vessel-based sampling strategies.
• You understand water sampling QA/QC practices and can interpret and report field data collected using both vessel-based and electronic monitoring systems.
• You have knowledge on the use of nautical charts, both paper and digital
• You are familiar with relevant environmental legislation, regulations, policies, and standards governing water quality in Ontario (e.g., Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act).
Leadership and Safety Skills:
• You exercise good judgment in a team leadership role, ensuring safety and security of staff and equipment during both vessel operations and instrumentation work, taking into account weather, lake conditions, crew capabilities, and the operational status of vessels and monitoring systems.
• You enforce health and safety procedures for marine activities and for handling and troubleshooting electronic monitoring equipment in field conditions.
• You have knowledge of emergency response protocols, ability to adapt to changing lake conditions, and familiarity with boating restrictions and rules to plan safe operations.
Planning, Analytical, and Communication Skills
• You can apply planning and coordination methods to ensure both vessel readiness and instrumentation calibration, so that monitoring platforms and scientific equipment are prepared for routine surveys and emergency response.
• You have technical, analytical, and evaluation skills to assess performance of marine systems and electronic monitoring equipment, ensuring they are technologically sound and properly maintained.
• You can troubleshoot and solve problems by making adjustments and modifications to vessel systems and scientific instruments as required in the field.
• You communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, to provide instructions, coordinate tasks, and develop operational and training materials that ensure safe vessel operation and accurate use of monitoring technology, while fostering a positive, collaborative team environment
Don't meet every qualification?
If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's
Human Rights Code and the
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer
accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please
contact us.Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace: