Ontario Public Service Careers

Do you have expertise in the field of aquatic components of Ecological Risk Assessments (ERA) examining and identifying emerging/ongoing issues on water quality? Are you organized and have superior data analysis and communication skills?

Bring your experience and leadership skills to this interesting and important role with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to support Ontario's water quality.

About the job

You will:
• provide scientific leadership in the field of aquatic toxicology particularly in the standards setting process, including the development of water quality standards for protection of aquatic life.
• review and provide scientific expertise and guidance on the aquatic components of ERAs
• provide scientific expertise and guidance related to impacts and significance of new and emerging contaminants on aquatic life and water quality.

What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

Post-graduate-degree from a university of recognized standing in aquatic toxicology or environmental toxicology or equivalent education or related experience.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• You have though knowledge of scientific theories and principles of aquatic toxicology and chemistry, environmental risk assessment and risk management techniques, and practical experience in water and sediment contamination from many sources, in order to assess their toxicity and impacts on aquatic components (sediment, water, biota) particularly for of Ecological Risk Assessments, and for establishing appropriate levels of contaminants in environmental media through standards setting processes.
• You have knowledge of recognized scientific techniques and methods applicable to aquatic toxicity testing, the effects of contaminants on aquatic life, data acquisition and analysis practices in order to undertake special scientific studies that are scientifically valid, statistically defensible and to develop conclusions, based on findings, about risk levels of emerging contaminants on aquatic life or water quality.
• You have advanced knowledge of the use and development of Ecological Risk Assessment, preferably using practices applicable to Ontario (e.g. CCME guidelines for ERA) and experience in developing ERAs with an aquatic component (water, soil, biota). Knowledge of ministry decision making and standards development process to make recommendations and develop standards that meet all requirements for review (e.g. contain all relevant background information, study conclusions, associated risks, impacts on other programs).
• You have up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the issues and emerging trends related to sediment and water quality and to make recommendations for directions of ministry programs on surface water quality, changes in standards, policies and procedures; maintaining an awareness of policies/ regulatory developments for the protection of aquatic environment in other jurisdictions and assess their suitability for adoption in Ontario.
• You have knowledge of relevant ministry legislation, regulations, policy and procedures (e.g. Ontario Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Water Resources Act, Water Management policies) and working knowledge of federal acts and regulations that impact on work areas (e.g. CEPA, Fisheries Act, EEM procedures) to determine whether strategies/ proposed actions in ERAs meet and/or comply with standards, to determine whether set standards are sufficient to address emerging contaminants, and to make recommendations as to whether new/ revised standards or further studies are required.

Computer and Software Skills

• You have knowledge of and skill in computer and relevant software applications (e.g. internet, graphics, word processing, spreadsheet) to conduct research, obtain and manage information, and prepare reports, presentations and briefing materials; scientific and mathematical analyses/ approaches at an advanced statistical level and software programs for data base management and data modelling to edit and manipulate large amounts of scientific data and conduct data analyses of large data sets which assist in studying/ interpreting information and developing conclusions about the scientific significance/severity of effect of contaminants and trends in relation to set standards, policies and regulations, and to resolve environmental problems.

Conceptual, Planning, Analytical and Organizational Skills

• You have conceptual, planning, analytical and organizational skills to pro-actively plan and undertake literature reviews and scientific studies to improve current approaches and increase expertise in ecological risk assessment and risk management of hazardous substances in the area of aquatic toxicology.
• You have excellent analytical skills and judgment to assess aquatic components of ERA's for compliance with standards and acceptability of proposed actions on water quality, biota and sediment.

Interpersonal, Written and Communications Skills

• You have demonstrated written and verbal communication skills to write, publish, present and gain acceptance of scientific findings in academia, private sector and industry and to develop logical arguments to defend findings/ recommendations, ensuring communication is targeted to appropriate audience level (e.g. manager, conference presentation, industry).
• You have demonstrated writing skills to prepare a variety of documents (e.g. letters, briefing notes for management, training materials, reports with related statistical information and recommendations for standards) for both scientists and non-technical staff.
• You have demonstrated Interpersonal skills to work effectively as a team member, develop/ maintain relationships with scientists/ specialists in other branches/ divisions and to represent the ministry as an expert on intergovernmental and multi-agency committees and respond appropriately to questions/issues raised, some of which may be of an adversarial nature and within stringent time frames.

Research, Investigative, Analytical and interpretive Skills

• You have research, investigative, analytical and interpretive skills to collect and synthesize scientific data/ information, accurately identify key emerging issues and/or contaminants that can pose potential threat to aquatic life forms and/or water quality and alert the ministry in time to prepare options to address the potential threat(s); as well as to evaluate trends and relationships of contaminant levels in the environment as they may affect the development of environmental objectives/standards.

Reasoning and Judgement Skills

• You have reasoning skills to develop scientific based solutions to solve environmental problems (e.g. new pollution control requirements, clean up techniques) and to provide expertise and input in support of the development of standards guidelines, policies or state of the environment (e.g. researching literature and providing scientific interpretation of information and recommendations to senior staff).
• You have reasoning skills and judgement to consolidate and conduct analyses of data, including using data modelling techniques, summarize and interpret findings and draw conclusions about risk levels of emerging contaminants on aquatic life forms or water quality.

Senior Aquatic Risk Assessment Scientist