Senior Lead, Monitoring Science and Innovation

This position has a term length of one year plus one day, with the possibility of renewal.

Location - This position offers a flexible work arrangement, allowing for a combination of remote and in-office work (in Alberta) based on work preferences. Preference for schedule will be discussed during the recruitment process.

Reporting to the Monitoring Centre Director, the Senior Lead, Monitoring Science and Innovation provides strategic and operational leadership for the Monitoring Science and Innovation Unit. The position is accountable for the scientific integrity, technical capability, and operational delivery of the unit, including monitoring methods, scientific quality assurance, land access, restoration activities, field technologies, technical training, and continuous improvement of monitoring operations.

The position leads a multidisciplinary team of professional, technical, and seasonal staff and works collaboratively with the Science, Information, Geospatial, Processing, and Operations Centres to support province-wide biodiversity monitoring. The Senior Lead develops partnerships with researchers, government agencies, Indigenous communities, industry, and other organizations to advance monitoring science and operational excellence.

Unit Leadership 

• Provides leadership for the Monitoring Centre's field health and safety program, including development of field safety standards, mandatory training, emergency response procedures, risk assessments, and operational readiness for permanent and seasonal staff deployed across Alberta.
• Provides strategic and operational leadership for the Monitoring Science and Innovation Unit.
• Establishes annual work plans, operational priorities, resource allocation, and performance objectives.
• Leads recruitment, supervision, mentoring, succession planning, and performance management for permanent and seasonal staff.
• Directly supervises the Access Manager, Restoration Field Coordinator, technical staff, and seasonal field staff.
• Coordinates technical activities across multiple concurrent monitoring programs.
• Ensures compliance with University policies, health and safety requirements, and organizational standards.
• Develops annual operating budgets, monitors expenditures, and manages unit resources.

Monitoring Science, Technical Leadership, and Innovation

• Provides strategic leadership for monitoring science, technical standards, and innovation supporting ABMI's province-wide monitoring programs.
• Develops, evaluates, and continuously improves monitoring protocols, sampling methodologies, field standards, and quality assurance procedures to ensure scientifically rigorous and operationally consistent data collection.
• Establishes and maintains technical standards, operational procedures, and best practices that support the consistent implementation of monitoring programs across Alberta.
• Leads the evaluation, development, and implementation of emerging monitoring technologies, including field equipment, environmental sensors, mobile data collection systems, remote sensing applications, and AI-assisted workflows.
• Identifies opportunities to improve scientific quality, operational efficiency, safety, and data quality through the adoption of new technologies and continuous improvement of monitoring methods.
• Leads the investigation and resolution of complex scientific, technical, and operational issues affecting monitoring programs.
• Provides authoritative technical advice to Centre leadership, project teams, and external partners on monitoring methods, technologies, and technical standards.
• Maintains awareness of advances in ecological monitoring science and technology and recommends strategic investments that strengthen ABMI's long-term monitoring capability.

Land Access and Restoration Programs

• Provides leadership for ABMI's provincial land access program, ensuring secure long-term access to monitoring locations across Alberta.
• Oversees development and implementation of restoration initiatives supporting biodiversity monitoring and habitat recovery.
• Ensures land access agreements, restoration activities, and associated technical programs are delivered consistently and efficiently.
• Provides strategic direction for landowner engagement, restoration planning, and field implementation.

Partnership Development and Program Growth

• Develops collaborative relationships with government agencies, Indigenous communities, researchers, industry, landowners, and conservation organizations.
• Represents ABMI on technical committees, advisory groups, and collaborative initiatives.
• Identifies opportunities to expand monitoring capability through new partnerships, technologies, and applied monitoring initiatives.
• Contributes technical expertise to grant applications, proposals, contracts, scientific publications, and technical reports.

Organizational Leadership

• Contributes to Monitoring Centre strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
• Collaborates with Centre Directors and senior staff to ensure integration of monitoring operations with ABMI's scientific, geospatial, information management, and reporting activities.
• Develops organizational policies, technical standards, and best practices supporting long-term monitoring.
• Leads continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, consistency, and scientific quality across monitoring operations.

• Minimum 2-year diploma in biological sciences or related discipline. Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years' working experience in the field of ecology or natural resource management with excellent organizational, writing, and interpersonal skills is required. 
• Equivalencies in education and experience will be considered.

Preference given to those with:

• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in ecological monitoring, environmental science, or applied natural resource management is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary scientific and technical teams.
• Extensive experience supervising professional, technical, and seasonal staff.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex operational programs involving multiple stakeholders.
• Extensive knowledge of ecological monitoring methods, sampling design, scientific quality assurance, and field operations.
• Demonstrated experience developing technical standards, operational procedures, and monitoring protocols.
• Experience managing operational budgets, contracts, and organizational resources.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.

Application Instructions

Click "Apply Now" to submit your resume and cover letter.

This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.