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Job Title: Limnologist/Water Quality Specialist

Job Requisition ID: 81978

Ministry: Environment and Protected Areas

Location: Edmonton; other locations in Alberta may be considered.

Employment Type: Full Time

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week

Classification: Natural Resources 9

Salary: $3,374.88 to $4,367.45 bi weekly ($88,084 - $113,990/year)

Closing Date: April 28, 2026

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is dedicated to safeguarding Alberta's natural resources and ecosystems while balancing environmental and economic needs. The Resource Stewardship Division plays a central role in managing Alberta's natural resources through science based planning, policy development, and regulatory oversight.

Reporting to the Senior Air and Watershed Resource Manager, the Limnologist / Water Quality Specialist provides expert scientific and technical advice to support surface water quality management, regulatory approvals, and cumulative effects management across Alberta. This role focuses on real world water quality issues - reviewing industrial and municipal approvals, interpreting monitoring and modelling data, leading investigations into water quality impairments, and supporting the design and implementation of regional surface water quality management frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

- Review water quality monitoring and modelling submissions for environmental assessments and regulatory approvals.
- Provide technical advice to approvals and compliance teams on effluent limits, monitoring requirements, and pollution mitigation.
- Lead investigations and focused studies to identify sources, impacts, and management options for water quality issues.
- Support the development and implementation of regional surface water quality management frameworks.
- Contribute scientific expertise to multi stakeholder committees and watershed planning groups.




- Advise on the design of water quality monitoring networks and targeted field studies.
- Provide scientific input into provincial water quality policy, guidance, and frameworks.
- Communicate technical findings clearly through written reports, presentations, and stakeholder discussions.

Competencies

- Systems Thinking: Understands how regional water quality issues, cumulative effects, regulatory decisions, and provincial policy interact, and applies this understanding when reviewing data, approvals, and management options.
- Creative Problem Solving: Analyzes complex water quality issues using scientific evidence, professional judgment, and incomplete information to identify practical, defensible solutions.
- Develop Networks: Builds effective working relationships with internal teams, other ministries, and external stakeholders to support team-oriented water quality management.
- Drive for Results: Delivers timely, high quality scientific advice and recommendations that support regulatory timelines, framework implementation, and environmental outcomes.

Qualifications

Required:

- A completed university Bachelor's degree in a related field such as limnology, environmental science, water chemistry, aquatic ecology, microbiology, biogeochemistry, or watershed management, or another closely related discipline.
- A minimum of six (6) years of directly related experience in water quality science, aquatic resource management, environmental monitoring, regulatory support,



or natural resource management.

Equivalency: Related experience or education may be considered on a one for one basis. This may include:

- A PhD in a related scientific discipline with a minimum of two (2) years of directly related experience.
- A Master's degree in a related scientific discipline with a minimum of four (4) years of directly related experience.

Additional Requirements:

- Valid Class 5 Driver's Licence (or equivalent) with a clear abstract.

Ideal Candidate will possess Technical Experience in:

- Water quality monitoring and assessment methods.
- Industrial and/or municipal effluent characterization.
- Pollutant fate and transport in aquatic systems.
- Aquatic ecosystem impacts and human health considerations.
- Provincial and federal water related legislation and guidelines (e.g., EPEA, Water Act, Environmental Quality Guidelines).

Assets and Preferences:

- Eligibility for membership with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists.
- Water quality field sampling experience.
- Experience with statistical analysis using tools such as R, JMP, or SPSS.
- Experience interpreting Piper plots and other trilinear diagrams.
- Knowledge of nutrient dynamics, microbiological parameters, or source tracking.
- Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to non technical audiences.
- Experience working within regulatory, policy, or cumulative effects management frameworks.

This is a full time, permanent position based in Edmonton, Alberta. The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., totaling 36.25 hours per week. Other locations in Alberta may be considered.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Jane McEwen at .

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📌 Limnologist/Water Quality Specialist (Edmonton)
🏢 Government of Alberta
📍 Edmonton