Environmental Monitoring Technician (Data Management)

Metro Vancouver is hiring an Environmental Monitoring Technician for data management and environmental sample collection in Burnaby, BC. This auxiliary position involves quality assurance, data organization, and analysis related to wastewater treatment plants. The technician will work independently and in a team, conducting sampling and evaluations, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The role may require weekend work and is set to last until December 31, 2025, with possible extensions.
Position Status: Auxiliary (This position to last not later than December 31, 2025, with the possibility of extension)
Department: Liquid Waste Services
Employee Group: Teamsters Local 31
Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby
Salary Range/ Wage Rate: PG T22 $39.14 - $46.07 hourly

Our Liquid Waste Services Department is seeking an Environmental Monitoring Technician who will work within a small team of environmental monitoring technicians and scientists in a technical role related to data management and collection of environmental samples. Project work will focus on data management of environmental monitoring programs for the region’s five wastewater treatment plants and their receiving environments, and related programs. This will require quality assurance and quality control data reviews, organization of commercial lab project data for upload into our environmental database, use of macros and script coding to assist with these and other tasks related to reporting such as results comparison to water quality guidelines. You may also collect samples as part of the recreational water quality, wastewater discharge or other environmental monitoring programs. These opportunities could include working with oceanographic equipment on small vessels or sampling from beaches across the region.

You are: a team player, and also able to work well independently; organized with necessary experience to coordinate and undertake the data management aspects of our environmental monitoring programs; detail oriented with experience in conducting quality assurance and control checks; and skilled in the computer software required to visualize and analyze the environmental data collected. You enjoy solving problems and coming up with creative ways to help improve our team’s work product.

This role:
• Conducts preliminary evaluation of individual sampling site requirements, determines safe and efficient sampling procedures according to established standards assists in setting up sampling schedules. Conducts sampling of wastewater, sanitary and combined sewer overflows, receiving and ambient environments (water, sediment and biota), and performs chemical and water quality testing. This may include weekend or extended work day schedules at different Metro Vancouver monitoring sites, depending on operational needs.
• Conducts quality checks of laboratory data and database entries. Conducts preliminary analysis of data including comparison with published guideline/objectives, as well as the creation of data summary tables and graphs.
• Identifies, defines and measures a variety of environmental indicators; performs related analyses and calculations; assists in interpreting results and in determining significance of data and quantity of pollutants in terms of accepted tolerances and obtains additional samples for confirmation as required; applies special test procedures to solve difficult or unusual sampling problems and assists in the development of new procedures and techniques for abnormal parameters.
• Maintains work records and testing files, enters and manipulates data using electronic means and reports results, alerts a superior to violations of applicable requirements and prepares reports and memoranda detailing test results for a superior.
• Monitors consultant sampling projects and/or contracted laboratory data; assists in the review and evaluation of results and procedures and discusses anomalies with a superior; provides consultants with technical advice, guidance and recommendations on appropriate procedures as directed.
• Checks, cleans, calibrates and maintains all sampling equipment, performs simple repairs of equipment as necessary, and prepares solutions and reagents required for testing.
• Performs scheduled and special request sampling in support of the environmental monitoring and assessment quality program.
• Performs related work as required.

To be successful, you have:
• Completion of a recognized two year diploma course from an Institute of Technology with emphasis on environmental sciences (e.g., biology, ecology, chemistry, oceanography). Some demonstrated experience collecting, managing and analyzing environmental data in the context of environmental effects assessment or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Considerable knowledge of environmental sampling and data management, practices, procedures and equipment.
• Considerable knowledge of environmental and wastewater collection and sampling techniques.
• Sound knowledge of the regulatory context and environmental guidelines and objectives as applicable to the work performed.
• Sound knowledge of computer applications required to input, tabulate and graph data, calculate summary statistics and compare results. This includes knowledge of relevant environmental data management, relational database systems and statistics software to automate these tasks for a variety of types and sizes of datasets (e.g., including MS Excel macros and/or script coding such as SQL, Python, R, etc.).
• Working knowledge of special test procedures to solve difficult or unusual sampling problems.
• Some knowledge of environmental pollution concerns associated with municipal wastewater system operations and stormwater in a large urban area.
• Ability to determine safe and efficient sampling procedures, to perform environmental monitoring and sampling, to assist in the development and maintenance of a comprehensive testing schedule and in the development of special procedures and techniques as required.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external contacts and to perform duties with tact, efficiency and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to identify, define and measure environmental quality, to perform analyses and calculations, and to assist in interpreting results and significance of data.
• Ability to perform sampling of environmental and wastewater for environmental effects monitoring programs.
• Ability to use a computer and relevant software to input, manipulate and retrieve data and maintain records and documentation related to the work. This requires the ability to create and/or modify macros and script coding in various types of software.
• Ability to monitor consultant and/or contractor lab testing projects.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work over variable terrain, in all types of weather and to work effectively in water and from a boat.
• Skill in the care, maintenance, operation, calibration, and simple repair of equipment used in the work.
• Valid British Columbia Driver's Licence.