Terrestrial Ecologist

Role overview

LEA is expanding its Environmental Team and is looking for a Terrestrial Ecologist who can work independently, stay highly organized, and communicate clearly. This position calls for a university degree in biology, ecology, botany, or a closely related discipline, along with 3 to 5 years of relevant field experience. The role involves terrestrial ecology work across project sites in Ontario, with a mix of office and field responsibilities.

Core work

You will carry out baseline natural science surveys to document vegetation and wildlife, assess plant communities and wildlife habitat, and complete focused surveys for Species at Risk. The role also includes producing technical documentation such as Environmental Impact Studies and environmental monitoring reports. You must be comfortable with limited supervision, using your own reliable transportation to move between sites, and handling multi-day or overnight travel during busy field periods.

Key responsibilities

• Perform terrestrial ecosystem studies and surveys to support project work and environmental assessments.
• Collect, organize, store, and digitally file field data in line with internal quality control standards.
• Draft and support technical reports and permit-related documents, including Environmental Impact Studies, Environmental Screening Documents, mitigation memoranda, Tree Inventory and Protection Plans, and construction support plans.
• Support preparation of regulatory permit and approval submissions.
• Contribute to habitat restoration and monitoring planning.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, stakeholders, agencies, and the public throughout planning and construction phases.
• Evaluate project designs for direct and indirect effects on sensitive environmental features.
• Develop mitigation strategies, best management practices, and construction-stage protection measures.
• Provide design-stage advice to reduce or avoid impacts on environmental constraints and sensitivities.
• Support construction activities through pre-construction surveys, site monitoring, and contractor coordination to maintain compliance with environmental commitments.
• Carry out environmental compliance and erosion and sediment control monitoring during active construction.
• Follow health and safety procedures and escalate unsafe conditions, incidents, or hazards to a supervisor.
• Handle additional environmental-sector duties as needed.

Qualifications and experience

Applicants should hold a university degree in biology, ecology, botany, or a similar area, and bring 3 to 5 years of experience in natural science studies or comparable ecological fieldwork. Strong plant identification skills are important, including experience with vascular plants, vegetation communities, rare species, and Species at Risk. Knowledge of Ontario wildlife such as birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals is an advantage.

Experience with ecological survey methods such as migratory bird surveys, amphibian call surveys, herpetofauna surveys, and acoustic surveys is desirable. Familiarity with Ontario ecological classification systems and wetlands evaluation methods is also helpful. A solid working knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks is expected, including Ontario and federal environmental laws. Experience working with clients, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies, as well as GIS and field data collection tools, is considered beneficial.

Certification such as ISA Certified Arborist or CAN-CISEC is viewed as an asset, along with experience carrying out environmental compliance and erosion and sediment control inspections on construction sites.

What LEA offers

• Annual salary between 60,000 and 75,000 CAD.
• Access to discretionary profit sharing.
• Opportunity to become a shareholder and participate in governance and long-term value growth.
• Comprehensive health coverage including prescription drugs, dental, vision, short-term and long-term disability, life insurance, critical illness, wellness account, travel coverage, and virtual care.
• Retirement and savings support through RRSP matching and TFSA options.
• 7 personal days of flexible paid time off.
• A hybrid and flexible work setup that supports safety and work-life balance.
• A social club funded jointly by employees, with an annual budget of about 50,000 for events and activities.
• Opportunities for mentorship, training, and rotational assignments to support career growth.

Work arrangement and travel

LEA operates in a hybrid environment with flexible hours. This role requires travel to project sites within the GTA and elsewhere in Ontario, and a valid Canadian driver’s license is required. Candidates must also be able to manage multi-day and overnight travel during peak field seasons and use reliable personal transportation for site visits.

About the employer

LEA is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with a 72-year history, delivering services across transportation, civil, structures, construction administration, electrical and infrastructure systems, and environmental management. Its Environmental Sector focuses on environmental management during design and construction, environmental planning, ecology and biology, and compliance oversight monitoring. The organization emphasizes technical excellence, client-focused solutions, collaboration, professional development, ESG commitments, and an entrepreneurial culture supported by employee ownership.

Equal opportunity and accessibility

LEA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from underrepresented communities, including Indigenous peoples, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, newcomers, neurodiverse people, persons with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, refugees, veterans, and women. Hiring decisions are based on skills and experience, in accordance with Canadian human rights protections. The company also provides an accessible recruitment experience and can arrange accommodations during any stage of the hiring process and throughout employment.

Additional notes

This position is an existing vacancy. The employer states that artificial intelligence tools are not used to screen, assess, or select applicants for this role. The company also encourages interested candidates to stay connected for future opportunities.