IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) is the worlds freshwater laboratory. A series of 58 lakes and their watersheds in northwestern Ontario, Canada, IISD-ELA is the only place in the world where scientists can research on and manipulate real lakes to build a more accurate and complete picture of what human activity is doing to freshwater lakes. The findings from over 50 years of ground-breaking research have rewritten environmental policy around the worldfrom mitigating algal blooms to reducing how much mercury gets into our waterwaysand aim to keep fresh water clean around the world for generations to come.

IISD-ELA is operated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)an independent think tank headquartered in Winnipeg situated on Treaty 1 Territorythe ancestral lands of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), Ininiw (Cree), Anisininew (Ojibwe Cree), Dene, and Dakota Nations, and the homeland of the Red River Mtis Nation. The IISD-ELA field station is situated on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe Nation in Treaty 3 Territory and the homeland of the Mtis Nation.

About the Position

We are seeking a motivated Research Assistant (Hydrology and Limnology) who will spend the 2025 field season at the IISD-ELA research facility to assist with field-based sample and data collection from the watersheds and lakes of IISD-ELA. The successful candidate will be involved in data collection for whole-ecosystem experiments and a long-term ecological monitoring program. The Hydrology/Limnology (HydroLim) program is responsible for collecting water quality and biota samples from numerous research and long-term monitoring lakes and streams at IISD-ELA, as well as gathering meteorological data. The Research Assistant will work with other technical staff at IISD-ELA to ensure that research and facility operations are conducted and completed daily. The incumbent may also assist with data analysis and data entry.

Responsibilities

• Operating various field vehicles (all-terrain vehicles, trucks, vans) on highways and gravel roads.
• Using a variety of watercraft, including boats with outboard motors and canoes.
• Collecting samples and data for a variety of limnological and hydrological parameters (physical, chemical).
• Collecting samples and performing daily checks at the meteorological station.
• Constructing/installing/maintaining field equipment as needed.
• Downloading data from various data-logging devices.
• Completing detailed and accurate field notes.
• Entering data into databases/software (including Google Forms, Survey123).
• May be occasionally required to assist other field crews (fish, zooplankton, autotrophic ecology).
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or recent completion of (December 2024April 2025) a college or university program relevant to freshwater research or equivalent of such a degree.
• Keen and hard-working.
• Ability to do fieldwork involving manual labour, such as hiking and lifting heavy objects (up to 25 kg).
• Willing to work long hours in diverse conditions (e.g., hot, cold, rain, snow, buggy).
• Ability to work safely in a remote field environment that requires flexibility and teamwork.
• Willing to live in a remote location for up to 46 months (alternating weekends excluded).
• Willing to live in shared accommodations.
• Candidates must possess or be willing to obtain valid certifications for the following prior to the start of their term:
  • First Aid/CPR with AED
  • Pleasure Craft Operators card
  • Drivers licence
• IISD-ELA will require the completion of a criminal record check and vulnerable sector verification.

Asset Skills

• Work experience in environmental sciences or hydrology.
• Experience with meteorological instruments or meteorological data.
• Experience operating small vessels with outboard motors and all-terrain vehicles.
• Knowledge of field sampling/water quality sampling.
• Organizational skills.
• Ability to speak French and/or Ojibwe.

Work Conditions

IISD-ELA provides on-site living accommodations and food. Accommodations include a shared bedroom, gender-inclusive showers and toilets, and common lounge areas. Bed linens and laundry facilities are provided on site. Transportation to and from the field research station to Kenora and Winnipeg will be available on weekends. Occasional weekend transportation to and from Thunder Bay is a possibility as well. More information about the IISD Experimental Lakes Area organization and our research facility can be found athttps://www.iisd.org/ela/.

Term: The contract is for a full-time, 4-month position, starting Monday, May 5, 2025, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 24 months. Please indicate on your application whether you are available for 4, 6, or 8 months.

Compensation:CAD 690 to CAD 846 per week,depending on experience and education. Food and accommodations are included while working on site.

Application deadline: Monday, February 24, 2025 @ 16:00 CST

Application Procedure

All submissions must be in English. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities are available on request.

Candidates must hold appropriate work authorization for Canada.

Applications will only be accepted through Bamboo HR.Please include the following:

• A CV (required; no longer than two pages)
• A cover letter (required; one page)
• IISD Voluntary Self-Identification Questionnaire(optional; right click to download)

Only those candidates we wish to interview will be contacted. Resumes will be kept on file for 1 year.

IISD is committed to fostering a more equitable and sustainable world and welcomes candidates who uphold our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition, to correct the conditions of social injustice and disadvantage in employment around the world, we encourage candidates from historically marginalized groups, including women, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and those who identify themselves as 2SLGBTQIA+, to apply for this position. We offer reasonable accommodations in our recruitment process and seek applicants' advice on how best to accommodate their needs. Please self-identify and answer our employment equity questionnaire on our applicant tracking system when you apply.

IISD does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, caste, ethnicity, religion, colour, disability, marital status, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

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