Skip to main content

This job has expired

British Columbia Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Regional Coordinator

Employer
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
Location
Toronto (City), Ontario (CA)
Closing date
Jul 2, 2021

View more

Sector
Nonprofit
Field
Conservation science
Discipline
Other
Salary Type
Salary
Employment Type
Full time

JOB DESCRIPTION

Official Title: British Columbia Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Regional Coordinator  

Department: National Conservation  

Program: KBA Conservation Program  

Project: KBA Program Coordination Support 

Location: British Columbia (remote)  

Term: 1-year contract

Salary: $48,000 per annum, 4 days per week    

Position Level: SCI 3/4 

Date written/revised: April 27, 2021 

Reports to: Dr. Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, KBA Coordinator  

Supervises: Not applicable  

 

Deadline for Applications: May 12, 2021

 

 

Position Summary: 

The British Columbia KBA Regional Coordinator will compile and organize data for Canadian Key Biodiversity Areas work in BC, develop a shortlist of remaining trigger species for which to apply the KBA Standard (based on their own assessment of feasibility and expert input, and after revising and understanding the work completed to date by the previous BC coordinator), recruit and liaise with relevant species and ecosystem experts through online training, scoping, assessment, and delineation workshops and meetings. Additionally, the coordinator will conduct outreach to build partnerships with the broader conservation community in BC, including conservation organizations, Indigenous communities, and governments. The employee will develop materials necessary for KBA nomination and review and will support the process of submitting candidate KBAs for approval in Canada and globally.  

Background:
Identifying the places that are most important for sustaining biodiversity is critical for informing a wide range of land-use decisions, ranging from mitigating the impacts of development projects to creating protected areas. In order to provide a coherent and global approach to identifying sites important for biodiversity, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) developed and adopted A Global Standard for the identification of KBAs in 2016. An international KBA Partnership was formed in order to encourage and support the identification of KBAs and maintain a documented list of sites identified against the KBA Standard. 

The identification of KBAs in Canada has been providing input into the Canadian Pathway to Target 1 process and the commitment expressed in the CBD’s Aichi Target 11 to establish protected areas and other effective conservation measures in areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The National Advisory Panel recommended (#13) that the Global KBA Standard be adopted in Canada and accompanied by efforts to develop and apply a Canadian KBA standard. The purpose of the Canadian KBA Coalition is to do that and to carry out its work in the spirit of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and in accordance with recommendations made by the Indigenous Circle of Experts. While the Pathway to Canada Target 1 process is over, KBAs will inform the next stages of protected area planning, and beyond that, will feed into a broad variety of land management, planning and stewardship actions.

 

Suggested specific tasks are listed below but may evolve or change as needs are identified. The employee will work closely with Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne (KBA Canada) and other partners in the KBA Coalition and adjust to the needs of the Canadian KBA program as required. 

 

Position Objectives and Responsibilities: 

  1. KBA training period: 
    • Core readings, meetings, planning, tutorials in KBA tools, approaches and data

 

  1. Preparation of a pilot KBA proposal: 
    • With the support of the KBA Secretariat, 1-2 pilot sites will be identified as likely KBAs, and the process for assessing the sites using KBA criteria, the KBA database, and expert input will be completed up to the development of the KBA nomination form. 

 

  1. Project planning for BC Key Biodiversity Areas: 
    • Review the work completed to date in BC by the previous regional KBA coordinator and develop understanding of what has been done and what work remains
    • Develop a work plan, timeline and scope for the BC KBA project, in consultation with the KBA Canada Secretariat and BC partners
    • Identify and plan for any additional resources needed to meet identified objectives included in the work plan 

 

  1. Data compilation, feasibility assessment and preparation to lead species-focused KBA assessments and support/coordinate ecosystem-based KBA assessments as needed:
    • Assess long lists of remaining species that could ‘trigger’ KBAs in BC for feasibility, and compile data for these species 
    • Work with Birds Canada, BC Important Bird Area (IBA) Coordinator, to develop a work plan for adding other taxa to sites identified for birds
    • Identify and reach out to experts in BC early in the process to take part in KBA assessment work, provide training on methods
    • Identify and reach out to stakeholders and rights holders early in the process to provide information about KBA work and invite participation if appropriate

 

  1. Workshop organization/or an alternative approach to gathering expert input: 
    • Organize workshops (or virtual alternatives) to bring together experts to identify and delineate new KBAs, review and refine KBA proposals, and expose a wide range of BC experts to the KBA process  

 

  1. Lead on documentation and review of KBAs and submission to National KBA Coalition and Global KBA Partnership, with Secretariat support for the review process: 
    • Complete KBA nomination forms, and prepare and refine spatial layers, in coordination with the KBA Secretariat 
    • Coordinate the review of BC KBA proposals, with support from KBA Secretariat

Deliverables: 

  • Work plan for an inclusive process to identify and delineate a set of BC KBAs 
  • Shortlist of KBA trigger species with high feasibility for KBA identification 
  • Workshops (or virtual alternatives) to delineate a set of BC KBAs (date TBD) 
  • A set of BC KBA proposals to be submitted to KBA Coalition for approval 
  • Compiled supporting data for BC KBA work 

Qualifications:  

  • Post-graduate degree in biodiversity conservation or other related fields of study 
  • Comprehensive knowledge of BC’s flora and fauna 
  • Previous work experience/relevant experience (education) focused on environmental conservation in BC 
  • Advanced GIS skills in ArcGIS Pro, including experience creating and editing spatial features, querying data layers, importing and visualizing contextual data  
  • Experience using relational geospatial databases 
  • Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assimilate and effectively analyze a large amount of material 
  • Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills;  
  • Ability to develop collaboration networks, and comfortable reaching out to new contacts; connection to BC science biodiversity community is a preferred asset 
  • Experience organizing and facilitating workshops (both virtual and in-person) 
  • Excellent organizational and project management skills 
  • Experience working in a cross-cultural setting with Indigenous peoples, governments or communities and/or understanding of diverse Indigenous histories, worldviews, and Indigenous knowledge systems 
  • Passion for the conservation of nature and wildlife 

 

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV with a cover letter explaining how your qualifications and experiences make you the ideal candidate for this role. Applications are to be submitted through the Fitzii portal.

For questions regarding the application process please contact Tina Dias at tdias@wcs.org.

WCS Canada is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practice. Applicants with a disability or any special needs may make a request for accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, and we will work with you to meet your needs. Such requests should be communicated to Tina Dias (tdias@wcs.org) or by phone 416-850-9038 ext. 30.

 

Deadline for Applications: May 12, 2021

About WCS Canada: 

WCS Canada (www.wcscanada.org) was established as a Canadian conservation organization in July 2004. We are committed to championing accessibility, diversity, and equal opportunity. Our mission is to conserve wildlife and wild places by improving our understanding of and seeking solutions to critical problems that threaten key species and large wild ecosystems throughout Canada. We implement and support comprehensive field studies that gather information on wildlife needs and then seek to resolve key conservation problems by working with a broad array of stakeholders. We also provide technical assistance and biological expertise to local groups and agencies that lack the resources to tackle conservation concerns. WCS Canada is independently registered and managed while retaining a strong collaborative working relationship with sister Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) programs in more than 60 countries. 

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert