Fixed Term Lead Marine Mammal & Hydroacoustic Monitoring Lead
Dynamic Ocean Consulting Ltd. is a boutique environmental consulting firm based in Port Moody, British Columbia, specializing in marine environmental science, environmental assessments, regulatory permitting, and environmental monitoring. We are a group of multi-disciplinary applied scientists that bridge the realms of regulatory and academic applied scientists, with a strong focus on the marine environment.
Our multidisciplinary team combines applied scientific expertise with an understanding of environmental regulatory processes to support responsible development and environmental stewardship. We recognize the importance of integrating Western scientific approaches with Indigenous and Inuit knowledge, perspectives, and priorities throughout environmental assessment and monitoring processes.
Our projects are primarily located in British Columbia and Nunavut, with opportunities to work in other coastal regions of Canada. We undertake a diverse range of assignments, from marine habitat and species assessments to environmental effects assessments, regulatory applications, and construction environmental monitoring.
As a small and collaborative organization, we offer employees the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to projects, develop new technical skills, and work closely with experienced marine scientists.
We value open communication, initiative, collaboration, and professional growth. We are also committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance through flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and additional paid time off.
We are seeking an experienced Marine Mammal & Hydroacoustic Monitoring Lead for a fixed-term assignment supporting marine infrastructure decommissioning in Burrard Inlet. This is a senior field-program oversight and coordination position, rather than a routine Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) or Underwater Noise Monitor (UNM) shift assignment. The successful candidate will help ensure that the marine monitoring team consistently implements project-specific requirements and responds promptly and appropriately to environmental concerns.
Based on the technical skills of the applicant, and our project forecasting, there may be opportunity to join our organization on a full time basis, subsequent to completion of the Project.
This job requires being able to legally work in Canada and being based in the Metro Vancouver area.
The successful candidate will have the ability to work in a team environment and to function independently. Your personal and professional traits will allow you to work effectively in a multi-faceted environment and you have a keen interest in combining your growth and development with that of the company.
Key Responsibilities
Working with senior scientists and project managers, the successful candidate will contribute to marine environmental projects from planning through reporting and regulatory delivery.
Responsibilities include:
Lead and oversee the Marine Monitoring Team (MMT), including MMOs and UNMs working from shore, barges, and support vessels; provide technical direction, onboarding, and consistent monitoring practices across teams and shifts.
Oversee implementation of the project Marine Mammal & Hydroacoustic Plan, environmental protection measures, observation and exclusion zones, pre-activity observation periods, and detection procedures, including low-visibility measures.
Confirm that monitoring personnel understand marine mammal identification, behaviour documentation, zone boundaries, communication protocols, and the criteria for safe commencement and resumption of noise-generating activities.
Provide senior oversight of underwater noise monitoring, including baseline and construction measurements, acoustic thresholds, monitoring locations, equipment readiness, data quality, and interpretation of monitoring results.
Oversee application of precautionary alerts, stop-work procedures, and adaptive management responses; coordinate promptly with the Contractor and project environmental representatives in accordance with the approved plan and defined decision-making authorities.
Ensure effective coordination among monitoring locations and contractor operations, including vessel-based cetacean observations, shore- and barge-based monitoring, and personnel working inside and outside the terminal security fence.
Provide oversight of relevant fish detection and protection observations, including responses to fish distress or injury and observations of potential Pacific herring spawning activity, in coordination with the designated environmental lead.
Review field logs, observation records, acoustic datasets, daily field reports, weekly summaries, incident reports, and technical documentation for completeness, consistency, and scientific defensibility.
Participate in monitoring briefings, safety and planning meetings, and communications with Dynamic Ocean project management, the prime environmental consultant, the client, and contractor representatives.
Identify operational, methodological, or compliance concerns; recommend improvements to monitoring arrangements, mitigation responses, and data collection procedures.
Contribute to the end-of-work monitoring report, including interpretation of observations, underwater noise findings, mitigation actions, stop-work events, and outstanding environmental issues.
Attend site and undertake direct observations or acoustic monitoring when necessary to support quality assurance, training, coverage, or resolution of technical issues.
Qualifications and Experience (Mandatory)
A degree in marine biology, biology, environmental science, oceanography, acoustics, or a closely related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and specialized experience.
Previous experience as a Lead MMO, marine mammal monitoring supervisor, hydroacoustic specialist, or environmental monitoring lead.
Demonstrated experience with marine mammal monitoring during marine construction or other underwater noise-generating activities, including the application of observation and exclusion zones and mitigation requirements.
Experience supervising, coordinating, or providing technical direction to environmental monitoring personnel or multi-location field teams.
Working understanding of underwater acoustics as applied to marine mammals and fish, including interpretation of sound-pressure metrics, monitoring results, and relevant acoustic thresholds.
Experience interpreting and implementing marine environmental monitoring plans, permit conditions, and project-specific compliance and stop-work protocols.
Experience preparing technical incident reports and project close-out monitoring reports.
Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, communicate clearly with contractors and monitoring staff, and make timely decisions within an established authority framework.
Excellent technical writing, data-review, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
Comfortable working around active marine construction and aboard vessels or floating work platforms, including occasional extended and early/late shifts.
Qualifications and Experience (Asset)
RPBio designation or eligibility for professional registration with the BC College of Applied Biologists, or another relevant professional designation.
Experience designing or reviewing hydrophone deployments, passive acoustic monitoring systems, real-time underwater noise systems, or acoustic data analyses.
Familiarity with BC coastal marine mammals, including cetaceans and pinnipeds, and with low-light detection methods such as thermal imaging.
Experience with fish-detection sonar, fish protection measures, or Pacific herring spawning observations.
Certifications
BC Class 5 drivers license.
Occupational First Aid.
Work Location, Compensation and Benefits
This is a fixed-term, project-based position, the duration of which will be discussed with successful applicants during the interview process.
The field work location is commutable from our Port Moody Office.
The hourly wage range will be from $40 to $65 per hour depending on demonstrated leadership, marine mammal monitoring, and hydroacoustic expertise. Overtime and statutory holiday entitlements will be administered in accordance with applicable BC employment standards.
The role may involve extended workdays, rotating schedules, outdoor exposure, working on barges or small vessels, and coordination of monitoring staff across multiple shifts. The expected rotation and weekly hours will be confirmed before employment begins. Site-specific orientation and safety requirements may apply.
How to Apply
Please submit a CV and cover letter to careers@dynamicocean.ca , referencing “Marine Mammal & Hydroacoustic Monitoring Lead” in the subject line. In your application, please describe your experience leading marine mammal monitoring teams and interpreting or overseeing underwater noise monitoring during construction.