WSP

Senior Technical Writing Ecologist

WSP • $85K — $117K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Degree or diploma in ecology, biology, environmental science, or related discipline; research-based graduate degree is an asset.
  • 8 to 12+ years of relevant experience in ecology, environmental assessment, or applied biology.
  • Advanced technical writing and scientific reasoning skills in preparing complex ecological reports.
  • Strong knowledge of Ontario ecology and relevant environmental legislation.
  • Experience leading ecological studies and impact assessments with a focus on data quality and defensibility.
  • Technical expertise in areas like species at risk, wetlands, or natural heritage assessment.
  • Sound technical judgment for complex assignments with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the preparation of a variety of technical reports and environmental assessments.
  • Integrate ecological data and field observations into actionable recommendations.
  • Shape technical strategies defining objectives, methods, and data requirements for ecology programs.
  • Evaluate project effects, mitigation measures, and ecological sensitivities.
  • Guide deliverables through technical writing, review, and quality assurance processes.
  • Mentor junior staff in technical writing and ecological content integration.
  • Support project proposals by developing technical scopes and documentation strategies.
  • Represent ecology expertise in interactions with clients and agencies.

Benefits

  • Collaborative team environment focused on professional growth.
  • Opportunity to influence environmental decision-making and community resilience.
  • Engagement in diverse projects across various ecological domains.
  • Supportive company culture promoting scientific curiosity and technical judgment.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Opportunity

Shape What Comes Next

Bring your technical expertise and scientific reasoning to complex ecology projects across Ontario. As a Senior Technical Writing Ecologist, you'll take a leading role in turning ecological data, policy requirements, field observations, and interdisciplinary insights into clear, defensible technical documentation that supports environmental approvals, impact assessments, monitoring programs, permitting, and informed project decisions.

You'll work across land development, infrastructure, mining, energy, municipal, transportation, and natural heritage projects while helping strengthen technical quality and develop the next generation of ecology professionals.

Your Impact
  • Lead the preparation of technical reports, environmental impact studies, natural heritage assessments, environmental assessment documentation, monitoring reports, permitting materials, technical memos, and client or agency correspondence.
  • Integrate field observations, ecological data, mapping, analytical results, policy requirements, agency direction, and interdisciplinary inputs into clear conclusions and practical recommendations.
  • Shape technical strategies for complex ecology programs, defining study objectives, methods, seasonal timing, data requirements, assumptions, limitations, and lines of evidence.
  • Evaluate ecological sensitivities, potential project effects, mitigation measures, residual effects, cumulative considerations, uncertainty, and monitoring requirements.
  • Guide complex deliverables through senior technical writing, review, response-to-comment development, and quality assurance while identifying data gaps and regulatory risks.
  • Mentor junior and intermediate professionals in scientific reasoning, technical writing, data interpretation, field-to-report integration, and defensible documentation.
  • Support proposals and project delivery by developing technical scopes, approaches, assumptions, schedules, effort estimates, risks, and documentation strategies.
  • Represent ecology expertise in client, agency, Indigenous engagement, interdisciplinary project, and internal technical discussions, as appropriate.

The Skills That Set You Apart
  • Degree or diploma in ecology, biology, environmental science, environmental studies, natural resource management, or a related discipline; a research-based graduate degree is a strong asset.
  • Typically 8 to 12+ years of relevant ecology, environmental assessment, consulting, government, conservation authority, academic, or applied field biology experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Advanced technical writing and scientific reasoning skills, with demonstrated experience preparing, leading, or substantially reviewing complex ecological reports and supporting documentation.
  • Strong knowledge of Ontario ecology and natural heritage planning, including applicable provincial and municipal policy frameworks and relevant environmental legislation.
  • Experience developing or leading ecological studies, monitoring programs, constraints analyses, impact assessments, permitting support, or related work, with strong attention to data quality, uncertainty and defensible conclusions.
  • Technical expertise in one or more areas such as species at risk, wetlands, wildlife, vegetation communities, aquatic or fish habitat, natural heritage impact assessment, ELC, OWES, BHA, arborist work, ecological monitoring, or environmental assessment.
  • Sound technical judgement when working under general direction on highly complex assignments, including recognizing when additional data, senior review, regulatory discussion, client communication, or changes in technical approach are needed.
  • Valid Ontario driver licence and ability to travel for site visits, meetings, and field work where required.

Compensation

AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT: $93,700 - $124,200
MB & ON: $85,500 - $117,800
NB, NL, NS, PE & QC: $84,700 - $112,400

Disclosure

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

Make Your Mark

If you're ready to turn complex ecological evidence into clear decisions that help shape responsible projects and resilient communities, bring your expertise to WSP. Join a collaborative team where your technical judgement, scientific curiosity, and ability to communicate what matters can make a lasting impact.

About WSP

WSP is a Canadian engineering consulting firm that provides services to transform the built environment and restore the natural environment. The firm's expertise ranges from environmental remediation and urban planning, to engineering iconic buildings and designing sustainable transport networks, to developing the energy sources of the future and enabling new ways of extracting essential resources. It has approximately 54,000 employees, including engineers, technicians, scientists, architects, planners, surveyors, program and construction management professionals, and various environmental experts. WSP has offices in more than 40 countries and territories around the world.
Learn more about WSP
Size
54,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1959

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