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***Apply By:***Friday, April 3, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

#Aquatic Research Scientist

Job ID:

241702

Posting status:

Open

Organization:

Ministry of Natural Resources

Division:

Aquatic Research and Monitoring Section, Science and Research Branch, Provincial Services Division

City:

Sudbury

Position(s) language:

English

Job term:

1 Permanent

Job code:

15404 - Research Scientist 3 NatRes, 15406 - Research Scientist 4 NatRes

Salary:

$1,451.87 - $2,368.50 Per week* *Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Are you looking to lead a collaborative, applied science research program with a focus on the fish and fisheries of northern Ontario, addressing the needs of Ontarians today, while charting a course for future innovation in applied fisheries and aquatic sciences? Do you have experience implementing your scientific expertise, such as fisheries stock assessment, advanced statistical analysis, or ecological modelling, into products and advice that address real world issues in environmental and resource management? Do you like the idea of contributing scientific evidence, including the development and application of analytical tools and decision-support approaches, to the development of provincial policy and regulations for the management of Ontario's fish resources?
If so, we are looking for an individual to create and lead their own research program working closely with academic partners, government scientists, stakeholders, indigenous communities, biologists and technicians who will collectively support the evidence-informed approach to fisheries management in Ontario. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with large-scale monitoring datasets and develop innovative quantitative approaches that strengthen the scientific basis for fisheries management decisions.

This position provides an excellent opportunity for advancement; while most candidates are hired at the Research Scientist 3 classification, they may be considered for the Research Scientist 4 classification depending on their knowledge and experience level. During the course of employment there is also the opportunity to advance to the Research Scientist 4 or 5 classification with acquired experience. The performance of a Research Scientist will be assessed using four criteria: relevance, productivity, leadership and excellence.

Research Scientist 3: $1,451.87 - 1,845.73 per week
Research Scientist 4: $1,798.60 - 2,368.50 per week
Research Scientist 5: $1,841.88 - 2,445.69 per week

The Ontario Public Service (OPS) is committed to being an employer of first choice, creating a positive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

• a defined benefit pension plan
• maternity and parental leave top-up benefits which includes adoptive parents
• comprehensive health plan
• life and disability insurance
• flexible work arrangements
• collegial and professional work culture
• career growth and development opportunities across multiple business areas
• on-the-job training to support your success in the role

##About the job

In this role, you will:

• be located at the Living with Lakes Centre, in the Co-operative Freshwater Ecology Unit at Laurentian University
• design, coordinate and conduct a comprehensive applied aquatic ecology and fisheries research program
• collaborate within and external to the ministry to address ministry science priorities
• publish in scientific journals, newsletters, reports and other publications
• present at scientific meetings, workshops and training courses
• provide scientific advice and recommendations, and participate in the development of policy and management decisions
• requires regular travel, and participation in field and laboratory activities

##What you bring to the team

###Mandatory requirements:

• You must have a valid class 'G' driver's licence or equivalent, as recognized by the Province of Ontario. The offer of employment is conditional upon the successful candidate providing proof that they have a valid driver's licence upon being hired.

###Project management and group leadership skills:

• You have project management skills to plan and coordinate all resources to develop and maintain complex multi-year research programs and manage them within budget.
• You have group leadership, team membership and interpersonal skills to oversee programs, lead staff and work as part of an inter-disciplinary research group.

###Technical knowledge:

• You have expert knowledge of aquatic ecology in order to conduct advanced scientific research which is authoritative, typically acquired through the completion of a post-graduate degree in a related discipline from an institution in recognized standing,
• You have knowledge of aquatic research and aquatic management principles and practices to initiate, develop, and implement applied research.
• You have an expertise in two or more of the following: fish population ecology; population, community or ecosystem models; food web ecology; advanced experimental design or development of indicators; fisheries stock assessment methods, risk assessment or decision analyses; landscape or spatial ecology; eco-hydrology; or application of new technologies to aquatic ecosystem research.

###Analytical and problem-solving skills:

• You have strong statistics/data analysis knowledge and skills to effectively integrate, analyze, and interpret large scale multi-variable aquatic and environmental data sets.
• You have reasoning and problem-solving skills to formulate hypotheses and design a multi-year research program to analyze issues related to aquatic ecology and to provide alternatives for solution of problems.

###Communications:

• You have excellent written communication skills to prepare scientific reports, journal papers, technical notes, and articles.
• You have strong verbal communication skills to present and discuss information with a variety of audiences.

##Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

##How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario'sHuman Rights Codeand the*Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.*We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

##Additional information:

Apply by:

Friday, April 3, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Position details:

• 1 English Permanent, 840 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, North Region

Compensation group:

Ontario Public Service Employees Union

Work hours:

Schedule 6

Category:

Science

Posted on:

Friday, March 13, 2026

Note:

• N-NR-241702/26

##How to apply:

• You must apply online.

• Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.

• Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.

• Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.

• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

• If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

Language requirements and assessment: All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation: Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.

Strengthening Ontario, together