Senior Geologist (Geologist 4)

About Us

The Geological Survey Division of the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables is responsible for acquiring, evaluating, managing, and disseminating information about the province’s geology and hydrogeology.  This geoscientific information is used for a wide variety of applications, including geological and water resource assessment, environmental protection, and land use planning.  The Geological Survey Division provides geoscience information to support Government decision-making and policy formulation to manage geological resources and protect public health, safety, and infrastructure from geological hazards.

About Our Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager of the Geological Survey Division, Geoscience and Mines Branch, the Sedimentary Basins Geologist is responsible for designing strategic projects and programs that characterize onshore to offshore processes that drive erosion, sediment transport and deposition and that have the potential to impact Nova Scotia’s economic, social and environmental sectors under projected climate change and rising sea levels. This requires considering multiple spatial and temporal scales of analysis and applying integrative geoscientific methodologies and technologies in process-based, ‘source to sink’ terrestrial and marine basin dynamic systems modelling that better informs Nova Scotia’s climate change adaptation strategies.

The Sedimentary Basins Geologist works at a high level of complexity and independence to identify climate change related geoscience data and knowledge gaps and related risks across multiple sectors, and to plan, design, and deliver geoscientific project-based research that may include a broad range of scientific and technical partners across multiple sectors and disciplines. The incumbent is required to plan, design and deliver targeted projects within budget and on time, supervising, mentoring and directing project teams throughout project life cycles and adapting plans to deliver outcomes as required. The Sedimentary Basins Geologist requires working knowledge of, but is not limited to, marine geoscientific and bathymetric surveying methods, technologies and data analysis, structural geology, geophysics, geochemistry, bedrock and surficial geology, facies analysis, sedimentary basin architecture, oceanography, climatology, geographic information systems, integrated resource management, report preparation and geoscientific editing. The successful candidate must be able to identify potential projects and build effective working partnerships to undertake a holistic analysis of sedimentary systems dynamics through integrating subsurface, terrestrial and bathymetric survey data captured directly or acquired through partners to characterize atmospheric and oceanographic processes impacting provincial drainages and the coastal zone. The incumbent will create and communicate geological research outcomes using a variety of hard copy and digital platforms. Clients include other government departments, community groups, various industry sectors, municipalities, academia, NGOs and the public.

Primary Accountabilities

• A results-focused self starter who plans, conducts, directs, supervises and reports on highly specialized independent sedimentary geoscience research that characterizes climatological and oceanographic controls on basin dynamics that impact a broad range of provincial stakeholders.
• Adept at identifying strategic opportunities and key resource and partner requirements and works closely with the management team to undertake strategic initiatives.  
• Captures and interprets geoscientific data from the geologic to historic past as a means of projecting current and future risks to multiple sectors and stakeholders. May contribute to regulatory and policy development.
• Uses independent judgement and initiative to develop sound concepts and applications from scientific data and effectively communicates them. Prepares, edits, and peer reviews scientific manuscripts and publications. Actively builds a network of experts across provincial and federal government departments and agencies and academia regionally, nationally and internationally to research climatologic and oceanographic processes that shaped and will continue to shape Nova Scotia’s provincial waterways and the coastal zone.  
• Presents scientific papers and technical expertise on programs to various audiences. Attends appropriate technical meetings, conferences, workshops and seminars. 
• Builds internal and external research partnerships to identify and address critical issues in provincial sedimentary geoscience by integrating bedrock, coastal, surficial and environmental geoscience as required.  
• Assists and/or leads the recruitment and supervision of permanent, casual, temporary or term staff for projects and advises on expert contractor support. As a senior geoscientist, you may be required to mentor one or more Geologist 1-2 or Geologist 3.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in the role you must have at a minimum a B.Sc. in geology, environmental geoscience, or a related discipline such as geological engineering or oceanography, with a minimum of 7 years’ experience in a sedimentary geoscience related field, an M.Sc. with 6 years of related experience, or a Ph.D. with 4 years of related experience.

To be successful in this role, you must have the ability to exercise independent judgement of the highest quality as the incumbent designs and implements self-directed initiatives. You must have a proven ability to build positive and productive relationships across government and with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders and partners. You must have a strong ability in contributing to diverse working groups across multiple sectors and be able to represent the branch professionally while building strong working relationships to build core programs. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential as well as the ability to work both independently and in a team environment. You will also have strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills.

Equivalency

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs.  For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Other Considerations

• The position requires an individual with an ability to be self-directed.  Field work may require overnight travel and/or travel by helicopter. This role could also require time on small vessels.
• You must hold a valid Nova Scotia drivers license.
• You must hold or be eligible for Professional Geoscientist designation in Nova Scotia.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• Department specific flexible working schedules