Hydrogeologist - BC Oil & Gas Commission
Fort St John, Kelowna or Victoria
The posted position salary will be based upon experience and education.
Operations Division
The Hydrogeologist is the Commission’s expert regarding applied hydrogeology and groundwater for the oil and gas
industry, providing professional expertise and support to staff, applicants and other stakeholders.
Qualifications
Consideration will be given to those with:
 Master’s degree in Geological Engineering, Groundwater Hydrology or Hydrogeology, with at least six years’
progressive and varied experience in conducting groundwater investigations, including aquifer and well
characterization, testing and assessment, detailed hydrogeological investigations, aquifer and groundwater
exploration and mapping, geochemical investigations, preferably related to the oil and gas sector; or
 Bachelor’s degree in hydrogeology and eight years’ related experience.
 Position requires eligibility for registration with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of
British Columbia.
Preference will be given to qualified applicants who demonstrate experience:
 Experience directly applicable to the regulation of oil and gas activities.
 Sound knowledge of quantitative groundwater hydrology and the practical application of geological principles,
techniques and field methods, data collection standards and procedures.
 Sound knowledge of well design, construction and testing.
 Knowledge of geochemistry and water quality.
 Knowledge of the oil and gas industry, industry activity, practices, and available data.
 Knowledge of hydrogeology deposit models, exploration techniques, field methods, and analysis/management
of complex data sets.
 Knowledge of geochemistry, including gas analysis.
In submitting a resume and cover letter, you confirm you have reviewed the following job description for a
complete list of duties and qualifications. We encourage all applicants to apply, even if they do not
currently meet the qualifications as an employee development plan may be established for lesser qualified
applicants to progress to the full working level. Classification and salary will be based on level of
education, experience and training requirements. An eligibility list may be established. Occasional overtime
work may be required.
Please ensure you quote your full name and competition number on the subject line of your email in the format
"First Name Last Name Competition Number - Preferred Location" for example; Peter Richards Competition
No. 201347 - Victoria. Please note applicants will only be contacted if they are selected to proceed further in the
process. For additional information regarding this position, please contact Recruitment at (250) 794-5203. You are
also encouraged to view the Commission Website
Competition:
Closing Date:
Apply to:
For More
Information:
201347
July 10, 2013
Oil and Gas Commission, 100 10003 110 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 6M7
FAX: (250) 794-5375
E-Mail: [email protected]
Recruitment
250-794-5203
MAILING
100 | 10003 110 Avenue
Fort St John BC V1J 6M7
T 250.794.5200
F 250.794.5390
www.bcogc.ca
OIL AND GAS COMMISSION
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE
Hydrogeologist
POSITION #:
573655
DIVISION/UNIT:
Operations
LOCATION:
Victoria
Fort St. John
Kelowna
SUPERVISOR’S TITLE:
Hydrologist
POSITION #:
573259
OGC 4
LOCATION:
Victoria
OGC 4
CLASS CODE:
Joey Lynn Anderson
PHONE
NUMBER:
SUPERVISOR’S
CLASSIFICATION:
APPROVED
CLASSIFICATION:
ENTERED BY:
250 794 5204
PROGRAM
The BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) is an independent, single-window regulatory agency
with responsibilities for regulating oil and gas operations in British Columbia, including exploration,
development, pipeline transportation and reclamation.
The Commission’s core roles include reviewing and assessing applications for industry activity,
consulting with First Nations, ensuring industry complies with provincial legislation and cooperating
with partner agencies. The public interest is protected through the objectives of ensuring public
safety, protecting the environment, conserving petroleum resources and ensuring equitable
participation in production.
PURPOSE OF POSITION
The Oil and Gas Commission has regulatory authority and responsibility for water management of oil
and gas operations in northeast British Columbia. The Hydrogeologist is the Commission’s expert
regarding applied hydrogeology and groundwater for the oil and gas industry, providing professional
expertise and support to staff, applicants and other stakeholders. The position supports various
groundwater and aquifer quantity/quality resource science and management responsibilities,
objectives and initiatives of the Commission. These include undertaking complex groundwater
supply and water use assessments, geochemistry assessments, applying ground water
measurement standards and procedures, producing aquifer and base of groundwater mapping,
reporting on groundwater conditions, and other related topics. The hydrogeologist participates in
meetings with industry, professionals, government agencies and members of the public.
NATURE OF WORK AND POSITION LINKS
The Hydrogeologist works within the Commission’s stewardship section under the direction of the
Commission Hydrologist. The section has expertise in hydrology and water resources, ecology, soils
and agriculture, and provides leadership on environmental stewardship within the Commission’s
Operations Division. The Hydrogeologist provides professional capability for application and
information review, assessment, analysis, and reporting, the development of enhanced groundwater
MAILING
100 | 10003 110 Avenue
Fort St John BC V1J 6M7
T 250.794.5200
F 250.794.5390
www.bcogc.ca
assessment and reporting, to promote and foster excellence in water management for northeast
British Columbia. The position develops and maintains strong working relationships within the
Operations Division, and with Permitting and Authorization staff, as well as with government staff,
First Nations, industry, consultants and the public.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES / DELIVERABLES
The Hydrogeologist will:
 Provide and implement recommendations and actions on processes and procedures essential
to the Commission’s management of its groundwater resource regulatory authority in relation
to the Oil and Gas Activities Act, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act, the Water Act, and other
Acts and Regulations;
 Assess, compile and determine baseline information on the groundwater and aquifer
characteristics in relation to oil and gas activity, to be used as the basis for monitoring and
evaluating change over time associated with natural perturbation or groundwater use
associated with oil and gas operations;
 Propose, lead and conduct hydrogeological investigations for the resolution of geological,
engineering and environmental questions and complaints in areas of the Province pertinent to
the oil and gas sector, including field- and office-based hydrogeological and geochemical
studies;
 Undertake hydrogeological and groundwater assessments to provide professional decisionsupport to the Permitting and Authorizations Division related to groundwater quantity,
groundwater quality, groundwater use and water source well management;
 Lead and conduct library research, compile and interpret published reports, petroleum well
logs; assessment files, geophysical data sets, and published and unpublished maps;
 Provide information and advice on regional groundwater quality and quantity monitoring
program priorities to support aquifer protection;
 Analyze groundwater assessments and reports, and prepare findings and recommendations to
the Commission on the assessments;
 Collaborate with other geoscience agencies, such as the Geological Survey of Canada, the
Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas, universities and
private sector contractors, to develop and evaluate new technologies and techniques in
hydrogeology and groundwater science;
 Maintains contact with water management staff from provincial and federal government
agencies, the Environmental Assessment Office, and others, and petroleum producers and
water resource consultants, for the purpose of gathering, assessing, communicating and
reporting information on groundwater resources in relation to oil and gas operations;
 Assess, evaluate and interpret groundwater geochemistry and gas analyses, including gas
isotope data, to evaluate chemical source, migration and fate in groundwater in relation to oil
and gas activity;
 Provide expert information to interested parties by responding to inquiries from other agencies,
industry and the public;
 Provides information and advice to the Commission and government agencies, as well as
industry and water resource consultants on groundwater quantity and quality, and groundwater
management, data collection and standards, and groundwater regulation, as they relate to oil
and gas operations;
 Prepares correspondence and briefing notes as required;
 Performs other related duties and assumes new responsibilities as the Commission requires.
Page 2 of 5
DIRECT SUPERVISION (i.e., responsibility for signing the employee appraisal form)
# of Regular
# of Auxiliary
Role
FTE’s
FTE’s
Directly supervises staff
0
0
Supervises staff through subordinate supervisors
0
0
PROJECT /TEAM LEADERSHIP OR TRAINING
# of
Role
Role
FTE’s
Supervises students or volunteers
1-2
Provides formal training to other staff
Assigns, monitors & examines the work of
Lead project teams
0
staff
# of
FTE’s
varies
0
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
WORKING CONDITIONS/SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
Occasional travel is a requirement of the position.
Occasional field work in remote locations under harsh conditions is a requirement of the position.
Frequent use of computer to analyze information and generate reports.
PREPARED BY
NAME:
DATE:
EMPLOYEE SIGN OFF
NAME:
DATE:
EXCLUDED MANAGER AUTHORIZATION
I confirm that:
1. The accountabilities / deliverables were assigned to this position effective:
2. The information in this position description reflects the actual work performed.
3. A copy has / will be provided to the incumbent(s).
NAME:
SIGNATURE:
DATE:
ORGANIZATION CHART
Commissioner
Chief Operating Officer
Deputy Commissioner, Resource Development
Director, Stewardship
Hydrologist
Hydrogeologist (TOPIC POSITION)
Page 3 of 5
SELECTION CRITERIA
Education:
 Master’s degree in Geological Engineering, Groundwater Hydrology or Hydrogeology, with at
least six years’ progressive and varied experience in conducting groundwater investigations,
including aquifer and well characterization, testing and assessment, detailed hydrogeological
investigations, aquifer and groundwater exploration and mapping, geochemical
investigations, preferably related to the oil and gas sector; or
 Bachelor’s degree in hydrogeology and eight years’ related experience.
 Position requires eligibility for registration with the Association of Professional Engineers and
Geoscientists of British Columbia.
Knowledge of:
 Experience directly applicable to the regulation of oil and gas activities.
 Sound knowledge of quantitative groundwater hydrology and the practical application of
geological principles, techniques and field methods, data collection standards and procedures.
 Sound knowledge of well design, construction and testing.
 Knowledge of geochemistry and water quality.
 Knowledge of the oil and gas industry, industry activity, practices, and available data.
 Knowledge of hydrogeology deposit models, exploration techniques, field methods, and
analysis/management of complex data sets.
 Knowledge of geochemistry, including gas analysis.
Skills And Abilities:
 Ability to exercise judgment and sensitivity in complex and politically sensitive issues.
 Ability to apply geological, hydrologic, and hydrogeological principles and techniques to achieve
practical goals.
 Able to conduct geological, geophysical, geochemical surveys or fluid flow and transport
modeling and reservoir engineering and interpret results.
 Excellent ability to communicate both orally and in writing;
 Ability to work under pressure and changing priorities;
 Ability to organize and prioritize own work and work cooperatively in a team.
 Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines in a demanding work environment.
 Ability to meet and represent the Commission with members of the public, industry officials,
government officials, First Nations, others ;
 Ability to prepare clear, concise documents, reports and correspondence for management on a
wide range of issues using various pieces of software;
 Ability to make scientific and technical presentations that can be understood by both technical
and non-technical audiences
Page 4 of 5
KEY COMPETENCIES
Adaptability: Willingness and ability to effectively work in and adapt to change
Initiative: Takes the initiative to identify new challenges or opportunities
Personal Development: Takes responsibility for personal development
Professionalism: Promotes a positive image of the organization by taking personal responsibility
for one’s role and acts consistent with OGC values
Communication: Ability to clearly convey and receive messages
Teamwork: Working cooperatively and productively with others to achieve results
Contributes to a Positive Work Environment: Behaves in a manner that supports the
organization and colleagues
Service Orientation: Takes personal responsibility for addressing client questions and concerns
Process Improvement: Proactively identifies process improvements and takes appropriate steps
to implement them
Focus on Priorities: Is able to identify priority activities and remains focused on the highest
priorities
Detail Oriented: Sets and attains high standards for quality and accuracy in work
Problem Solving: Uses critical thinking skills to solve problems and achieve effective solutions
Page 5 of 5