Technical Engineer Water Resource Management / Ingénieur technique-gestion des ressources hydriques

Job Description

FirstLight is a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company serving North America. With a diversified portfolio that includes over 1.65 GW of operating renewable energy and energy storage technologies and a development pipeline with 4+ GW of solar, battery, hydro, onshore wind and offshore wind projects, FirstLight specializes in hybrid solutions that pair hydroelectric, pumped-hydro storage (including Northfield Mountain, the largest energy storage facility in New England), utility-scale solar, large-scale battery, and wind assets. The company's mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by supporting the development, operation, and integration of renewable energy and storage to meet the world's growing clean energy needs and deliver an electric system that is clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable. Based in Burlington, MA, with operating offices in Northfield, MA, New Milford, CT, Oshawa, ON, and Montréal, QC, FirstLight is a steward of more than 14,000 acres and hundreds of miles of shoreline along some of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in North America.

In Canada, FirstLight operates through its subsidiaries H2O Power and the recently acquired Hydroméga which is headquartered in Montréal. We operate 18 hydroelectric generating stations located in Ontario and Quebec and we are one of the largest providers of hydroelectric power in these provinces. FirstLight is wholly owned by PSP Investments, one of Canada's largest pension investment managers and we have over 200 employees in Canada and the US.

We proudly serve our host communities and beyond through our clean energy assets, the recreation spaces we steward, the jobs we produce, and the economic benefit we deliver through our operations and charitable actions.

We are a team of caring, passionate professionals who are driven to deliver positive climate impact and to have fun while doing it! We value diversity, equity and inclusion and encourage people with diverse perspectives, skills and experiences to apply.

Position Detail

We currently have an opening for an experienced Engineer, Environment & Asset Optimization/Technical Engineer - Water Resource Management for this remote role based out of Québec.

Reporting to the Director of Asset Management, the Engineer, Environment & Asset Optimization provides strategic oversight and direction for the organization's environmental programs while integrating environmental compliance, water resource management, and asset optimization to maximize generation value and ensure regulatory adherence.

Will support production forecasting, generation planning, outage planning, and operational decision-making across the FirstLight Canadian portfolio through cross-functional coordination between Operations, Commercial, Asset Management, Dam Safety and Regulatory stakeholders to optimize energy within contractual, environmental, and hydrological constraints. Will serve as a primary point of contact for public and stakeholder inquiries regarding environmental and water resource matters.

Our ideal candidate possesses the experience, passion and energy to be a driving force in FirstLight's continued evolution to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid to meet the clean energy needs of tomorrow.

The compensation for this position typically falls between $115,000 and $125,000 CAN. The final compensation offered will depend on several factors that may include, but are not limited to, the type and years of relevant experience, industry-specific experience, relevant education/certifications and geographic location.

Our total compensation package also includes a competitive bonus plus comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings with company match, life insurance, disability benefits, employee assistance program, paid time off, paid holidays, health and wellness reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, scholarship program, employee referral bonus, volunteer time off benefit, charitable gift match program and more.

Key Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Using various analytical techniques, provide strategic guidance on water allocation, reservoir operations, and river flow planning.
• Review environmental and hydrological data (snow surveys, frost depth, vegetation conditions, meteorological and hydrological datasets) and provide actionable recommendations to operational teams;
• Develop and implement strategies to meet regulatory compliance, optimize energy production and support maintenance and reliability objectives;
• Prepare and submit reports to regulatory agencies such as Lake of the Woods Control Board, Rainy Lake Water Levels Committee and Ministry of Natural Resources;
• Liaise with various regulatory bodies and stakeholders on all matters relating to environmental and regulatory issues; Serve as point of contact with public;
• Monitor environmental regulations and assess potential operational and commercial impacts;
• Oversee and provide guidance on environmental monitoring, compliance, and reporting programs, including:
• Fisheries Mitigation and Effectiveness Monitoring Programs - ensuring fish and fish habitats are protected and mitigation measures are effective;
• Shoreline Management Program - monitoring, maintaining, and managing shorelines to balance environmental protection and operational needs;
• Woodpecker and Pole Replacement Program - managing wildlife protection measures while maintaining infrastructure integrity through regular inspections, maintenance and upgrades;
• Attend local and regional in-person regulatory meetings;
• Facilitate cross-functional coordination between commercial, environmental, operational and planning teams;
• Develop and/or maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) in the areas of environment and asset optimization;
• Comply with all FirstLight policies and procedures;
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Qualifications / Skills

• Bilingual written and verbal proficiency in English and French, required;
• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Environmental, or Water Resources Engineering;
• 5+ years of relevant experience in strategic oversight of environmental compliance programs and asset optimization;
• Technical knowledge of hydroelectric generation, a plus;
• Knowledge and understanding of environmental monitoring, compliance, and reporting programs;
• Experience interfacing with the public and stakeholders on environmental and regulatory issues;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with a high level of accountability and ownership;
• Strong capability to perform effectively in both collaborative and independent work environments;
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and situational awareness when operating in a power systems environment;
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills;
• Exceptional attention to detail with strong organizational and documentation skills;
• Ability to travel to local and regional regulatory/agency meetings in Ontario and Québec, typically 5 times per year as well as attend occasional in-person meetings;
• Complete periodic site visits to company facilities;
• Valid driver's license required;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.

Why Work for FirstLight?

We consider our employees to be our most valuable resource and we strive to provide a challenging, collegial, and rewarding workplace. FirstLight embraces a company-wide commitment to recruit, develop, and retain a dedicated, diverse, and engaged workforce that is motivated to be better both professionally and personally.

Joining FirstLight is an opportunity to experience a unique and exciting culture. We offer a competitive benefits package.

FirstLight's values are:

• Respect
• Integrity
• Safety
• Excellence
• Innovation
• Team

JOIN OUR TEAM!

FirstLight is an Equal Opportunity Employer; promoting accessibility and inclusivity at work and offering accommodation for applicants as required and requested.