Summer Student - Forestry

by Middlesex County

Position Type: Student Job
Location: London, ON
Date Posted: May 01, 2025
Middlesex County

Job Description

About Middlesex County
Middlesex County is a vibrant upper-tier municipality located in Southwestern Ontario.  We offer a thriving business climate, easy access to transportation routes, and quality of life. Middlesex County offers residents easy commutes, safe communities, a diverse economy, exceptional healthcare facilities, affordable housing, an array of educational opportunities and bountiful recreation and cultural choices in a picturesque setting. The County’s administration headquarters are located in London, but Middlesex County is comprised of unique villages, towns and rural communities that have great attractions for residents and tourists. 

At Middlesex County, you will have a chance to make an impact in your everyday work and build lasting relationships in the communities in which we live and serve. We offer a culture that values inclusion, diversity of thought, and employee development. We invest in our people to help them leverage their strengths to achieve their career aspirations.

Position Overview
The Summer Student will support the County’s forestry and environmental initiatives by developing and enhancing a comprehensive forest resource inventory. Working with GIS and remote sensing technologies, the incumbent will gather, analyze, and organize forest data to assess carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services. This work will contribute to calculating natural asset values and integrating environmental data into the County’s corporate asset management systems. The position offers a valuable opportunity to apply technical GIS skills and environmental knowledge in a practical, project-focused setting.

This position is 35 hours per week, commencing June 2, 2025, for a total of 16 weeks. This position will be based out of our County Administration Building at 399 Ridout Street North in London, ON; however, weekly travel to various locations within Middlesex County will be required.

Primary Job Duties & Responsibilities
  • Build and update detailed forest resource inventory layers using GIS platforms.
  • Analyze and interpret remote sensing data related to forest ecosystems.
  • Conduct comprehensive forest ecosystem analyses using proprietary software to quantify ecosystem values, including carbon sequestration.
  • Assemble, organize, and format forest datasets for integration with corporate asset management systems.
  • Collaborate with internal staff to ensure data consistency and accuracy for reporting purposes.
  • Prepare maps, data summaries, and reports as required.
  • Perform site visits to gather field data as necessary (access to a vehicle required).
  • Maintain accurate records of work completed and methodologies used.
  • Support additional environmental and forestry projects as assigned.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.
Note: the above represents the major functions of the position but does not preclude the addition of other related functions as required.

Qualifications
  • Enrollment in or recent graduation from a post-secondary program in Forestry, Environmental Science, Geography, GIS, or a related field.
  • Experience with GIS software (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS) is required.
  • Experience with analysis and interpretation of remote sensing technologies (e.g., LiDAR, satellite imagery) as it relates to forest ecosystems is considered an asset.
  • Familiarity with forest ecosystem services, carbon sequestration concepts, and natural asset valuation is an asset.
  • Strong organizational and analytical skills, with attention to detail.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively as part of a team.
  • Strong communication skills for documentation and reporting purposes.
  • A valid “G” driver’s licence with a clean driver’s abstract, and access to a vehicle to travel as required to fulfil job responsibilities.
What We Offer
  • Competitive compensation: the pay rate for this position is $24.80 per hour plus 4% vacation pay
  • Ability to participate in the OMERS (Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System) pension plan
  • Employee and Family Assistance Program
  • Ongoing training and development
How to Apply
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your cover letter and resume by email to hr@middlesex.ca by 4:30 p.m. on May 16, 2025.

We welcome all interested candidates to apply. If you do not meet every qualification in the job description but your skills and experience align well with the role, we encourage you to consider applying. You may be the right candidate we are looking for with this role or other roles at Middlesex County.

Accommodations
Middlesex County is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone. Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment process. If you are contacted for an interview, please advise us of any accommodations that may be required. This information will be treated confidentially and only used for the purpose of providing an accessible recruitment experience.

Additional Information
We thank all applicants who apply, but only those applicants to be interviewed will be acknowledged. Personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for candidate selection purposes only.