[Hiring] Senior Underwater Acoustics & Bioacoustics Consultant @SLR Consulting

Role Description

As our new Senior Underwater Acoustics & Bioacoustics Consultant, you will play an important role on our Acoustics team. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to support a wide range of clients by leading underwater acoustics modelling and assessment, translating project activities into reliable predictions and clear reports. Your responsibilities include:

• Developing sound propagation models
• Reviewing source data
• Supporting field measurement and monitoring programs
• Contributing to mitigation strategies that protect marine environments and guide responsible development

As part of a globally connected acoustics and vibration team, you will collaborate across specialties while serving as a senior consultant in underwater acoustics. You will work across projects involving:

• Ports and terminals
• Offshore energy
• Dredging
• Marine construction
• Subsea cables
• Transportation infrastructure
• Other coastal developments throughout North America and internationally

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in underwater acoustics assessments, modelling, monitoring, and advisory services on a diverse range of marine projects, including:
  • Coastal and offshore development projects
  • Vessel noise assessments
  • Construction noise assessments
  • Cumulative effects evaluations
  • Underwater noise impact studies
• Day-to-Day Responsibilities:
  • Underwater Acoustics Assessment & Modelling:
    • Develop and run underwater sound propagation and exposure models
    • Define modelling assumptions, environmental inputs, sensitivity analyses, uncertainty assessments, and quality assurance procedures
    • Model sound propagation considering environmental variables
    • Predict underwater noise footprints for proposed and operational marine activities
    • Integrate species distribution, hearing sensitivity, and ecological datasets into acoustic models
    • Support source characterization using field measurements and operational data
    • Evaluate zones of behavioural disturbance and cumulative impacts to marine fauna
  • Underwater Sound Measurement & Monitoring:
    • Design, coordinate, and execute underwater acoustic monitoring programs
    • Deploy, retrieve, calibrate, and maintain hydrophones and underwater acoustic recording systems
    • Measure ambient and anthropogenic underwater noise
    • Support underwater acoustic measurement campaigns
    • Coordinate offshore and coastal monitoring programs with multidisciplinary project teams
    • Participate in fieldwork as required
  • Marine Animal Acoustics:
    • Support studies evaluating marine mammal, fish, sea turtle, and invertebrate responses to underwater sound
    • Identify species presence using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM)
    • Analyze behavioural responses to underwater noise exposure
    • Support marine mammal observation (MMO) and passive acoustic monitoring programs
    • Assist with controlled exposure experiments and research initiatives
  • Data Analysis & Signal Processing:
    • Process, analyze, and interpret large underwater acoustic datasets
    • Generate and interpret spectrograms, frequency analyses, and time-series visualizations
    • Detect, classify, and catalogue biological and anthropogenic acoustic events
    • Apply statistical analyses to evaluate relationships between underwater noise and biological responses
    • Maintain reproducible analytical workflows and documentation
  • Regulatory Support & Environmental Assessment:
    • Prepare technical documentation supporting environmental assessments
    • Respond to technical comments from regulators and stakeholders
    • Contribute to underwater noise management strategies
    • Support dispute resolution and provide expert technical input
  • Mitigation Planning:
    • Develop practical mitigation strategies to reduce underwater noise impacts
    • Recommend mitigation measures including bubble curtains and operational restrictions
    • Monitor and evaluate mitigation effectiveness through field monitoring
    • Translate modelling results into practical recommendations for clients and regulators
  • Project Delivery:
    • Prepare clear, defensible technical reports
    • Develop technical figures and supporting appendices
    • Coordinate with project managers to manage scope, schedules, and budgets
    • Perform QA/QC reviews of internal and external technical work
    • Streamline modelling, data processing, and reporting workflows
  • Leadership & Business Development:
    • Mentor junior staff on underwater acoustics modelling and technical writing
    • Support proposal preparation and client presentations
    • Build strong client relationships and identify opportunities to expand services
    • Contribute technical thought leadership through publications and industry engagement
    • Maintain awareness of emerging research and best practices

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of consulting experience in underwater acoustics
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Acoustics, Ocean Engineering, Marine Science, or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred)
• Professional registration (P.Eng., PE, or equivalent), or eligibility for registration
• Strong understanding of underwater sound propagation and acoustics theory
• Demonstrated experience developing underwater sound propagation models
• Experience designing and implementing underwater acoustic monitoring programs
• Strong analytical skills with experience processing large underwater acoustic datasets
• Experience generating spectrograms and statistical analyses
• Understanding of marine fauna behaviour and responses to underwater sound
• Familiarity with marine mammal, fish, and sea turtle impact criteria
• Experience preparing technical reports suitable for environmental assessments
• Experience developing underwater noise mitigation strategies
• Experience supporting marine mammal observation (MMO) programs is considered an asset
• Offshore or coastal fieldwork experience is considered an asset
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams is highly desirable
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management abilities
• Demonstrated mentoring and technical leadership experience
• Proven client relationship and business development experience
• Publication record or research contributions related to underwater acoustics are considered assets
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of hire
• Ability to travel throughout North America, including offshore work

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package including comprehensive benefits, vacation, and wellness initiatives
• Full-time permanent role with opportunities for professional growth and advancement

Company Description

SLR Consulting (Canada) is a team of advisory, environmental, engineering, and regulatory professionals across Canada. We deliver services through the integration of over 30 disciplines to help clients address complex challenges around sustainability.