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Kelp Rescue Initiative | Open Position: Nursery Manager
Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre
CAD 61k-70k / year
Posted on Feb 13, 2026
Open Position: Nursery Manager
Organization: Kelp Rescue Initiative (KRI)
Location: Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC), Bamfield, BC
Start Date: Immediately
Salary: $61,000 – 70,000 annually (commensurate with experience) + benefits
Type: Full-time (37.5 hours/week), Casual, 1-year term; subject to renewal
Reports To: KRI Program Manager
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Organization and Position Overview:
The Kelp Rescue Initiative (KRI), based at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC), was established to develop science-based solutions for kelp forest decline in British Columbia. Funded by the Aquatic Ecosystems Restoration Fund (AERF), and in close partnership with the Baum Lab team at the University of Victoria, KRI aims to understand the ecological and physical drivers of kelp forest declines (marine heatwaves, urchin herbivory, habitat loss) and restore canopy kelp forests at ecologically meaningful scales. Through the AERF, KRI has initiated an ambitious scientific research program, encompassing kelp forest ecology, genomics, and restoration experiments. The main study sites are on Vancouver Island – including Barkley Sound and the North Salish Sea.
The Nursery Manager will oversee kelp culturing and kelp growth cycles across KRI nurseries (BMSC and Deep Bay), supervise nursery technicians and lead nursery related research. They will develop, evaluate and report on new culturing techniques and make recommendations and decisions about kelp sourcing, culturing and nurseries; all with a view to enhance the success of KRI’s ecological restoration efforts for kelp. They will assist with field activities such as sori collection, outplanting and ecological monitoring; The ideal candidate is scientifically grounded, results-oriented, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively. They will bring strong lab and nursery management skills, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence in both laboratory and field settings to help advance KRI’s mission of restoring kelp forests along BC’s coast.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Work productively with a growing team of researchers, technicians, and project staff to carry out KRI’s core mandate, helping to ensure that KRI research and restoration projects are executed to a high standard and on-track to meet project and funding deadlines & deliverables;
- Manage KRI’s nurseries at BMSC and Deep Bay Marine Station to expand KRI’s capacity to produce large volumes of kelp required for scaled restoration;
- Supervise and train nursery technicians;
- Oversee the rest of the kelp culturing and operations team to ensure maintenance of kelp cultures and biobanks at BMSC and Deep Bay;
- Lead development, installation and renovation of KRI kelp nurseries and lab facilities;
- Develop and maintain up-to-date nursery and culturing protocols (SOPs);
- Routine lab duties including: spore release and initiating culture, making and changing culture medium, water changes, ongoing checks to ensure cultures are growing and not contaminated etc., and long-term archiving samples (biobanking);
- Develop and track nursery operational plans, budgets and schedules (e.g., GANTT charts) for nursery projects;
- Develop, test, and evaluate outcomes of promising methods of kelp culturing (e.g. direct seeding; gametoglue), through controlled, manipulative experiments, developed together with supervisors and broader team;
- Lead reports and/or publications on experiment outcomes;
- Develop nursery-related training videos
- Hone KRI’s overall kelp culturing, nursery (e.g. design and setup), and outplanting practices by drawing upon experiment outcomes, literature reviews, communication with other academics and organizations restoring and farming kelp, and communicate options clearly to the KRI team in order to help optimize methods;
- Working with team to prepare kelp gametophytes for outplanting (e.g. on green gravel, tiles or other medium) and assist team in the field with outplanting and/or monitoring outplanted kelp (e.g. blade growth, collection of reproductive material, YSI measurements of site conditions etc);
- Maintain detailed lab notebook of experiments and kelp culturing, that are openly available to the KRI Project Lead and KRI Management Committee, and provide regular progress updates;
- Order supplies and equipment for laboratory, restoration and nursery operations;
- Maintain scientific equipment, and field gear;
- Complete all work to a high standard and on-track to meet project/funding deadlines & deliverables;
- Work productively with the Baum Lab and KRI teams, liaising closely with them;
- Assist with other related kelp tasks as needed.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master’s degree in biology, Environmental Science or related discipline, or a BSc in a similar field with 3-5 year’s experience managing complex scientific projects
- Experience working in kelp culturing laboratories, including general lab skills and equipment maintenance
- Strong organizational and nursery/lab management skills, including demonstrated ability to multi-task, excellent time management and prioritization skills and the ability to balance competing demands to ensure KRI operations proceed on required timelines
- Proficiency with standard computer tools (email, word processing, spreadsheets, Zoom, Slack) and project management software and related productivity tools for managing operations
- Experience with, and knowledge of, safe boating practices (SVOP preferred but not required)
- Valid BC driver’s license
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, while liaising closely with other team members to ensure overall project needs are being met
- Experience working in geographically dispersed or collaborative teams
- Flexible availability, including occasional early mornings, evenings, and weekends
- Satisfactory Criminal Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening
ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience with the R coding language for data processing, cleaning, and analysis;
- Scientific Diver certification (CAUS Level 1 or AAUS equivalent)
- SVOP certification (including valid First Aid, MED A3, SDV-BS, ROC-M)
- Valid Basic First Aid, CPR and Oxygen Administration
- Experience with project management;
- Knowledge of kelp biology, ecology, and species ID
- Previous experience at remote research stations
- Strong communication skills for both technical and general audiences
To Apply:
Submit the following as a single PDF (include your last name in the file name) to Jasmin Schuster, KRI Program Manager, at jasmin.schuster@kelprescue.org, with the subject line: “KRI Nursery Manager”:
- Cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Names and contact information for three references
BMSC is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.
As we are located in a remote area, we understand that additional considerations may be needed during the hiring process. We’re committed to providing accommodations at every stage, in accordance with the British Columbia Employment Standards Act (ESA). If you need any support or adjustments during the process, please reach out to our Human Resources team. All requests will be handled with care and confidentiality.