About this role
Junior Photo Interpreter
PRI Engineering Consultants | Kelowna, BC, Vancouver, BC, Peterborough, ON & Halifax, NS
Full-time, permanent
The Future of Consulting Starts Here.
About the role
PRI Consultants is an independent, Canadian-owned multidisciplinary engineering and environmental consulting firm of roughly 150 professionals across eleven offices in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. We are hiring a Junior Photo Interpreter to join our Forestry & Inventory team, based out of our various offices listed above.
In this role, you will interpret aerial imagery, satellite imagery, and LiDAR data to support forest inventory, vegetation resource inventory, and change monitoring projects for public and private sector clients across Canada. You will work closely with GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews to produce accurate, defensible mapping and classification products.
This is a junior role with room to grow. You will receive mentorship from senior analysts as you build your technical skills in photo interpretation and remote sensing.
What you'll do
Interpret aerial photographs, satellite imagery, and LiDAR data to delineate and classify forest stands, vegetation types, and land cover
Support forest inventory and Vegetation Resources Inventory (VRI) projects, including stand delineation and attribute classification
Contribute to Change Monitoring Inventory (CMI) projects, identifying and classifying landscape change over time
Conduct quality control checks on photo interpretation products to ensure accuracy and consistency
Use GIS software, such as ArcGIS or QGIS, to compile, edit, and maintain spatial databases
Collaborate with GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews to validate interpretation against ground-truth data
Assist with data collection and field verification, including periodic summer fieldwork in remote areas
Prepare clear, well-organized documentation of methods and results for internal and client use
What you bring
Required
Diploma or degree in Forestry, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Remote Sensing, GIS, or a related field
Experience or coursework in stereo photo interpretation (ability to see in 3D and no colour blindness), remote sensing, or aerial image analysis
Proficiency with GIS software, such as ArcGIS or QGIS
Strong attention to detail and the ability to produce accurate, consistent classification work
Strong written and verbal communication skills
A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to project and field sites, including remote locations
Preferred
Experience with VRI (BC Vegetation Resources Inventory) FRI (Ontario Forest Resource Inventory) standards and procedures
Familiarity with LiDAR data and its application to forest inventory
Consulting industry experience
Candidates who demonstrate strong capability and a willingness to work extended field tasks in remote areas during the summer will be viewed favorably. Certification in CMI (Change Monitoring Inventory) would also be considered a strong asset.
Why PRI
Varied work across forest inventory, change monitoring, and remote sensing projects for public and private sector clients across Canada
A collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment working alongside GIS specialists, forest analysts, and field crews
Genuine mentorship and a growth path toward intermediate and senior technical roles
Hands-on summer fieldwork opportunities alongside steady office-based analytical work
Extended health and dental, RRSP matching, and professional dues paid
PRI is an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from Indigenous professionals. Apply with a resume and a short note on your experience with photo interpretation or remote sensing.
