Biologist

Important messages

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

This is an inventory of potential candidates to fill upcoming employment opportunities at the BI-02 level within Public Health Agency of Canada National Microbiology Laboratories across Canada based on anticipated needs. Management can decide to pull applications at any point so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.

The first pull of candidate applications could happen as early as February 7, 2017.

Candidates must clearly indicate in writing the dates, duration and breadth of their experience in relation to the Experience criteria. The breadth and depth of experience may be considered during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidates. The inventory will be updated every 90 days. You will receive a notice in your applicant account 5 days before the end of your active period to determine whether or not you wish to keep being considered for an additional 90 days.

You will be required to complete an online experience questionnaire when you apply. The information you provide in the questionnaire must be true. You must respond to all statements in all categories in order to proceed to the next steps.

Duties

The incumbent will work in one of the various sections of the National Microbiology Laboratory to: participate in the research projects, develop next generation tools and applications for infectious agents, do laboratory testing and evaluation, assess, review and analyze scientific information, work on quality control/assurance, develop and impart training, provide scientific advice, manage projects and/or supervise multi-disciplinary teams. The candidates are encouraged to visit the National Microbiology Laboratory website (https://www.nml-lnm.gc.ca/) for more information on various programs and services.

Intent of the process

The process will initially be used to staff the following positions:

1. One indeterminate position in the Division of Enteric Diseases.
2. One indeterminate position in the Division of Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens.

Depending on the needs, candidates may be randomly selected from the inventory for assessment purposes. This process may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates which may be used to staff positions with various linguistic profiles, various security profiles, various tenures such as indeterminate, term and casual positions in within the Public Health Agency of Canada National Microbiology Laboratories across Canada.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

The minimum standard is:
• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in a biological science; or
For multidisciplinary positions classified as BI, the minimum standard is:
• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Note:
1. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

Degree equivalency

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation with a MSc or PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position(s).

Degree equivalency

Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following experience factors, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification. Candidates must clearly indicate on their online applications which qualifications they meet and describe the depth and breadth to which they meet it.
1. Experience in basic microbiological, immunological and molecular biological techniques.
2. Experience working in the area of comparative genomics.
3. Experience working in the area of computational biology and bioinformatics.
4. Experience in the analysis of molecular and genomic subtyping results.
5. Experience in maintaining quality management systems.
6. Experience in developing internet-based client: server applications and programming interfaces for the analysis of genomic information.
7. Experience in propagation of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi).
8. Experience in serological, immunological and molecular biological techniques for the detection of infectious agents.
9. Experience in the development and optimization of serological and molecular assays.
10. Experience in project management including data analysis.
11. Experience in the evaluation of diagnostic platforms.
12. Experience in communicating and consulting with Canadian public health laboratories or research laboratories.
13. Experience in administering, analyzing results and evaluation of HIV proficiency testing programs or in-house HIV testing methods.
14. Experience in serological or nucleic acid testing for the human or animal retroviruses (HIV, HTLV or SIV).
15. Experience in viral load or drug resistance testing of HIV plasma by commercial approved tests or validated in-house methods.
16. Experience in implementing and managing laboratory-based quality management systems.
17. Experience managing or maintaining database software in a biological laboratory setting.
18. Experience in determining client business requirements.
19. Experience in collection and/or handling of arthropod vectors for selected zoonotic disease agents.
20. Experience with mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis.
21. Experience working with zoonotic disease pathogens in containment level 3 (CL3).
22. Experience in administering and analyzing results of proficiency testing for arthropod-borne pathogens.
23. Experience in the production and purification of viral antigens.
24. Experience in the handling and sample collection from field-collected rodents.
25. Experience in the area of microscopy (immunfluoresence, dark field and cell culture).

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

COMPETENCIES:
1. Demonstrating integrity and respect
2. Thinking things through
3. Working effectively with others
4. Showing initiative and being action-oriented
5. Leadership (may be applied depending on the position to be staffed)

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

1. Knowledge of current principles, techniques and procedures used in microbiology, immunology and molecular biology.
2. Knowledge of PHAC’s surveillance and outbreak response systems.
3. Knowledge of the theories, principles and techniques of genomics and bioinformatics.
4. Knowledge of proficiency testing and quality control procedures
5. Knowledge of Structured Query Language (SQL) and at least two of the programming languages (e.g. perl, python, java, R) used in the development of bioinformatics software.
6. Knowledge of the assembly, annotation, and analysis of bacterial genomes and development of large-scale genomic databases.
7. Knowledge of the current principles, techniques and procedures used in the epidemiology and surveillance of infectious diseases.
8. Knowledge of the current protocols used for the serological and molecular detection of infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi).
9. Knowledge of SOP development in the context of accreditation bodies (ex. ISO, CAP, SCC, WHO).
10. Knowledge of HIV proficiency testing and quality control procedures.
11. Knowledge of molecular and serological techniques used in diagnosis and research of HIV.
12. Knowledge of HIV viral load, drug resistance or CD4 testing methodologies.
13. Knowledge of principles and practices of quality control in a microbiology laboratory.
14. Knowledge of laboratory safety principles and practices.
15. Knowledge of laboratory information management systems (LIMS / LIS).

1. Ability to perform and troubleshoot general microbiological, immunological, serological, molecular biology, genomics or bioinformatics testing and analysis.
2. Ability to effectively communicate complex scientific subject matter both orally and in writing which may include presenting lectures at scientific meetings and international workshops.
3. Ability to perform nucleic acid testing for HIV, HTLV or SIV including diagnostic PCR, viral load or drug resistance testing.
4. Ability to develop documents including policies, procedures, and status reports.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
Selection for appointment may take into consideration employees who have been or will be impacted by organizational restructuring. Appointments may be made based on the department's commitment to employment continuity of indeterminate employees and no involuntary job loss.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is committed to Employment Equity. In order to ensure a diversified workforce, preference may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one or more of the following Employment Equity groups: aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups provided the candidate meets all essential qualifications listed on the job opportunity notice and any applicable asset qualification(s).

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime.
Willing and able to provide assistance with outbreak and emergency laboratory response situations, which may require working overtime and/or weekends.
Willing and able to travel across Canada in order to participate in meetings, training and potential outbreak and emergency response.
Willing and able to work with field-collected or laboratory-reared animals or arthropods.

Conditions of employment

Secret or Reliability security clearance (depending on the position)
Medical clearance (depending on the position)
Candidates must meet and maintain the above condition(s) of employment throughout their employment.

Other information

All communication throughout the entire staffing process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Based on the hiring division’s needs, additional essential qualifications, asset qualifications, organizational needs, operational requirements and/or conditions of employment may be identified and applied during the assessment and/or selection of candidates.

When opportunities arise and to manage volume, we may randomly select candidates from the inventory.

We will communicate with applicants by e-mail. It is your responsibility to verify your e-mails regularly to ensure that you do not miss out on any opportunities. Failure to respond in the prescribed timeframe will result in your application not being referred to the hiring manager. The applicant shall ensure that the e-mail address provided is valid and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

We may assess the essential and asset qualifications using interviews, written tests, reference or a combination of these methods.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

Proof of citizenship will be requested if you are considered for a position.

Proof of education may be requested if you are considered for a position. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/

All job applications must be submitted ONLY ONLINE through the Public Service Resourcing System. Persons with disabilities who cannot apply online are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.