Research Assistant –Apiculture Field

Duties

- Operation and successful maintenance of a commercial-scale honey bee operation.
- Monitoring for pests and diseases, and applying antibiotics and acaricides to honey bee colonies.
- Managing supplemental feeding and preparation of honey bee colonies for wintering.
- Maintaining of complete and accurate beekeeping records. Recording colony treatments, and field observations.
- Evaluation and sampling of honey bee colonies for experimental purposes.
- Macroscopic and microscopic identification of bee pests and parasites.
- Commercial-scale extraction of honey.
- Operation of farm machinery and heavy trucks.
- Cleaning equipment, extraction plant and vehicles.
- Drafts reports, and participates in manuscript preparation.
- Other duties as assigned by Scientist

Work environment

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, AAFC is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full time temporary position for a 6 month duration

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment for the location indicated for this process.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting or assignment/secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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)

Successful completion of secondary school.

Degree equivalency

Experience maintaining honey bee colonies at a side-liner or commercial level.
Experience operating and maintaining beekeeping equipment, vehicles and honey extraction equipment.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of season-round management of honey bee colonies.
Knowledge of prairie outdoor and indoor bee wintering techniques.
Knowledge of and the ability to extract honey in a manner consistent with a commercial honey bee operation.
Knowledge of and the ability to identify clinical symptoms of honey bee diseases.
Knowledge of honey bee pests, parasites and diseases.

Adaptability
Concern for Safety
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork

Ability to maintain complete and accurate records.
Ability to collect samples and summarize data.
Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite.

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

Degree or Diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following fields: Entomology; Biology; or a related agricultural program.

Degree equivalency

Experience in commercial beekeeping or maintenance of research apiaries.
Experience in queen breeding, instrumental insemination.
Experience providing support in a research laboratory.

Ability to perform laboratory diagnostic techniques for honey bee pathogens, pests and parasites.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by workforce adjustment.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness work with chemical reagents used to treat honey bee diseases and mites.
Ability and willingness to work under variable environmental conditions.
Ability and willingness to tolerate honey bee stings.
Ability and willingness to lift heavy objects (filled honey supers) up to 27 kg.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.

Other information

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.jobs.gc.ca.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line 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.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

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.