Research Scientist – Forage Perennial Plant Breeder

Important messages

AMENDMENT TO CLOSING DATE

Duties

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) the incumbent will provide leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector. This position falls within the strategic objectives of AAFC to increase improvement in yields and nutritional quality of perennial species with emphasis on native plant communities, through improved range management and plant breeding. It is anticipated that this will be accomplished through the utilization of varietal and species differences combined with an improved understanding of the eco-physiological factors impacting perennial species obtained from knowledge generated by experiments in both natural and controlled settings. The incumbent will lead research in eco-physiology of perennial species, with emphasis on native plant, species for improving understanding eco-physiological factors impacting the productivity and nutritional quality of perennial species important to the livestock industry as well as wildlife found within grasslands of Canada. The incumbent will work with scientists at the local, national, and international level and with other stakeholders to maintain relevant research direction. The incumbent will work in a multi-disciplinary team on understanding the role climatic impacts on plant productivity, the application of this knowledge to plant breeding selection of desirable economically important traits and development of grazing management practices.

Work environment

The position, headquartered at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, is part of an internationally-recognized, competitively-funded research program in range and forage crops for sustainable production systems. The position is part of a research network with access to research facilities and scientific expertise across Canada, is supported by technical staff to conduct laboratory, controlled environment, and field experiments, has a fully integrated data and pedigree management system, and a full range of laboratory and small research plot equipment to conduct research in the area of perennial plant breeding.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to fill one (1) indeterminate full time position.

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.

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)

Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural sciences related to the duties of the position, or the employer-approved alternative for the SE classification. (See Note 1).

Applications will be accepted from candidates enrolled in, but who have not yet completed, a Ph.D. program. Completion of the Ph.D. thesis defence must occur by April 1, 2018 and the granting of the Ph.D. degree no later than Fall Convocation 2018.

Note 1.The employer-approved alternative for the SE classification is an acceptable master’s or bachelor’s degree coupled with acceptable research, training and experience. The degree must be from a recognized post-secondary institution and in scientific fields and specialties related to the duties of the position. The training and experience must clearly demonstrate the ability to do personal research of doctoral degree calibre.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be advised that if you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. You are encouraged to begin this process as soon as possible. For more details, please click on the link "Degree equivalency" below.

Degree equivalency

Experience in the design and conduct of scientific research specifically as it relates to perennial herbaceous plant breeding, forage agronomy, plant morphology, plant phytochemistry and plant ecology or other relevant discipline.

Experience in plant breeding, particularly as it applies to herbaceous species.

Experience in conducting research on herbaceous forage plant productivity, abiotic or biotic stresses. Stresses include environmental (drought), disease, pests and grazing.

Productivity/recognition in the form of authorship/editorship of research results in the area of forage plant breeding or other relevant disciplines, in recognized journals and/or published reports, books, papers, or other communications resulting from scientific research.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of conventional and molecular plant breeding in perennial herbaceous forage crops.

Knowledge of biotic and abiotic stresses that affect perennial herbaceous forage crops and mechanisms for their control.

Knowledge of statistical design and methods for summarizing and analyzing data sets.

Knowledge of perennial forage crop production, including breeding perennial herbaceous forage crops for persistence in hay and grazing production systems.

Knowledge of physiological and chemical quality attributes of perennial herbaceous forage crops

Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork

Ability to present scientific information.

Ability to conceptualize, design, plan, successfully implement and complete research projects and communicate research results within a team environment.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS
Experience in managing multi-year projects with associated human resource, budgetary, and planning functions.

Experience writing grant applications.

Experience interacting with industry and other stakeholders to garner support and research direction.

Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team.

Experience leading a team.

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 work force adjustment.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to control allergies through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to travel regionally, nationally and internationally as required for field studies, liaison with industry and academia, and attendance at scientific or technical meetings.
Ability and willingness to work under challenging conditions (eg. temperature extremes in the field).

Other information

The classification level and rate of pay on appointment is commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications.

Salary ranges (under review):
SE-RES-01 - $53,161 - $69,942
SE-RES-02 - $66,010 - $98,880
SE-RES-03 - $83,421 - $109,760
SE-RES-04 - $99,904 - $121,834
SE-RES-05 - $109,390 - $133,410

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.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada thanks all those who apply.

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.