Veterinary Technologist

Important messages

The Veterinary Technical Services Section at the National Microbiology Laboratory provides ethical and safe use of laboratory animals in the areas of animal housing, veterinary nursing care, performance of medical techniques, and support systems. This core service enables the research and diagnostic activities of the Canadian Science Centre of Human and Animal Health. In accommodating the small animal procedures of client programs, the facility contributes to the development of knowledge and technologies that strengthen the capacity to detect and respond to infectious disease threats in Canada and internationally on a day-to-day basis or in an outbreak scenario. We are seeking an individual to fill the position of Veterinary Technologist. You will be amongst a team of staff working at the forefront of science in both Containment Level II and in Canada’s only Level IV laboratory!

Intent of the process

This process will initially be used to staff one specified period position. The result of this selection process will also be to establish a pool of qualified candidates that may be used for future acting, specified period, deployment, assignment, secondment or indeterminate appointments within the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Positions to be filled: 1

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)

Graduate with post-secondary diploma or certificate for a minimum 2 year course program in the animal health technology (Veterinary Technologist) field from a recognized technical college.
OR
An undergraduate animal science degree from a recognized university, with extensive (5 years) animal experience will be considered.

Degree equivalency

E1: Experience in animal nursing care, health, behavior and handling of a variety of animal species.
E2: Experience in anesthetizing various animal species via inhalation and injectable methods.
E3: Experience in collecting animal samples such as blood and tissues, performing injections by various routes on multiple species.
E4: Experience in a variety of software applications, including Microsoft Windows Office applications (Excel, MS Word, PowerPoint).

K1: Knowledge of various decontamination techniques for medical waste.
K2: Knowledge and understanding of CCAC guidelines pertaining to small laboratory animals.

Competencies:

Communication: Stay up to date on team goals and work processes. Communicate ideas, views and concerns effectively and respectfully, actively participating in meetings. Contribute to and participate in process improvements and new approaches.

Working effectively with others: Demonstrate an understanding of their colleagues’ roles, responsibilities and workloads, and be willing to balance their own needs with those of other team members. Deal proactively with interpersonal or personal matters that could affect their performance. Manage their own work-life balance and respect the work-life balance of others.

Demonstrating integrity and respect: Exhibit personal and professional behaviours that reflect the values of respect for democracy, respect for people, as defined in the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector.

Thinking things through: Plan and adjust their work bases on a thorough understanding of their unit’s business priorities and their own work objectives, seeking clarification when needed.

Showing initiative and being action-oriented: Pursue operational efficiencies, demonstrating an appreciation of the importance of value of money, willing to adopt new and more efficient ways of working. Embrace change and actively look for opportunities to learn and develop professionally and personally.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

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

CALAS certificate as a Registered Laboratory Animal Technician or equal certificate from a recognized post-secondary program.

Degree equivalency

AE1: Experience in working in a barrier/ containment animal facility or laboratory with specialized air systems to support negative/positive pressure gradients and climate control.
AE2: Experience working with conventional and non-conventional laboratory animals such as mice (including immune-compromised), guinea pigs and ferrets.

AK1: Knowledge and understanding of Biosafety Guideline for Containments Level 2, 3 and 4.
AK2: Knowledge of Immunology and Virology pertaining to the production of anti-sera and/ or vaccine trials using laboratory animals.

Asset Competencies:

Biomedical Investigation and Intervention: Relates to the methods and techniques of animal science, including those for: the conduct of laboratory research, experimentation, testing and record keeping while in compliance with quality assurance standards.

Health, Safety and Security: Relates to the maintenance and operation of personal protective equipment to minimize risks when handling potentially hazardous chemicals, biologicals and animals.

AA1: Ability to assist with or conduct minor animal surgical procedures.
AA2: Ability to run specialized animal monitoring equipment (Blood Pressure, Pulse oximeter, etc).
AA3: Ability to conduct laboratory assays such as CBC, Electrolytes, PCV, X-ray, etc.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
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 candidates meets all essential qualifications listed on the job opportunity notice and any applicable asset qualifications(s).

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
OR1: Must be able to conduct extra duty work on a weekend rotational schedule and occasional evening work to ensure proper animal care.
OR2: Must be physically able to safely carry 20 kg for a minimum of 15 feet.
OR3: Must be willing to participate in mandatory training such a Respect in the Workplace, WHMIS, TDG, First – Aid/ CPR/ AED and spill trainings.

Conditions of employment

CE1: Security Clearance - Candidates must participate in the security clearance process prior to employment. -
CE2: Medical Clearance - Candidates must participate in the medical clearance process prior to employment.
CE3: Medical Surveillance - Candidate must participate in the Medical Surveillance Program (Occupation Health) which may require certain vaccinations and medical clearances to work in the animal facility/ies.
CE4: Protective Equipment Candidate must wear Personal Protective Equipment, such as a positive pressure suit, as part of the mitigation measures indicated in Risk Assessments associated with containment level/s and Animal Use Documents.

Other information

"The client organization strongly encourages on-line applications.

All job applications should therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). The following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line:

• Applicants can create a profile and a résumé that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time.
• Applicants can modify their application/résumé anytime BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.
• Applicants can verify the status of their applications at any time.
• Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results.
• For some jobs, applicants will find important information that is only available when applying on-line, such as the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria.

To submit an application on-line, please click on the button """"Apply online"""" below.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

All communication received from candidates throughout the staffing process may be used to assess qualifications on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A written examination may be administered.

Ability to communicate in writing will be assessed by a candidate’s application for employment. Please ensure that consideration and attention is given to your written communication when submitting your application.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

Achieving a representative workforce has been identified as an organizational need in the merit criteria, and may be applied in this appointment process. You may also voluntarily self-identify as a member of a designated group for employment equity purposes.

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.