Laboratory Technician

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.

Please ensure that your information is updated and remains current in your PSRS Applicant Account. Your application in this inventory will be active for 100 days. A notice that your application is about to expire will be posted to the My jobs menu of your account 14 days before the end of your active period. If you do not take action, your application will no longer be active and therefore no longer considered for this inventory. Should your application become inactive while the process is still open, a notice will be posted to your account indicating that your application has expired; you may select the link Update my Inventory Status to reaffirm your interest.

The inventory may be used to staff vacancies with various tenures including temporary (casual or part-time worker), term (including assignments, deployments or acting appointments) or permanent (indeterminate) positions. Under certain conditions, candidates appointed to a casual or term position may subsequently be appointed indeterminately to the same or similar position. Casual employment is a temporary form of employment for a maximum of 90 working days per department in a calendar year. A casual worker may not apply to internal job opportunities.

When appointing terms under 6 months the area of selection may be reduced to persons residing or employed in Winnipeg, MB, and within a 100 kilometer radius of Winnipeg, MB, extending to, amongst others, Gimli, Hadashville, Emerson, Portage La Prairie, MB therefore it is important that your information is updated and remains current in your PSRS Applicant Account.

You must clearly demonstrate in the Screening Questionnaire how you meet the education and experience criteria listed in the qualifications. You must provide concrete examples that clearly illustrate how you meet the requirement. Please note that stating that the requirement has been met, and/or listing past or current responsibilities, does not represent substantial information. Failure to provide this information in the requested format may result in your application being rejected. Résumés may be used as a secondary source to validate the qualifications described; comments such as "refer to my attached resume" will not be accepted and may result in your application being rejected.

Qualifications may be assessed each time an appointment is being made using a variety of assessment methods in accordance with the position requirements. Where relevant, and as a means to manage volume, we may randomly select candidates from the inventory as opportunities arise.

ONLY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON-LINE USING THE 'APPLY ON-LINE' BUTTON ABOVE WILL BE CONSIDERED.
Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Work environment

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is seeking Laboratory Technicians to join the Grain Research Laboratory team. Are you looking for a work environment where your knowledge, ideas, and professional opinions are valued? Do you want to be part of a collaborative, supportive team? Apply!

The CGC is a federal department responsible to ensure the integrity and marketability of grain for the domestic and international grain trade, from producer to global customer.

The CGC is a significant part of Canada’s dynamic and diverse agricultural sector. We regulate grain handling in Canada, set grain standards and conduct research on grain. At the CGC, we strive to live our values of excellence, integrity, respect and accountability.

During the work day, you can take advantage of walking clubs and ad-hoc fitness classes onsite. We also have an arrangement with GoodLife Fitness for discounted memberships.

We promote work-life balance. We have an Employee and Family Assistance program to support you and your family.

Our headquarters are located in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. On your breaks, you’ll be able to explore the great restaurants and shops situated in the historic Exchange District or enjoy nature at the Forks and the Waterfront.

With its low-cost of living, diverse population, thriving arts scene, professional sports and the friendliness of a small town, Winnipeg is one of Canada’s most desirable cities.

Intent of the process

An inventory of candidates will be established to staff various positions within the Canadian Grain Commission. Candidates may be referred from this inventory for various positions based on the needs of the organization, qualifications, or random selection. The inclusion of your application into the inventory will depend on your responses to the Screening Questionnaire.

Specializations may be used for screening purposes; therefore it is your responsibility to clearly identify your specialization in your application. Please note the following program areas may use this inventory to staff future vacancies:

1)Bread and Durum Wheat Research
2)Milling and Malting/Research on Barley and Other Grains
3)Wheat Enzymes, Asian Products and Analytical Services
4)Pulse Research
5)Oilseeds
6)Variety Identification Research and Monitoring
7)Trace Organics and Trace Elements Analysis
8)Microbiology
9)Grain Biotechnology Research

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

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)

Education:
Completion of all requirements for a degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of natural sciences with a specialization related to the duties of the position OR an acceptable combination of education and training with recent and extensive experience in a field related to the position.* (see list of specializations).

Chemistry, biochemistry, cell/molecular biology, microbiology, plant pathology, food science or other specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

*Recent is defined as experience obtained within the last two years; extensive may be defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having worked continuously in a laboratory for 1 year.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
-Experience in the operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
-Knowledge of the theories and principles of chemistry OR biochemistry OR molecular biology OR microbiology.
-Knowledge of the principles of analytical techniques including the operation of laboratory equipment.
-Knowledge of the methods required to record, analyze, and interpret data using appropriate computer software.
-Knowledge of laboratory safety practices.

Competencies:
-Effective Interactive Communication
-Adaptability
-Being a Team Player
-Analytical thinking
-Initiative

Abilities and Skills:
-Ability to calibrate, maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
-Ability to schedule and coordinate work with team members.
-Ability to collect and organize data and other information.

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

Any of the following criteria may be essential to the position being staffed:

Education:
Graduation with a post-graduate degree (e.g. M.Sc.) from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in chemistry OR biochemistry OR cell/molecular biology, microbiology, OR plant pathology OR food science OR related sciences

Degree equivalency

Experience:
-Experience in the operation and maintenance of laboratory equipment for evaluating the composition and physical characteristics of cereal grains and/or grain products.
-Experience with gathering, summarizing and interpreting analytical results using appropriate computer programs.
-Experience with analytical and instrumental techniques for quantification of grain/plant/food constituents.
-Experience in processing, preparing, and analyzing samples in a laboratory for chemical, microbiological, biochemical, or biomolecular analysis.
-Experience with quantitative analytical and instrumental techniques.
-Experience in the use of micropipettes.
-Experience in carrying out projects under minimal supervision.
-Experience in operating modern laboratory instruments.
-Experience in evaluating the quality of cereal grains, oilseeds, and pulses.
-Experience in applying statistical methods for evaluating analytical results.
-Experience with Perten 3100 grinder.
-Experience utilizing methods to extract and quantitate mycotoxins in grains, feedstuffs and foods.
-Experience extracting, isolating, and measuring contaminants such as pesticides, mycotoxins, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, drug residues, or persistent organic pollutants in complex matrices.
-Experience with immunochemical based analytical assays/techniques, such as ELISA.
-Experience in performing Falling Number analysis.
-Experience with microplate readers.
-Experience in operating grain milling and/or other processing equipment for grains and foods.
-Experience in a laboratory environment utilizing chemical OR biochemical techniques and instrumentation specific to grains, feedstuffs and foods.
-Experience in the operation, maintenance, or troubleshooting of Ultra (High) Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC/UHPLC), High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) or Gas Chromatography (GC).
-Experience in operating within a quality management system, such as ISO17025.
-Experience in performing and analyzing microbiological lab tests using approved standard methods, seed plating, or molecular techniques.
-Experience working in a biosafety level 2 or plant pathogen containment level 2 (or higher) lab environment.
-Experience in sample preparation and processing techniques related to grains or oilseeds.
-Experience in nucleic acid extraction from plant material.
-Experience in quantitative, real-time or digital polymerase chain reactions (PCR).
-Experience in preparing and submitting libraries or amplicon pools for next generation sequencing (NGS).
-Experience in operating, maintaining and troubleshooting a high-throughput, quantitative PCR system.
-Experience in operating, maintaining and troubleshooting a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer.
-Experience in drafting and maintaining standard operating procedures.

*Recent experience may be required depending on the position being staffed. For example, recent experience may be defined as experience obtained within the last two years. Please indicate when and for how long you acquired your experience.

Knowledge:
-Knowledge of basic chemical composition of grains and/or oilseeds
-Knowledge of elementary statistics
-Knowledge of the theories and principles of microbiology or biochemistry or molecular biology.
-Knowledge of analytical techniques, standard and sample preparation, equipment and laboratory instrumentation.
-Knowledge of basic statistical analyses.
-Knowledge of current biosafety and biocontainment principles and practices.

Abilities and Skills:
-Ability to perform standard laboratory procedures related to the position being staffed, such as analysis of grain and/or feedstuffs.
-Ability to schedule and coordinate analytical testing; share resources

Competencies:
-Commitment to quality
-Achievement Orientation

Operational Requirements: (May vary depending on the position being staffed. They may include but are not limited to the following.)
-Ability and willingness to move and/or lift items (up to 20 kg.).

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment:
The following may vary depending on the position being staffed. They may include but are not limited to the following:
-Reliability Status or Secret security clearance
-Work overtime as required.
-Work with and be exposed to hazardous chemicals and equipment.
-Wear appropriate protective clothing and/or equipment.
-Maintain standing and/or sitting positions for extended periods of time.
-Work in an environment where there is continual exposure to grain and flour dust (known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication, and must not impinge upon the work to be performed).
-Move and/or lift items (up to 20 kg.).
-Adhere to laboratory safety standards and procedures.
-Work in cold rooms for limited periods in order to retrieve samples.

Note: Candidates must meet the applicable Conditions of Employment at the time of appointment and must continue to meet these during the period of appointment.

Other information

Communication for this process will be sent via email. Communication with you will be via your e-mail or via the PSRS with regards to this advertised process. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

It is important to include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). Candidates are strongly encouraged to check their email on a regular basis. Failure to respond in the appropriate timeframe will result in not being referred to the organization.

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.

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.

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

Please note that candidates (including employees of the Federal Public Service) will not be considered to be in travel status or on government business and that travel costs will not be reimbursed. Consequently, candidates will be responsible for travel costs.

Receipt of applications will not be sent; only candidates successful in the screening process will be contacted. Depending on the requirements of the position being staffed from this process, for current or future vacancies, any or all of the qualifications, operational requirements, and organizational needs may be applied at the time of screening.

Random selection and/or top-down selection may be used at any time during the process to identify which applicants will be further assessed following a search of the inventory.

Candidates invited to an interview will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript (original documents only).

As the screening board cannot make assumptions about your experience, it is important that you clearly demonstrate to what degree you meet the above experience elements giving detailed examples of each element. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or (possibly) missing information. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

Appointment decisions may be based on organizational needs. We therefore encourage candidates to self-declare their membership to any of the following employment equity groups: visible minority, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, or women, should the organizational need be invoked during the appointment process.

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.