Research Assistant - Livestock Carcass Merit & Market Competitiveness

Important messages

AMENDMENT TO CLOSING DATE

Duties

As part of the duties, the successful candidate will be expected to identify components in food using testing and analytical methods and to contribute to the development of analytical methods to evaluate food properties, laboratory standard operating procedures for research activities, new techniques and methods for food preservation and processing. The incumbent will also contribute to the understanding of relationships between food production, processing, storage and distribution, and food components, nutrition, physiology, quality and safety. Additionally, the individual will be expected to contribute to or maintain food and other biological samples, the understanding of fundamental food properties, the development of analytical and evaluation techniques, including chemical, microbiological, biochemical and sensory testing methods, data analysis and the production of presentations, reports, and publications. The successful applicant will be required to provide technical support/advice/training within or outside the organization and to design, fabricate or maintain research equipment. The incumbent will be required to maintain effective and respectful communication with members of their own work group and other work groups at the Centre, with service and sales representatives, and members of the public as operations dictate.

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 (11 months).

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)

Degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in a science-based field related to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience working in a biology, chemistry, biochemistry, food quality lab or related field.
Experience in database software (e.g. Excel, Access) and statistical analyses software (e.g. R, XLStat, SAS, SPSS).

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

Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) Certified Beef and/or Bison Grader.

Experience working in an agricultural research environment.
Experience with subjective and objective assessment of carcass and meat quality.
Experience in carcass cut-out specifications in multiple species.
Experience working with carcass grading or carcass classification systems.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of agricultural animal anatomy and physiology.
Knowledge of statistical methods used in the biological data sets.
Knowledge of general laboratory practices and safety precautions.

Initiative
Interactive communication
Teamwork
Concern for safety

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

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 Licence.
Ability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally as required for field studies, liaison with industry, and attendance at technical meetings.
Ability and willingness to work under challenging conditions (temperature extremes in abattoir and coolers, equipment noise and slippery floors in the processing areas, and malodorous conditions in the offal collection area).
Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours (and early hours), overtime and on weekends from time to time.
Ability and willingness to handle large animals.
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.

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.