Research Scientist, Forest Ecohydrology

Important messages

Persons residing abroad may also apply .

Duties

Forests are an important source of high quality water. Press and pulse disturbances occurring within the watershed will impact the quantity and quality of water moving through a forested watershed. Working with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technicians, and analysts as well as collaborators across the country, you will carry out research on regional, national and international ecohydrological issues important to the maintenance of ecosystem services within Canadian forests.

The successful candidate will develop a research program in ecohydrology, examining through different approaches (e.g., experimental, modelling) the role and function of the water cycle in maintaining forest ecosystem integrity.

Work environment

The Great Lakes Forestry Centre is an internationally-leading forest science research centre specializing in forest disturbances, ecology, and productivity issues. A vibrant group of scientific researchers, policy analysts and administrative staff work to maintain a creative and stimulating work environment. The research centre is located in the Great Lakes region with easy access to field study opportunities in boreal and Great Lakes-St Lawrence forests.

Intent of the process

A pool of (fully or partially qualified) candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions within Natural Resources Canada with various tenures (determinate period or permanent), various language requirements (English Essential, French Essential, English or French Essential, or Bilingual), linguistic requirements (imperative and/or non-imperative) and profile(s) (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, etc.), various security requirements (Reliability status or Secret clearance), various conditions of employment and for various locations.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 2,000 words (maximum) ""VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must clearly demonstrate IN THEIR COVER LETTER how they meet the education and experience factors listed in the ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS. Applicants must use the education/experience factors as a header and then write one or two paragraphs for each demonstrating how they meet each of them with concrete examples. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that the qualification is met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter. FAILURE TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER HOW YOU MEET THE ESSENTIAL SCREENING CRITERIA (Education and Experience) WILL RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR POSSIBLE MISSING INFORMATION."

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 (Ph.D.) degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural sciences with a focus on ecohydrology, hydrology, watershed science, or a related discipline.

Productivity/Recognition
Recognized achievement in the form of authorship of published reports, books, peer-reviewed papers, or other communications resulting from operational research and scientific analysis. (This essential criterion may also be assessed.)

Degree equivalency

Experience in designing research projects and testing hypotheses related to the regulation of hydrologic processes by terrestrial ecosystems
Experience collecting, compiling, analyzing and interpreting data and results to assess stream flow, water quality, sediment production and/or other hydrological processes
Experience applying process-based, integrated hydrological models and/or ecosystem models

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of techniques for calibration, corroboration and validation of ecohydrological models.
Knowledge of the interactions and feedbacks impacting on forested watershed hydrological processes, and the role of the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem interface in supporting forest ecosystem services.
Knowledge of natural and anthropogenic disturbance agents (e.g. forest management, extreme hydroclimatic events, climate change, invasive species) in forest ecosystems, their impacts on ecosystem functions and processes and their potential for cumulative effects.
Knowledge of field experimental planning, design, data collection and statistical analysis techniques appropriate to forest ecohydrological assessments.
Knowledge of issues facing the Canadian Forest sector.

Ability to plan and conduct field-based research projects
Ability to communicate effectively in English orally
Ability to communicate effectively in English in writing

Effective interpersonal relationships
Flexibility/Adaptability
Initiative
Analytical thinking/Rationality

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

Experience in designing research projects and testing hypotheses related to the regulation of hydrologic processes by upland and/or riparian forests
Experience liaising with stakeholders pertaining to ecosystem research and/or environmental concerns
Experience managing human and financial resources
Experience editing published reports, books, papers, and/or other communications resulting from operational research and/or scientific analysis
Experience managing inter-agency, collaborative and interdisciplinary research
Experience delivering presentations of science results to stakeholders, and/or interest groups

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid driver’s licence
Ability to work under pressure within tight deadlines and changes in priorities.
Willing and able to work flexible hours and overtime
Medical clearance (category 1) in accordance with Treasury Board Occupational Health Evaluation Standards for field work
Willing and able to drive field vehicles (including trucks and all-terrain vehicles)
Ability and willingness to travel, nationally and internationally

Other information

The client organization will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. To submit an application on-line, please select the button “Apply Online” below.

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

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for assessment purposes. This will include 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.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

An interview will be sought.

A written test may be administered.

A situational exercise may be administered.

Reference checks will be sought.

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

Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of education (copy of degree/diploma) and citizenship or permanent resident status. If you have obtained education outside Canada, you will be required to submit proof of evaluation of Canadian equivalency.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

If you are selected for further consideration, please advise the person who will contact you of any accommodations you may require during the selection process.

Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled workforce that is representative of Canada's diversity, which includes the recruitment of Canadian Veterans and releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel.
We encourage applicants to identify any abilities, competencies, and/or experiences acquired through employment with the Canadian Armed Forces where applicable.

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.