Research Scientist – Sustainable Crop Management

Important messages

Please note you must apply online, as there is a screening questionnaire that needs to be completed. We will not be accepting applications by email. Thank you.

Duties

We are seeking a research scientist with expertise and experience to provide leadership in sustainable cropping practices primarily in western Canada. The successful candidate is expected to develop a strong, applied research program with an interdisciplinary team of research scientists that will complement existing agronomy research undertaken at the various AAFC Research Centres and the Universities in Western Canada. The individual is expected to have a strong ability to determine current issues and problems in the area of crop management; be able to prepare grant proposals; establish research protocols; and plan, design, and implement various research studies to solve current problems and potential issues that will impact western Canada agriculture. Dryland crops, including cereals, oilseeds, pulses and forages are key to the western Canadian economy. Therefore, this crop management research program should focus primarily on these major crop types, yet recognize the potential of new varieties and crop types that could become part of a future crop rotation. The program to be developed must be responsive to the short- and long-term issues and the needs of various clients, including AAFC senior management, producers and the general public. While the emphasis of the program should be on problems relevant to western Canada, there is an expectation that some of the projects will have regional or national impacts.

The candidate must be able to work in a multi-cultural setting and create an environment that fosters collegiality, diversity and teamwork. The successful candidate will provide scientific advice and transfer technology to partners and clients that will assist the agriculture industry in the mitigation of threats against the economic viability of crop production and the environmental health of prairie agro-ecosystems, in particular through management. They will work closely with a multidisciplinary group of scientists across the prairie region, including other research agronomists, those specializing in the development of beneficial traits on all major crops and researching improvements in agro-ecosystem resilience.

Work environment

The Lacombe Research and Development Centre was established in 1907 in Lacombe, Alberta. It is located in one of the most dense and diverse livestock production regions in Canada.

The Centre is associated with one satellite location: Beaverlodge Research Farm.

The Centre's main research is focused in three areas:
•Integrated meat science and production systems: bioactive lipids and nutritional quality;
•Microbiological safety and storage stability of meat;
•Northern and Parkland agriculture focusing on integrated crop, forage, pest, and honey bee management strategies.

Facilities at the Lacombe Research and Development Centre:
•Centre located near the central Alberta town of Lacombe on 808 hectares
•The Beaverlodge Research Farm located near the northwestern Alberta town of Beaverlodge with modern laboratories on 360 acres
•400-head beef herd and research feedlot; a 100-sow farrow-finish swine unit
•Federally inspected Research abattoir
•Kitchen and taste panel area for sensory analysis
•Research greenhouses and controlled climate growth chambers

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to fill 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)

Doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in agronomy with specialty in the areas of sustainable crop management.

Applications from persons enrolled in a doctoral program but who have yet to complete it will be considered. However, the thesis must have been defended and the doctoral degree awarded before appointment.

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.

Degree equivalency

Experience in the design and implementation of scientific research specifically as it relates to field agronomic practices in Western Canada.

Experience working with a variety of crops and cropping systems.

Experience working on commercial field crop management.

Experience in publication of scientific innovation/productivity/recognition in the form of authorship/editorship of research results in recognized scientific journals, and 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 current farming practices and cropping systems locally and across Western Canada.

Knowledge of integrated agronomic management strategies for enhanced crop yield and reduced environmental impact.

Interactive Communication

Teamwork

Intellectual Leadership

Effective Interpersonal Skills

Adaptability

Ability to interact with industry and other stakeholders to garner support and research direction.

Ability to present scientific information.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Experience in working on large agriculture-based datasets.

Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team.

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

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

Team Leadership

Ability to conduct in-depth statistical analysis of cropping systems data sets.

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

Possession of a valid driver's license.

Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work in various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field environments for extended periods at a time.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.

Other information

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

Salary ranges:
SE-RES-01 - $55,870 - $75,710
SE-RES-02 - $69,372 - $107,034
SE-RES-03 - $87,671- $118,813
SE-RES-04 - $104,993 - $131,882
SE-RES-05 - $114,962 - $144,413

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.

We are hoping to conduct the first step of the assessments during the week of January 15, 2018 or the following week.

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.