Agricultural Research Biostatistician - AMENDMENT TO CLOSING DATE

Duties

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Prairie Region is seeking a dynamic and motivated biostatistician who will provide expert statistical support to a diversity of research programs. This position will be part of a new Bioinformatics and Big Data Research Support Unit, supervised by a BI-03 Biologist Study Leader, and working in collaboration with a larger AAFC’s Research Support Network.Upon request, the biostatistician will advise for appropriate experimental designs and methodologies which would pass peer-review; would run analysis of data sets when required;advise for writing relevant sectionsof reports and quality manuscripts, with special emphasis on experimental designs and power analyses. The biostatistician will also develop, when appropriate, training modules, local workshops and presentations on statistical methodologies to the benefits of research and support staff.

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

The immediate need is to fill one (1) full-time permanent position at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre (Lethbridge, Alberta).

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)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in economics, sociology or statistics.

*Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience in statistics or biostatistics pertinent to experimental designs and data analyses.
Experience programming with statistical packages such as SAS/STAT, SPSS, R, MatLAB or MiniTab.
Experience in parametric and non-parametric models.
Experience in linear and non-linear models, mixed effect models and multivariate analyses.

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

Experience working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
Experience mentoring non-statistical peers in simple statistical methodology.
Experience in project management and timely delivery of support and services.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of statistical concepts and methodologies.
Knowledge of randomization and power analyses.
Knowledge of uncertainties, deviations, errors and residuals.
Knowledge of fitting techniques, Markow chains and Monte Carlo methods.
Knowledge of Bayesian methods.

Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork
Planning and organizing
Creativity

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

Knowledge of epidemiology, epidemiological data and analyses.

Ability to clearly communicate statistical concepts to scientists and non-scientists.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following employment equity groups: aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, visible minorities and women.

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by workforce adjustment.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license or personal mobility to the extent normally associated with the 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 laboratory or office for extended periods at a time.

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.