Senior Research Technician

Duties

Reporting to the research scientist, the incumbent will:
1. Assist the scientist with protocol development to ensure that protocols can be feasibly executed in the field.
2. Direct and review the work of GL-MAN technical labourer staff and summer students.
3. Take multiple experimental protocols and ensure execution of them from the field, through lab processing, data management and generation of reports.
4. Operate and maintain agricultural and experimental equipment, such as plot seeders, plot harvesting equipment, soil sampling equipment, and plot sprayers.
5. Observe, measure, collect and record physical/biological/agronomic data using written and electronic records.
6. Train staff on the safe operation of all field and lab equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures.
7. Purchase equipment and supplies.
8. Assist scientist with report writing and manuscript preparation.

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 staffing need: 1 full time permanent 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.

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 from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in agriculture, environmental science, weed science or plant pathology OR an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience managing and operating field and laboratory equipment, such as plot seeders, plot harvesting equipment, soil sampling equipment, plot sprayers and seed counters.
Experience providing technical support and managing projects in agronomy or large scale field research.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of the maintenance and safe operation of research scaled field and lab equipment.
Knowledge of agronomy and current crops, pests, and diseases of western Canada.
Knowledge of the current principles and practices of western Canadian farming systems.

Adaptability
Concern for Safety
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Planning and Organizing
Problem Solving

Ability to contribute to the development of experimental protocols.
Ability to plan, implement and carryout multiple experiments after the protocol has been developed.
Ability to measure and record agronomic data, enter data into a data base and maintain the integrity of the data base.

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

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Agronomy, Plant Science, Plant physiology, Environmental Science, Horticulture, Soil Science or a related program.

Degree equivalency

Pesticide applicator’s license.
Possession of a valid class 1 Driver’s license.

Experience managing research trials.

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 workforce adjustment.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work under variable weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).
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.

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.