Stream 1: Senior Greenhouse Operations Worker / Stream 2: Senior Field Operations Worker

Duties

For Stream 1 positions:
Under the direction of the Farm Manager, the General Labourer:
Maintains the watering and greenhouse atmospheric conditions of greenhouses and growth chambers by monitoring and operating systems which control the environmental conditions for those spaces for research materials such as plants or seeds according to research protocols including insect pests, temperature, humidity, disease and maintenance activities such as watering, spraying of pesticides and fertilizers.
Monitors growth patterns of research crops, mixes soils, pots plants and seeds, checks for abnormalities and pests; determines appropriate course of action within the parameters of the experiment design in discussion with Technician or Supervisor.
Other general duties include collecting and labeling samples, recording data and keeping records of supplies associated with greenhouses and growth chambers activities; cleans and disinfects pots, tools, greenhouses and growth chambers which contribute to hygienic conditions required in a research facility.
Occasionally assist with field or plot duties with the operation of small scale equipment.

For Stream 2 positions:
Prepare, plant, maintain and harvest cereal, forage, pulse, oilseed for field and plot operations. Some equipment required to be operated are:
• 35 - 200 HP tractors
• Various sized mowers
• row crop planter, field seeder and plot seeders
• field and plot combines
• lab grain cleaners
• Spraying of pesticides and application of fertilizers
• Various tillage operations for the preparation and maintenance of the fields
Data collection during seeding, rouging, harvest, seed conditioning and soil sampling using manual and computer methods. Additional duties can be assigned by the supervisor to meet the needs of the Field Operation Manager

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.

The Morden Research and Development Centre, located in Morden, Manitoba, is part of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's national network of 19 research centres. The Morden Research and Development Centre focuses on the development of technologies that enhance profitability and environment sustainability as well as contribute to the health and wellness of Canadians. Supported by a unique human nutrition platform, the centre is dedicated to the development of superior varieties of high quality and disease resistant cereals, oilseeds and pulse crops that minimize producer risks and enhance opportunities in sustainable crop systems.
The Morden Research and Development Centre is associated with two satellite locations: the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine and the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals.
The centre leads research in six areas:
• Cereal diseases
• Cereal germplasm and genomics
• Flax and Eastern Prairie Pulse crop germplasm
• Human nutrition, food health attributes, and functional foods
• Bioprospection from bioresources: cereals, pulses, and oilseeds
• Grain and grain products storage research.

Intent of the process

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: 4

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)

Successful completion of secondary school diploma OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience

Degree equivalency

Stream 1
1. Recent* and relevant** experience in plant care including pest management, plant maintenance and propagation.

Stream 2
1. Recent* and relevant** experience in the operation of plot scale (harvesters, seeders, sprayers) and/or farm equipment (eg tractors, combine, farm trucks).
2. Recent* and relevant** experience working with field crops and weed species.
3. Experience in processing seed (e.g. cleaning) and/or soil (e.g. collecting) samples.

*Recent is defined as experience that was executed for approximately two years in the past five years.
**Relevant is defined as an experience gained at a commercial, research or institutional agricultural enterprise.

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

Both Streams
1. Recent* and relevant** experience in working in an agricultural research environment
2. Pesticide Applicator’s License issued by Manitoba for field application or greenhouse application.

Stream 1
1. Diploma or certificate in nursery and/or greenhouse production management, plant science or horticulture from a recognized agricultural education program.
2. Recent* and relevant** experience in the operation of environmental control systems
3. Experience by way of training in greenhouse management or plant propagation

Stream 2
1. Forklift Operator’s License issued by a provincially certified agency

*Recent is defined as experience that was executed for approximately two years in the past five years.
**Relevant is defined as an experience gained at a commercial, research or institutional agricultural enterprise.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Both Streams
1. Knowledge of crop production.
2. Ability to identify major grain crop species.
3. Ability to perform basic data entry and data management using Microsoft Excel and Word.
4. Ability to record information for the purposes of record keeping – accurately and legibly.
5. Concern for Safety
6. Teamwork
7. Initiative
8. Adaptability
9. Planning and Organizing
10. Interactive Communication

Stream 1
1. Knowledge of modern greenhouse practices, plant maintenance and growing conditions in controlled environments.
2. Knowledge of greenhouse fertilizers and pest control products including preparation and application.
3. Knowledge of the main greenhouse crop pests and diseases.
4. Ability to perform dosage and dilution calculations for preparing pesticide solutions.

Stream 2
1. Knowledge of field chemicals
2. Knowledge of crop pests and diseases
3. Ability to operate agricultural/farm equipment
4. Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations

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

Preference may be given to AAFC employees affected by workforce adjustment.

Stream 1
- Ability and willingness to work on rotating schedules for weekends.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - - Ability and wiliness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge on tasks to be performed.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license.
- Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust and noise).
- Ability and willingness to work overtime including evening, weekends and statutory holidays.
- Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.
- Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 25kg)
- Ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicators License issued by the Manitoba Agriculture within eighteen months of appointment.
- Ability and willingness to obtain a Forklift Operator’s License issued by a provincially certified agency within one year of appointment

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.