Senior Research Technician

Duties

In support of the cultivar development and evaluation programs, the incumbent will:
- Lead in the collection of cultivar, agronomic trial and physical environment data.
- Create and implement plot plans; plot maintenance; plant, disease, weed and insect identification;
- Coordinate equipment and facility use for projects;
- Soil and plant sampling;
- Contribute to data analysis
- Contribute to the production of presentations, reports and publications.
- Interact with producers, departmental employees and the general public regarding work requirements, and results
- Demonstrate or explain technical or administrative procedures.
- Provide instruction for work requirements to summer students and others to ensure project protocols are met; access and rate crop conditions for pest damage or identify readiness for harvest;
- Observe and record accurate plant measurements;
- Applying treatments to plants and keeping accurate records;
- Data entry and create summaries of records and procedures;
- Care and maintenance of equipment and facilities for projects;

The incumbent will work with all employees at the Research Farm towards maintaining a safe environment with which to accomplish assignments.

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 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)

A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives.

Degree equivalency

Experience providing technical support and leading projects in a field research environment related to cultivar evaluation.
Experience planning and conducting field experiments and contributing to experimental design.
Experience processing seed samples (collecting, cleaning, weighing and maintenance).
Experience operating field equipment such as tractors, plot seeders, combines, sprayers, mowers or small implements attached to a tractor.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of field crop production.
Knowledge of cultivar development.

Concern for Safety
Interactive communications
Planning and Organizing
Problem Solving
Teamwork

Ability to collect, record, and manipulate data using computer software programs.
Ability to write informal reports.

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 Agriculture, Biology or some other specialty relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience evaluating plant and cultivar development.
Experience performing laboratory or field experiments related to cereal plant breeding or genetics.
Experience using statistical software.

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, women.

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

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Driver’s license.
With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse and/or field for extended periods at a time; able and willing to work outdoors under various weather conditions and under normal safety precautions able and willing to work with hazardous materials.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this 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.