Biologist - Food Microbiology

Duties

The biologist will be working with a team led by a meat microbiologist conducting research on improving the safety and storage stability of Canadian meat. Key activities will include, but are not limited to, organizing, conducting and controlling research projects and/or field work under the guidance of the microbiologist; preparation of project report and manuscript; and assisting the scientist to manage lab activities.

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 temporary position (8 months).

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, deployment, assignment or 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 Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Food Science, Food Microbiology or Microbiology.

Degree equivalency

Experience planning and executing research activities related to meat microbiology in the area of controlling and virulence attenuation of food borne pathogens.
Experience conducting research on mechanisms of heat resistance of Escherichia coli.
Experience in next generation sequencing for studying microbial ecology.
Experience preparing project reports and scientific manuscripts.

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

Doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Food Microbiology or Microbiology.

Degree equivalency

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of conventional and molecular microbiological methods for quantification and identification of bacteria in foods.
Knowledge of stress response of bacteria.

Adaptability
Planning and Organizing
Teamwork
Concern for safety

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

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by Work Force Adjustment.

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.

Ability and willingness to travel within Canada.
Ability and willingness to work overtime on short notice or without notice.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to take samples in meat/slaughter processing plants under conditions of production (temperature/noise).
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials and pathogenic bacteria.
Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory, greenhouse, field, abattoir, and/or animal rearing facility environments.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.

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.