Aquatic Science Technician / Animal Care & Facility Support Technician

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request special accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Information on accommodation for persons with disabilities

Duties

As an EG-03 and EG-04 Aquatic Science Technician:
Your role in this position will be to provide support to the Program Leads in one of the following areas of research; climate change, aquaculture and wildlife interaction, aquatic animal health, benthic ecology or other related disciplines. You will work as part of a team and develop skills and experience in both laboratory and field work such as industry sites and on-site laboratories.

As an EG-04 Animal Care and Facility Support Technician:
Your role in this position will be to provide daily husbandry care to all of the animals’ onsite, ensuring that Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) requirements for care and data recording and reporting are met. You will be supervised by the Wet Lab Manager.

You will work closely with project staff to ensure animal care and welfare requirements are met. In addition, you will support the Wet Lab manager in maintaining the mechanical systems which are essential for research at SABS. You will carry out system maintenance, upgrade design and install plumbing solutions for specialized systems to meet research needs. Over time, you will develop skills that will allow you to operate the complex modern control systems, trouble shoot problems and create system adaptations to allow novel research to happen.

Work environment

SEA WHAT AWAITS YOU IN ST. ANDREWS!

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Maritimes Region is looking for talented and motivated individuals to join our exciting team in support of Aquaculture, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Coastal Oceanography, Fisheries and Species at Risk at the St. Andrews Biological Station in New Brunswick!

Located on the picturesque shores of the Passamaquoddy Bay in St. Andrews New Brunswick, the St. Andrews Biological Station (SABS) is Atlantic Canada’s oldest permanent marine research facility. Scientific study is focused on the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine as well as the coastal ecosystems and traditional fisheries of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. A large portion of our work is done in collaboration with universities, not for profit groups, aquaculture and fishing industries.

Our department is really, REALLY, interesting. Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube Channel to watch informative and fun videos of what we are doing. You won’t be disappointed!

Intent of the process

In this anticipatory process, we are seeking qualified people to fill a future Animal Care and Facility Support Technician position and Aquatic Sciences Technician positions which are either term or indeterminate. Pool of qualified candidates may be used to staff other similar positions within DFO Maritimes Region.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education
- Secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE (EG-03 and EG-04)
- Experience manipulating data and producing graphs, charts or summary reports in Microsoft Excel.

- Experience collecting, preserving or analyzing biological samples

- Experience maintaining and providing care for live aquatic animals in freshwater or marine laboratory systems

- Experience using and maintaining mechanical equipment to assess water quality (such as; salinity, oxygen and pH meters, osmometers, tensionometers) for fish or invertebrates

EXPERIENCE (EG-04 ONLY)
- Experience planning and conducting sample collection

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES(EG-03 and EG-04)
- Ability to work as part of a research team
- Ability to communicate effectively orally
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing

ABILITIES (EG-04 only)
- Ability to plan and execute the collection of data for research
- Ability to communicate issues relating to animal care, protocol execution and impacts on research experimentation

PERSONAL SUITABILITIES
- Effective Interpersonal skills
- Action Orientated
- Dependability
- Judgment

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

EG-03 and EG-04
- Graduation from post-secondary training related to the biological sciences or extensive experience in aquatic animal science

Degree equivalency

- Experience in plumbing with PVC pipe and fittings

- Experience working in near shore vessels to conduct aquatic science research

- Nationally recognized SCUBA diver certification and diving experience

- Experience and training in operation small vessels in the marine environment

- Experience in microscopy

- Experience using image analysis software

- Experience participating in spawning and the rearing of marine and freshwater aquatic animals

EG-04 ONLY
- Experience caring for animals in scientific research as laid out by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC)

- Experience in design and fabrication (requires skills in the manual trades to construct unique, innovative systems and equipment for aquatic research and development applications)

- Experience providing project support related to aquatic animal health

- Experience assisting in repairs and upgrades to mechanical systems

- Experience in reading and preparing line drawings and simple schematics of mechanical systems

- Experience in proper practices in layout, cutting, gluing, fastening, supporting PVC plumbing

- Experience in mechanical systems linked to water treatment systems for aquatic animal holding

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
- 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.

OPERATIONAL NEEDS
- A valid driver's licence

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

- Work on weekends and holidays to provide care to live fish and invertebrates
- Work in cold and wet conditions in the lab and field
- Physical capability of lifting awkward loads to a maximum of 10 kg (~20 pounds)

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the targeted groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

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.

DFO recognizes and values the important contribution volunteer work offers in developing employees' experience, skills, etc., as well as enriching our organization and communities. Throughout this selection process, you are encouraged to demonstrate how any relevant volunteer work (e.g., working on committees, union activities, employee networks, community work, etc.) has contributed to the development of your experience, skills, personal suitability, etc., as they relate to this position.

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.