Oceanographic Laboratory Technician - Seagoing

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

Essential Education and Experience qualifications listed below will be assessed and used for screening purposes through your online application. Candidates are required to clearly demonstrate how they meet the Essential Education and Experience qualifications by providing additional information as part of their application through the screening questions.

For the Asset Education and Knowledge qualifications, candidates are only required to answer "Yes" or "No" and will receive an Asset Qualifications Questionnaire at a later date where they will have to provide further information.

Candidates will also receive further details about the in-person interviews and other assessments approaches (e.g., written tests, online tests, reference checking, etc.) that may be used to assess their qualifications such as Knowledge, Abilities, and Personal Suitability.

Duties

As a member of a multidisciplinary research team, the incumbent will serve as technician-in-charge of assigned field or laboratory scientific projects and initiatives. Provide technical, logistical and analytical support for projects and studies designed to improve our knowledge of physical, chemical and/or biological processes, water circulation and exchange processes. This will involve collecting, processing, operating and maintaining instrumentation and equipment, validating and analyzing field/laboratory or survey samples/data, providing technical support and advice, and assisting in the analysis of results for inclusion in project reports and scientific manuscripts.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to create a pool of qualified candidates to staff seagoing oceanography and chemistry technician positions at the DFO research center (Institute of Ocean Sciences) in Sidney, BC.

The pool of qualified candidates established from this selection process may be used to staff similar positions of various tenures within DFO in various locations.

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

Completion of a post-secondary program in chemistry, environmental sciences, oceanography, or other related science; or an acceptable combination of education in science plus experience in chemical sampling and analysis.

Degree equivalency

Experience
Candidates are required to give a brief response on how they specifically meet each of these experience requirements.

• Experience working at sea or in an isolated remote location conducting science-based activities in a variety of environmental conditions for contiguous periods of five days or greater
• Experience planning fieldwork, including preparing required equipment and materials, packing equipment and supplies for shipment, and provisioning for troubleshooting by users of equipment in remote locations
• Experience in the use of computer software for the analysis and collection, quality assurance, management, and interpretation of scientific data, including the preparation of graphical output and reports publication
• Experience operating/maintaining a variety of sophisticated, automated, chemical analysis instrumentation used in oceanography. Examples include: carbonate system analysis (e.g., VINDTA, SOMMA, potentiometric titrators); other common instrumentation, such as elemental analyzers, FIA or segmented flow (nutrient) analyzers, automated titrators, salinometers, mass spectrometers, gas chromatographs, as well as standard common chemical laboratory equipment such as balances, pH meters, clean water production systems etc.
• Experience working in an analytical chemistry or similar laboratory, performing a variety of chemical analyses on seawater
• Experience preparing reagents and documentation
• Experience working alone and with a team to develop laboratory-related quality assurance protocols

Knowledge

• Knowledge of techniques, methodologies, and equipment used for the collection and analysis of oceanographic samples
• Basic knowledge of programming languages and/or software tools used for data manipulation and presentation (e.g., python, R, matlab, Excel, etc.)
• Knowledge of safe work procedures in the laboratory and at sea
• Knowledge of standard methods and techniques to evaluate and maintain quality assurance/quality control including basic statistics and good laboratory practices

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

Education

B.Sc. Degree in a field relevant to the position

Degree equivalency

Knowledge

• Knowledge of chemical instrumentation and methodological verification
• Knowledge of research on the biological effects of contaminants on fish or marine mammals
• Knowledge of science issues related to the conservation or management of aquatic species
• Knowledge of electronic circuitry and related programming languages
• Knowledge of application development using data analysis programs such as Matlab, Python, or R to process large data sets
• Knowledge of the analysis and interpretation of oceanographic, ecological, or environmental datasets, including the preparation of reports, manuscripts, and/or presentations.
• Knowledge of deployment, maintenance, and validation of in-situ chemical sensors in seawater environments
• Knowledge of culturing phytoplankton and bacteria
• Knowledge of culturing phytoplankton and bacteria employing clean techniques (i.e. trace metal and aseptic techniques).
• Knowledge of the collection and analysis of environmental samples for trace metals
• Knowledge of global databases (e.g., OCADS, Pangaea, Polar Data Catalogue)
• Knowledge of operating instruments used in the analysis of the ocean carbon system, such as SOMMA or VINDTA dissolved inorganic carbon analysers, DOC analysers, in-situ pCO2 and pH sensors, and/or gas chromatographs
• Knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software and spatial database management systems
• Knowledge of MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or other relational database management systems
• Knowledge of Autoanalyzers for nutrient analysis
• Knowledge of VINDTA’s or SOMMA’s, and with potentiometric titrators.
• Knowledge of oceanographic sample collection and analysis, including samples taken with CTD units

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Abilities and Skills

• Ability to manage multiple tasks with multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to effectively communicate orally
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing
• Ability to work effectively under physically and mentally demanding conditions

Competencies and Personal Suitability

• Demonstrating integrity and respect
• Thinking things through:
* Sound judgement – safety conscious and fiscally responsible
• Working effectively with others:
* Able to get along with co-workers and ship crew
* Flexibility
• Showing initiative and being action-oriented:
* Able to work independently at sea, in the lab and in isolated environments with little or no supervision
* Creative thinking

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

Organizational Needs

• DFO/CCG is committed to achieving a diversified workforce and to meeting our employment equity goals. Selection may be limited 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 Requirements

• Possession of a valid drivers’ licence (British Columbia class 5 or equivalent)
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods training
• WHMIS certification
• SVOP certification

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

• Willing and ability to travel and work in the field, including at sea in possibly adverse weather conditions for up to 16 weeks per year for periods from several days to several weeks contiguous (including holidays, weekends, and non-traditional hours and overtime)
• Willing and able to work with hazardous chemicals
• Valid passport
• Valid occupational health assessment for seagoing personnel

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

Depending on the position being staffed, any of the asset qualifications may also be deemed as an essential qualification and only candidates and persons with a priority entitlement who possess those qualifications will be considered for that specific vacancy. Please indicate if you possess any of the asset qualification in your application.

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.