Physical Scientist – Geospatial Scientist

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 specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

We will only accept on-line applications received via the GC Jobs site at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html. To submit an application on-line, please select the button "Apply Online" below. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled workforce that is representative of Canada's diversity, which includes the recruitment of Canadian Veterans and releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/public-service-jobs/canadian-armed-forces-members-veterans.html

We encourage applicants to identify any abilities, competencies, and/or experiences acquired through employment with the Canadian Armed Forces where applicable.

Duties

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) seeks a research-oriented person to work with a team of scientists on an integrative approach to ecological problems in forest management. The work focuses on understanding, predicting, and simulating mitigation strategies for cumulative human impacts of interrelated issues such as fibre supply, carbon sequestration, climate change, and threatened caribou populations in Canada. It aims to provide support to decision-making and policy development for the sustainable management of Canada’s forests and other natural resources.
The work focuses on understanding and predicting cumulative impacts of disturbances, and changing climate, on interrelated issues such as fibre supply, carbon sequestration, and caribou populations in Canada. The objective of the research team is to understand, predict, and simulate ecosystem dynamics and develop strategies to address these cumulative effects and identify risks. It aims to provide support to decision-making and policy development for the sustainable management of Canada’s forests and other natural resources.
The successful candidate would contribute to the development of forest-system models, large databases, geospatial databases, and analyses representing the cumulative pressures on forested landscapes. They would be expected to run simulations, analyse modelling output, and seek new data sources and modelling approaches, that would contribute to a continually-improving rapid-response modelling cluster.
Preferably, the successful candidate would have background knowledge of forest ecology, modelling of forest ecosystems, experience with geospatial databases, and diverse techniques for managing and analyzing data. Familiarity with approaches to risk analysis would be relevant; knowledge and experience using the R-language is essential. The position offers an excellent environment for working with an interdisciplinary team in cumulative effects and climate change research at NRCan.

Work environment

At Natural Resources Canada, a Federal government job means developing leadership skills, fostering teamwork, and supporting creativity and innovation. We know it takes people from diverse pools of talent to make this happen. That is why we are looking for people like you. As an employee at Natural Resources Canada you can enjoy diverse employment opportunities, a range of career development programs, and a learning culture that supports you to learn on an ongoing basis. We support balancing your work and private life by offering the benefits of flexible work arrangements.

The Pacific Forestry Centre is an internationally recognized forest science laboratory specializing in forest disturbances, carbon science, and remote sensing. A vibrant group of researchers, technical staff and administrative staff work to maintain a creative and stimulating work environment. The research centre is located in Victoria, a dynamic coastal city on scenic southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

This position is an excellent opportunity and offers a creative work environment where there are opportunities for professional and personal growth. Our staff enjoy competitive salaries including a comprehensive benefit package. Natural Resources Canada promotes health and wellness both in the workplace and in personal life, and resources are available to you and to your family members to help you maintain a healthy balance between work and your personal life. The successful candidate will undergo a security check.

Intent of the process

This process will be used to fill 1 position on an indeterminate basis

A pool of (fully or partially qualified) candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions within Natural Resources Canada with various tenures (determinate period or permanent), various language requirements (English Essential, French Essential, English or French Essential, or Bilingual), linguistic requirements (imperative and/or non-imperative) and profile(s) (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, etc.), various security requirements (Reliability status or Secret clearance), various conditions of employment and for various locations.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Graduated with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in computer science, mathematics, physical science, or some other science relevant to the position, such as forestry, natural resource management, geography, or biology.

Degree equivalency

Experience developing or applying forest ecosystem dynamics or natural resource planning models.

Experience developing large projects in R, describe extent and complexity.

Experience developing or maintaining web interfaces for data products or applications using R or compatible programming scripts.

Experience with databases, data standards, data ownership issues, data cleanup, data analysis, or data visualization.

Experience with analysis of geographic information (vector data, rasters, etc.), spatial analysis, spatial data, and using spatial analysis tools.

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

Various language requirements
The position to be staffed immediately require the following language requirement: English Essential.

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of R programming
Knowledge of large-scale computing
Knowledge of optimization around data, models and computing resources

Ability to apply scientific computer models, analyze and interpret model output
Ability to communicate orally in English
Ability to communicate in writing in English
Ability to organize work within a diverse team of researchers, and establish priorities

Effective interpersonal skills
Thoroughness (pertaining to methods of investigation, development, production)
Problem solving
Team player (including flexibility)

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

Post-graduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in computer science, mathematics, or physical science including natural resource management, forestry, geography or biology.

Degree equivalency

Experience with spatially discrete event simulation or individual-based models.

Experience with application life-cycle analysis.

Experience with software development.

Experience with C++, Java, Python, SQL programming languages.

Knowledge of forest ecosystem dynamics, multiple resource use challenges such as cumulative effects, including modeling and analysis of multi-factor processes pertaining to forest climate change (example, mitigation and adaptation).

Willingness to travel

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

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 designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

You must provide proof of your education credentials. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/.

An interview may be conducted.

A written examination may be administered.

Reference checks may be requested.

If you are selected for further consideration, please advise the person who will contact you of any accommodations you may require during the selection process.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates must meet the conditions of employment and continue to meet these same conditions during their employment.

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.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

Random selection and/or top-down selection may be used at any time during the process to identify which applicants will be further assessed.

We thank all applicants for their interest in our position(s). For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.