Forestry Data Specialist

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

Duties

Canada’s National Forest Information System (NFIS) provides information about Canada’s forests and on sustainable forest management. Canada’s National Forest Inventory (NFI) is a statistical sampling of Canada’s forests to assess current status and trends. As a member of Canada’s NFIS and NFI project offices, you will be working with geospatial scientists, modellers, foresters, and computer scientists to systematically evaluate, clean and ingest spatial data into a new datacube and spatial databases for further analysis.

You will lead the requirements gathering process for a system to help manage spatially explicit forest sample information from provincial, territorial and federal sources. You will analyze requirements and leverage existing practices and services in the design of information systems. You will lead the development of a standardized national forest sample plot data model given information provided by collaborating agencies and research scientists across the country. You will lead the design and development of an interoperable system to share and manage information related to forest sample plots and forest information. The position will allow you to cooperate with other NRCan researchers working on existing applications, models and systems.

Work environment

Have you ever wanted to be a part of a world-renowned science institution or work in an innovative forward thinking research and development team? Here’s your opportunity to use your skills and showcase your talents at the Pacific Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada (Government of Canada).

The Pacific Forestry Centre is an exciting and fun place to work with full amenities (on-site gym, cafeteria, showers, and bike racks). We are close to major transportation corridors, the Galloping Goose Trail and walking distance to shopping, theaters, a recreation centre, a library, restaurants and easy access to Colquitz Park.

Intent of the process

The purpose of this process is to staff one English Essential PC-03 for a two (2) year term position with possibility of extension.

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.

A covering letter in 2,000 words (maximum) "A covering letter in 2,000 words (maximum) VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must clearly demonstrate IN THEIR COVER LETTER how they meet the education and experience factors listed in the ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS. Applicants must use the education/experience factors as a header and then write one or two paragraphs for each demonstrating how they meet each of them with concrete examples. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that the qualification is met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter. FAILURE TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE IN YOUR COVER LETTER HOW YOU MEET THE ESSENTIAL SCREENING CRITERIA (Education and Experience) WILL RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR POSSIBLE MISSING INFORMATION. Your cover letter will be used to assess your ability to communicate effectively in writing."

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

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with acceptable specialization in computer science, engineering, geography, forestry or other scientific discipline relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience using Agile software development practices
Experience designing, developing and implementing Service Oriented Architecture applications or systems.
Experience programming in Java, C and PHP in a Linux environment
Experience in design and implementation of spatial and thematic data warehouses
Experience in vector and grid/ raster GIS analysis and analysis of remotely sensed imagery data.

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

Asset Qualifications
Experience in the deployment of OGC Web Services
Experience with Open Source geospatial projects as developer and user
Experience in working with provincial, territorial, and federal governments in the delivery of spatial information and reporting commitments for the forest sector.
Experience programming in C++, R, Python, JavaScript
Experience compiling and analyzing forest measurement or monitoring data.
Experience developing and using geospatial data management technologies such as: ESRI ArcGIS Portal, PostgreSQL/PostGIS or DataCubes

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of software engineering principles and practices related to design, development, deployment and maintenance.
Knowledge of Relational Data Bases (including design, optimization, managing spatial & aspatial data, and SQL transactions)
Knowledge of spatial data handling and spatial data analysis procedures.
Knowledge of best practices and standards from the Open Geospatial Consortium
Knowledge of Service Oriented Architectures, Software as a Service, and Infrastructure as a Service

Ability to design an operational service oriented architecture- Web based application or system for the management and analysis of forest resource data.
Ability to communicate effectively orally in English
Ability to communicate effectively in writing in English
Ability to organize work within a diverse team of researchers, and establish priorities
Ability to problem solve software engineering and operational issues

Initiative
Team Player
Visionary

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

Asset Qualifications
Knowledge of metadata standards (including ISO TC211 – ISO 19115, ISO 19139, NAP)

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Willing and able to work overtime occasionally
Willing and able to travel, sometimes on weekends

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

All applications must be submitted online through the GC Jobs website. DO NOT email, fax or mail in applications, as these will NOT be accepted..

Acknowledgment of receipts of applications will not be sent; we will only contact successful applicants when the screening process has been completed.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Applicants are required to meet the Essential Qualifications. Asset Qualifications MAY be applied at any point in the assessment process. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to answer Asset Qualifications questions in your online application. Applicants do not need to meet any/all of the Asset Qualifications for consideration, however, possessing any/all of the Asset Qualifications may increase the likelihood of being considered for an appointment.

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

An interview may be sought.

A written test may be administered.

A situational exercise may/will be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of education (copy of degree/diploma) and citizenship or permanent resident status. If you have obtained education outside Canada, you will be required to submit proof of evaluation of Canadian equivalency.

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

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.

Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.
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, 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.