Research Assistant – Animal Science (Beef Cattle Nutrition)

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

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities or Women).

Duties

1. Provide technical leadership and support for beef cattle nutrition projects.
2. Contribute to the experimental design and planning of experiments and projects, and undertake their conduct.
3. Provide leadership in a ruminant nutrition research environment; supervise and assign duties to students and other technicians as needed.
4. Collect data as per protocols and complete sample analyses as required.
5. Conduct metabolism studies with cannulated beef cattle.
6. Conduct animal performance studies, including feedlot and grazing studies with cattle.
7. Maintain equipment, trouble-shoot and conduct measurements of enteric methane emissions from cattle using whole animal or head chambers, tracer gas techniques, or other method.
8. Supervise activities in a Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory, maintain supplies and equipment, and ensure operations meet Health and Safety Standards.
9. Assist with surgical procedures and necropsies.
10. Develop Standard Operational Procedures as required, use relevant methodologies and ensure equipment operation and maintenance.
11. Contribute to the Animal Care Protocols and Animal Use Data Form to maintain Canadian Council on Animal Care “Good Animal Practice Requirements”.
12. Input data and provide initial statistical analyses as per developed models.
13. Draft reports and contribute to the preparation of research reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
14. Co-ordinate research efforts with internal and external collaborators, graduate students and others.

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.

The Science and Technology Branch (STB) undertakes agricultural research, development and knowledge transfer activities to support and contribute to the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. We work with industry, academia, provincial governments and other partners to generate new knowledge, foster innovation and increase adoption and commercialization of agricultural, agri-food, and agri-based products, process and practices. Together, we will work to support a resilient and innovative agriculture sector. The strategic objectives for the Branch include: increasing agricultural productivity; improving environmental performance; improving attributes for food and non-food uses; and addressing threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain.

The STB is organized into three agriculture regions, each with unique ecological environments to tailor delivery of national priorities to regional needs: Coastal Region; Prairie Region; and Ontario-Québec Region. In addition there is a Partnerships and Planning Directorate. Our science and technology transfer capacity is distributed across the country in an extensive network of Research Centres, farms, labs, and offices.
 

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full time permanent position in Lethbridge, Alberta.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment.

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.

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

Graduation with a B.Sc. degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in Animal Science, Ruminant Nutrition or related field of study OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

IF YOU HAVE FOREIGN CREDENTIALS, please follow the link below for information on how to obtain a degree equivalency. You must obtain an equivalency, at your own expense, in order to be considered for appointment into the public service.

Degree equivalency

Experience planning and conducting ruminant nutrition experiments in a research environment.
Experience working with rumen-fistulated cattle, including handling, caring for, and sampling from the rumen.
Experience collecting samples (feed, digesta, blood, urine, feces, and other) from ruminant nutrition studies.
Experience conducting in situ or in vitro research activities to characterize feed digestion in ruminants.
Experience conducting metabolism and animal performance research experiments with cattle.
Experience conducting chemical analysis of samples collected from ruminant nutrition studies.

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

Graduation with an M.Sc. from a recognized post-secondary institution in ruminant nutrition or related field of study.

Degree equivalency

Experience measuring methane emissions from cattle using metabolic chambers or other method.
Experience writing peer reviewed manuscripts.
Experience making oral presentations to research community, animal producers, or funders.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of methodologies related to ruminant nutrition and enteric methane production.
Knowledge of the principles of digestive processes in ruminant animals.

Adaptability
Planning and Organizing
Problem Solving
Concern for Safety
Interactive Communication

Ability to use scientific instruments and to apply scientific techniques and methodologies in a ruminant nutrition laboratory.
Ability to make observations, collect and record data accurately, perform statistical analysis, and interpret results.

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

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

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

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to travel to the field site.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory and with chemicals.
Ability and willingness to work in a research barn and feedlot as well as in commercial barn/feedlot facilities.
Ability and willingness to lift or carry heavy items (up to 12 kg) on occasion for short periods of time.
Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to handle and sample from large animals.

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

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

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.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

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.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE 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.

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.