Research Labourer - Agronomy

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

• Operate, calibrate, and maintain farm equipment with standard and hydrostatic transmissions including tractors, and combines and attached implements such as seeders, cultivators, and other field equipment;
• Prepare experimental materials such as seed, soil, and plant samples for laboratory analysis and assist with sample processing activities;
• Participate in controlled environmental studies and field-plot experiments to assess agronomic, physiological traits of cereal, pulse, and oilseed grain crops; participate in plot maintenance program;
• Record information on plant and seed attributes, maintenance, repairs, supplies;
• Additional duties can be assigned by the supervisor to meet the needs of the SIU.

Work environment

As one of a number of agricultural research sites located in Canada, this Research Labourer position is located at the Scott, Saskatchewan Experimental Farm site. The Scott site is responsible for agronomic research, variety testing, pesticide evaluations and Minor Use Registration of Pesticides.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time position from April 2019 until the end of March 2022.

Although we are looking to fill one (1) position, in the event that more than one candidate is found qualified, a pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures within AAFC.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting, assignment or secondment opportunities.

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)

A secondary school diploma 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 operating vehicles, farm/agricultural equipment such as seeders, tractors, sprayers, and combines.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of cereal, pulse or oilseed crop production.

Concern for Safety
Initiative
Teamwork
Interactive Communication
Adaptability

Ability to perform simple mathematical calculations and maintain records.
Ability to collect and process crop and soil samples.

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

Pesticide Applicator’s licence issued by a provincially/territorially certified agency.

Experience working with specialized research equipment such as small scale seeders or sprayers.
Experience calibrating, operating and maintaining seeders, combines and other field equipment.
Experience handling agricultural chemical products.
Experience in the use of word processing and spreadsheet applications such as Word and Excel

Knowledge of pesticide application for field crops.

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 persons, persons with disabilities; visible minorities, women.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid class 05 driver’s license.

Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.

Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work, including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 30 kg).

Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).

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.

Possession or ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicator’s License issued by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture within 1 year of appointment.

With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments for extended periods at a time. With safety precautions able and willing to work with hazardous materials.

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).

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.