Aquatic Science Technician III

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

Work environment

MORGAN FALLS: The Morgan Fall assessment facility is located adjacent to the LaHave River in New Germany, Nova Scotia, which is less than a 30 minute drive from Bridgewater. The Atlantic Salmon population on the LaHave River serves as DFO’s primary index population for monitoring salmon in the Southern Upland region of Nova Scotia. At Morgan Falls, DFO Science staff count and collect biological samples/information from adult Atlantic Salmon that return annually through a fish ladder. The site also serves as our field base of operation for monitoring other life stages of salmon (as well as other diadromous and freshwater resident fish species) on the LaHave River and on other rivers in Southwest, NS. The Aquatic Science Technician position at this site involves a good mixture of fieldwork and office related tasks, which include: handling and collecting samples from all life stages of wild Atlantic Salmon; setting up and operating fishway traps, rotary screw traps (aka smolt wheels), fyke nets, counting fences, and associated sampling equipment; participating in electrofishing surveys; maintaining equipment, facilities and grounds; operating small boats; travelling to support other monitoring projects; and entering and managing data. There is also a good mixture of working individually (including extended periods of time working at this site alone) and as part of a team.

COLDBROOK: The Coldbrook Biodiversity Facility is a conservation-based hatchery located in the Annapolis Valley near Kentville, Nova Scotia. This facility houses live gene bank and supportive rearing programs for endangered and threatened stocks of wild Atlantic salmon. The Aquatic Science Technician position at this site involves working in a specialized fish culture and rearing environment involving all aspects of fish husbandry. spawning, feeding, tagging, sampling, data collection, and data management. Additionally, the technician will be involved in field collections of various life stage of Atlantic salmon via fish ladders, trap nets and electrofishing.

Intent of the process

This process will be used to immediately staff one indeterminate position in New Germany, NS and one term (temporary) position in Coldbrook, NS. A pool of qualified candidates may be used to staff similar positions, with various tenures, within DFO Maritimes Region.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Education:
- A secondary school diploma or employer approved alternative

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
- Experience providing technical support to biological fieldwork, including the collection and management of data
- Experience working in freshwater environments, including working with freshwater or diadromous fish species (examples include capturing, handling, collecting measurements or samples, tagging)
- Experience maintaining, operating or troubleshooting infrastructure or equipment (e.g., power tools, plumbing, scientific equipment)
- Experience inputting, validating, maintaining, and summarizing data on a computer
- Experience with using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

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

Education
- Graduation with a degree from a recognized university in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position or technical diploma in a field relevant to the duties of the position

Degree equivalency

Occupational Certification
- Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP)
- Rigid Hull Inflatable Operator Training (RHIOT) / Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) training
- Marine Emergency Duties
- Swiftwater boat
- Swiftwater safety
- First Aid
- Wilderness First Aid
- Electrofishing certification
- SCUBA certification
- Air brake endorsement

Experience
- Experience working in a fish culture environment (examples include: monitoring and control of environmental factors, biosecurity, operation of complex rearing environments, monitoring aquatic animal health)
- Experience participating in the planning, organization, preparation and conduct of freshwater field projects
- Experience working with live finfish in the laboratory or in the field (examples include capturing and handling, taking measurements, collecting samples, tagging)
- Experience providing technical support to water quality and fish habitat assessments.
- Experience working with scientific sampling methods used for observation, capture or processing of fish species (examples include: fishway operations, electrofishing, working with seine or trap nets, snorkel surveys, SCUBA diving, working with rotary screw traps aka smolt wheels)
- Experience using, maintaining, and troubleshooting specialized scientific equipment (examples include laboratory equipment, limnological equipment, telemetry equipment, water quality meters, velocity meters, electrofishers)
- Experience with any of the following: GIS (examples include ArcGIS, R), relational databases (examples include Microsoft Access, Oracle), programming languages (examples include SQL, R), and digital image software (examples include ImageJ, Adobe Photoshop)
- Experience with live fish transport using oxygen or recirculation
- Experience ageing fish (scales or otoliths)
- Experience operating all-terrain vehicles and/or small boats
- Experience in fresh or coastal waters on small vessels
- Experience working with diverse groups such as fishing industry, First Nations, academics, or environmental organizations

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of the basic biology and ecology of diadromous fishes
- Knowledge of sampling and processing techniques to obtain information from live fishes
- Knowledge of safe working procedures for the conduct of field and laboratory work
- Knowledge of data validation procedures for scientific datasets

ABILITIES
- Ability to do basic data analysis, validation, and summary statistics using a computer
- Ability to problem solve and apply safe, efficient solutions
- Ability to communicate effectively orally
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing

PERSONAL SUITABILITY
- Demonstrating integrity and respect
- Thinking things through
- Working effectively with others
- Showing initiative and being action-oriented

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

Organizational Needs
- Membership in one of the designated Employment Equity groups: Persons with Disabilities; Visible Minorities; Aboriginals; or Women.

Operational Requirements
- Willingness to work in harsh environments through field work for periods of up to 4 weeks
- Willingness to work on vessels at sea
- Willingness to work from small aircraft or helicopters or small vessels in remote areas
- Willingness to travel for extended periods of time
- Willingness and ability to work in adverse weather conditions
- Willingness and ability to lift 20 kg.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

- Valid Driver's licence
- Medical fitness in accordance with certification by Health Canada
- Willingness to be on standby for response to 24 hour emergency calls within 30 minutes
- Willingness and ability to work in and around open, moving water
- Willingness and ability to work flexible hours and overtime (i.e., weekends, holidays, shift work, and overtime when required)

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

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.

Throughout this selection process, you are encouraged to demonstrate how any relevant volunteer work (e.g., working on committees, union activities, employee networks, community work, etc.) has contributed to the development of your experience, skills, personal suitability, etc., as they relate to this position.

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.