Director, Research, Development and Technology Transfer (RDTT)

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

Provides scientific leadership to the Department’s value-chain approach linking scientific research, technological innovation and commercialization; manages research, development and technology transfer (RDT) programs in the research centres in the coastal region; guides the design, development and implementation of regional and national RDT projects to respond to Agriculture and Agri-Food’s (AAFC) major research themes and to the needs of the agricultural sector in the coastal region; contributes to the national identification of and rationale for RDT priorities; provides analysis and advice to senior management on issues relevant to the coastal region with respect to knowledge or technology discovery, development and commercialization; coordinates activities with other AAFC research teams, and domestic and international, private and public sector partners; and represents the Department on issues relevant to the development and introduction of new agricultural technologies.

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.

Intent of the process

This process will initially be used to staff one (1) position on an indeterminate basis in Summerland, British Columbia.

A pool of qualified candidates may be created and used to staff similar positions in other RDTT centres across Canada (i.e. Sherbrooke, Ottawa, Guelph, St-Hyacinthe, Harrow, London, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Kentville, St-John's, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Agassiz, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba).

A pool of qualified candidates may be created to staff similar positions within the Public Service.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 3,000 words (maximum) "You must clearly demonstrate, in your covering letter, how you meet the essential education and experience qualifications as well as the asset qualifications listed below. You should use the experience, education and asset factors as a header and then write concrete examples (2 to 3 paragraphs) demonstrating how you meet each one. Résumés can be used to validate the experience, education and asset listed in the covering letter. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your candidacy being rejected or screened out."

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

Education:
Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution* with a M.Sc. or above with specialty in a scientific or technical area related to agriculture and agri-food.

*Recognized post-secondary institution: Public or private institution that has been given authority to grant degrees, diplomas, and other credentials by a public or private act of a provincial/territorial legislature or through a government-mandated quality assurance mechanism. For greater certainty, also included are institutions authorized to grant specific academic credentials for specific academic programs.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• Significant* practical experience in conducting scientific research and in leading an interdisciplinary research team OR significant* experience in leading and managing science-based activities in the public sector.
• Significant* managerial experience in developing and evaluating science proposals, work plans and resource allocations to ensure that research projects are technically sound and contribute to key outcomes in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Experience in formulating and providing information, advice and recommendations to senior management (Director General or equivalent, and above) on science and technology programs, issues, and the state of scientific knowledge related to research, development and technology transfer.
• Experience in working with senior officials, both within and outside government, to develop and maintain strategic collaborations and partnerships.
• Experience in authorship/editorship of documented scientific productivity/recognition of relevant research results in internationally recognized peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or published reports, books, papers, or other communications resulting from scientific research.
• Experience in managing financial** and human resources***.

*Significant experience is understood to mean the depth and breadth of the experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of complex activities related to this task, which are normally acquired over a period of at least two years.
**Experience managing financial resources is defined as: Applicants must show evidence of managing a budget of $500,000 or more. This experience is defined as being responsible for sound financial planning, forecasting and reporting. Applicants must also indicate the size of the budget they managed directly or indirectly. This experience is normally acquired over a period of a minimum of one (1) year within the last three (3) years. Clear and specific examples should be provided by applicants in their application and demonstrate evidence of accountabilities, deliverables and level of complexity.
***Experience managing human resources is defined as: Applicants must clearly demonstrate that they have supervised staff, assigned work, managed, and assessed performance and developed or contributed to the development of staffing plans. Applicants must indicate the number of staff they supervised. This experience is normally acquired over a period of a minimum of one (1) year.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Ph.D. from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialty related to agriculture and agri-food.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• Practical or managerial experience in research activities in one of the following areas:

- Crop production systems
- Crop protection systems
- Biodiversity and northern agriculture
- Air resources and adaptation to climate change
- Clean technologies, bioproducts and precision agriculture
- Genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic platforms
- Food production systems
- Plant germplasm enhancement
- Livestock production systems
- Soil and water resources

• Experience working in the science-policy interface (e.g. working with policy managers to develop a new science program, leading or significantly contributing to Memoranda to Cabinet and/or Treasury Board submissions, developing documents to position science as an instrument of policy).

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of the goals, objectives and priorities of AAFC in order to foster a climate of innovation and contribute to the long-term profitability and growth of the sector.
• Knowledge of national and international trends, challenges and emerging issues in agriculture, agri-food and agri-product science.
• Knowledge of the Canadian and international innovation systems, science providers, collaborators, collaboration mechanisms and funding sources relevant to agriculture.

Competencies:
• Uphold Integrity and Respect
• Create Vision and Strategy
• Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
• Mobilize People
• Promote Innovation and Guide Change
• Achieve 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

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Ability and willingness to travel.

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

Candidates are encouraged to submit their application online at www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS).

Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process.

Other sources of information (such as references, performance agreements, work samples, board member knowledge, etc.) may be used to assess the criteria identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria. All the information collected during the selection process, from the time of application until the end of the process, can be used to assess the candidates.

Indeterminate incumbents of EX-01, EX-02 or EX-03 level positions as of January 1, 2016, are deemed to meet the minimum EX Group Qualification Standard for appointment or deployment to EX-01, EX-02 and EX-03 level positions. As part of this advertised process, management may re-assess some or all of the Key Leadership Competencies and experience comprising the EX Group Qualification Standard.

Depending on the number of applicants, AAFC's needs and/or human resources plans, volume management strategies such as, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, MAY BE USED for the purpose of managing applications. Please note that although you may attain the established pass mark on any of the assessments used in this staffing process, management may decide to use a higher cut off score.

For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail. This includes: information requests, invitations, provision of assessment results, etc. APPLICANTS MUST INCLUDE IN THEIR APPLICATION A VALID E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT IS FUNCTIONAL AT ALL TIMES AND ACCEPTS MESSAGES FROM UNKNOWN USERS. SOME E-MAIL SYSTEMS BLOCK THESE TYPES OF E-MAILS. ENSURE TO CHECK/VIEW YOUR SPAM FOLDER REGULARLY. Applicants MUST check their e-mail accounts frequently as there may be a deadline for responses. Responses provided after the indicated deadline WILL NOT be accepted.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice (English or French). Candidates are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application profile.

Please identify clearly your substantive group and level, your employment status and your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) on your resume and/or application form.

For information on Public Service Key Leadership Competencies, please visit
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/psm-fpfm/learning-apprentissage/pdps-ppfp/klc-ccl/klcp-pccl-eng.asp.

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.