Research Assistant - Research Affiliate Program

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

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.

Duties

The successful candidate will use Google Earth Engine (in either the JavaScript or Python API) and other GIS, Remote Sensing and statistics software to analyze earth observation data to develop maps through machine learning classification. Specifically, the successful candidate will produce maps of peatlands change throughout time (since 1990) and analyze relationships between ecohydrological and carbon sequestration trends.

The work will be performed at the Place Vincent Massey office of Environment and Climate Change Canada (351 Boulevard St. Joseph, Gatineau, Quebec).

Work environment

Environment and Climate Change Canada is a science-based department, and we provide the science and technology information needed so that Canadians can make informed decisions about the environment. In addition, Environment and Climate Change Canada's science and technology work helps us to protect and conserve our air, water, wildlife and spaces.

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) Please submit a COVER LETTER with your application. It is your responsibility, as a candidate, to submit a cover letter which clearly demonstrates how you meet each of the essential screening criteria for education and experience. 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. Rather you must provide a minimum of two concrete examples with dates as to when these experiences were gained for each experience criterion. Please apply the following approach: use each screening qualification as a heading, and provide a description outlining how that qualification is met. The same approach should be used to demonstrate asset qualification for experience."

Contact information for 2 references.

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

The student must be currently enrolled in an MSc. program in a recognized university with acceptable specialization in Geography or some other science relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Minimum of at least one year of experience in each of the following areas:
Experience* manipulating, interpreting, processing and/or analyzing remote sensing data.
Experience* using at least one GIS professional software package (such as ESRI/Arc GIS).
Experience* in the analysis and interpretation of statistics.
Experience* in using Google Earth Engine.
*In the context of student recruitment in the federal public service, experience can be acquired through studies, work experience or volunteer activities.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of peatland ecosystems, ecohydrology and carbon sequestration.

Adaptability
Effective interpersonal skills
Teamwork

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 group: women

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment
Reliability Status security clearance - Note: Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment. Therefore, the student will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-related documents.

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

Reference checks will be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

A situational exercise may be administered.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

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

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

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

Successful completion of both a RAP work assignment and your educational program may lead to a temporary or permanent federal public service position for which you meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate's responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

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 Canadian citizens.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.