Technical Advisor, Infrastructure/Operations

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

The Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) provides scientific expertise and laboratory capacity for infectious disease monitoring, detection, investigation and outbreak response to support national and international public health action.

The successful candidates will provide technical expertise for the Infrastructure and Operations team in the division of Scientific Informatics Services, which in turn supports the various Divisions of the NML as they conduct diagnostic, research, surveillance and other forms of work on a range of pathogens with public health significance. Disruptive laboratory technologies spanning genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics disciplines are commonplace in this world-class scientific organisation and we are seeking the right individuals to help manage the support, design, configuration and management of critical IT systems that underpin a range of specialised laboratory operations.

NML strives to be the employer of choice for Canadian and international scientific and non-scientific staff. Our employees contribute leadership, ingenuity, expertise and innovation to safeguard the health of Canadians and the global community.

Intent of the process

The result of this selection process will be to create a pool of qualified candidates from which future permanent and/or temporary vacancies may be filled for positions within the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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 :
Successful completion of two years of an acceptable post-secondary educational program in computer science, information technology or another specialty relevant to the position to be staffed.

Notes:
1. Indeterminate period incumbents of positions in the CS group on May 10, 1999, who do not possess the education prescribed above, are deemed to meet the minimum education standards based on their education, training and/or experience. They must be accepted as having met the minimum education standard whenever this standard is called for when staffing positions in the CS group.
2. It is a recognized educational institution (e.g., community college, CÉGEP or university) that determines if the courses taken by a candidate correspond to two years of a post-secondary program at the institution.
3. At the manager's discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience may serve as an alternative to the minimum post-secondary education stated above. Whenever the minimum education is met via this alternative, it is met for the specific position only and must be re-assessed for other positions for which this alternative has been specified by the manager.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE (essential)
Experience in at least one of the following areas:
1. DATA - Recent* and significant** experience working with enterprise data including an enterprise backup environment, and storage area network (SAN) or network attached storage (NAS).

2. IT AUTOMATION - Recent* and significant** experience working with IT Automation tools for provisioning and configuration of devices in an enterprise environment.

3. NETWORKING - Recent* and significant** experience deploying, monitoring, and troubleshooting enterprise networking hardware.

4. HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING - Recent* and significant** experience administering a high performance computing cluster.

5. VIRTUALIZATION - Recent* and significant** experience administering an enterprise infrastructure virtualization platform.

6. END USER - Recent* and significant** experience supporting end users in an enterprise environment.

Definitions:
*Recent experience is defined as the experience normally acquired within the last three (3) years.
**Significant experience is defined as depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of those duties on a regular basis for a period of two (2) years.

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

EDUCATION (asset):
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization in computer science, information technology or another specialty relevant to the position to be staffed.

Degree equivalency

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES (essential):
1. Analytical Thinking (Proficiency Level 3)
Interpreting, linking and analysing information to understand issues.

2. Client Focus (Proficiency Level 2)
Identifying and responding to current and future client needs; providing service excellence to internal and external clients; ensuring the use of information and services that are barrier-free and accessible for persons with disabilities.

3. Teamwork (Proficiency Level 3)
Working collaboratively with others to achieve common goals and positive results.

4. Infrastructure / Platforms (Proficiency Level 4)
Knowledge and ability to support the enterprise computing infrastructure (e.g., enterprise servers, client server, storage devices and systems, hardware and software) in the provision, management, storage, operation, scheduling, support and maintenance of the infrastructure.

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

KNOWLEDGE (asset) :
1. Knowledge of enterprise DATA concepts and technologies including:
a. Storage
b. Backup
c. Auditing and Access Controls

2. Knowledge of IT AUTOMATION concepts and technologies including:
a. Provisioning
b. Configuration Management
c. CI/CD Pipelines

3. Knowledge of NETWORK concepts and environments, including:
a. Core / Distribution / Access switches
b. IP addressing / subnets
c. Wireless networking
d. Networking Services/Protocols

4. Knowledge of HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING concepts and technologies including:
a. Schedulers
b. HPC Application deployment
c. Performance optimization and troubleshooting

5. Knowledge of VIRTUALIZATION concepts and technologies including:
a. Cloud Platforms
b. Virtualization Platforms
c. Container Orchestration

6. Knowledge of enterprise SECURITY concepts and technologies such as Firewalls, IPS, Antivirus, Network Security Design.:
a. Firewalls
b. Intrusion Prevention Systems
c. Antivirus
d. Network Security Design

7. Knowledge of the application of genomics, bioinformatics, and proteomics across NML program areas (methods, equipment, and related IM/IT applications/databases/platforms).

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
Selection for appointment may take into consideration employees who have been or will be impacted by organizational restructuring. Appointments may be made based on the department's commitment to employment continuity of indeterminate employees and no involuntary job loss.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is committed to Employment Equity. In order to ensure a diversified workforce, preference may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one or more of the following Employment Equity groups: aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups provided the candidate meets all essential qualifications listed on the job opportunity notice and any applicable asset qualification(s).

Operational Requirements:
Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime.

Willing and able to provide assistance with outbreak and emergency laboratory response situations, which may require working overtime and/or weekends.

Willing and able to travel across Canada in order to participate in meetings, training and potential outbreak and emergency response.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

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

// Are you ready to apply? //

■ To apply for any position, you need to first create a profile in the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS), which should only take about 10 minutes. Then, after ensuring you meet the position requirements, scroll to the bottom of the poster and click on "Apply online."

■ Work your way through the list of requirements, completing each section and saving as you go. Before submitting your application, please ensure that there are green check marks on every single category before submitting your application.

■ If there are any red Xs on the categories, please click into that category and ensure that everything has been filled out. Screening questions have been built into the application process and occasionally an applicant may miss a field on the Screening Questions page. Please thoroughly review to ensure that you have responded to each question, including all the "Yes / No " questions.

■ PSRS will automatically disconnect candidates without warning after 60 minutes if there is no activity. You need to save or move to a new screen to maintain your connection. Typing information without saving does not prevent you from being disconnected. Applicants may find it helpful to first use a word processing software to complete their responses using concrete and detailed examples, then copy and paste the responses into PSRS afterwards.

■ If you have further questions on how to apply or experience technical difficulties with your application, please visit the following website: http://www.cfp-psc.gc.ca/contact-jobs/index-eng.php

■ We will only accept on-line applications received via the Public Service Jobs site. Persons with disabilities or residing in locations that prevent them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

// Screening //

■ Screening criteria is established to determine which candidates will qualify for further consideration and assessment. During the screening stage, the screening board will review your application to determine if you meet the essential education and essential experiences. However, some managers may opt to use asset education and asset experiences as well. This is why it is essential to provide concrete examples when answering the experience questionnaire section in your application.

■ If you are a candidate that has been “screened-in,” this means that you may undergo further assessment to determine if you meet the other essential and/or asset criteria (i.e. knowledge, abilities, competencies, etc.).

// Assessment //

■ Managers can use a combination of assessment methods they deem relevant. Some common assessment methods are written exams, interviews, and reference checks. However, managers have the flexibility to use role-play, simulations, and performance / talent management considerations as part of their assessment.

■ When candidates are invited to the assessment stage, they will be notified of the qualifications being assessed and the assessment method (interview, written take home test, etc.). To help you prepare for assessment, you should think about examples that will best highlight how you meet the qualifications being assessed. During the assessment, use the “STAR” method to best explain your example. STAR stands for the following:

▪ Situation: Think of a situation in which you are/were involved.
▪ Task: Describe the tasks involved in the situation.
▪ Action: Specify what actions you took to achieve your results.
▪ Results: What results followed due to your actions? List them and describe each one briefly.

■ In assessing candidates, assessment boards may use a variety of tools and methods including, but not limited to, reviews of past performance and accomplishments, written tests, interviews, simulations, PSC tests, reference checks, board member knowledge etc. In addition, all information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

■ Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

■ Depending on the number of applicants, needs and/or plans, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores, asset selection, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates and/or determining which candidates will continue in the staffing process. Should a volume management strategy be used, communication regarding the application of the strategy will be provided to those candidates who are impacted.

■ 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.

■ 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.
- The organizational need of restructuring/budgetary constraints

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

■ Proof of education will be required. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca.
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// Important Notes //

▪ Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

▪ Candidates will be contacted by email and it is imperative that you provide a current email address that accepts e-mail 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.

▪ Candidates are strongly encouraged to check their email on a regular basis. It is your entire responsibility to inform us at all times of any changes regarding your contact information.

▪ All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

▪ Proof of citizenship will be requested if you are considered for a 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.