Biologist - Food Microbiology

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

The successful candidate will be required to collect samples that may contain unknown pathogens, from sources that include but are not limited to live animals, carcasses, meats at various stages of processing, and fecal matter; and environmental samples from meat production systems, slaughter houses and meat packing plant. The successful candidate will be working in a communal laboratory and so will be required to maintain efficient and friendly communication with co-workers. The successful candidate will participate in multidisciplinary projects related to various aspects of meat microbiology such as, investigating causes and means of prevention of microbiological spoilage of raw meat under different packaging and or storage conditions; detecting and enumerating food borne pathogens by conventional and or molecular techniques; and developing methods to improve safety of meat. Key activities will include, but not limited to, organizing, conducting and controlling research projects and/or field work under the guidance of the microbiologist; preparation of project report and manuscript; preparing research proposals with other project team members; coordinating and/or supervising technical assistants and students allocated to the studies including monitoring work in progress and evaluating performance.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 2 full time temporary positions (duration of 2 years).

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment.

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

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

Graduation with a Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Food Science, Food Microbiology or in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience in designing, planning and managing research activities related to meat microbiology.
Experience in designing, planning and managing experiments related to whole genome sequencing technology or metagenomics.
Experience in preparing project reports and scientific manuscripts.

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

Graduation with a doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Food Science or Food Microbiology.

Degree equivalency

Experience conducting research on antimicrobial interventions for meat.
Experience in predictive microbiology.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of conventional and molecular microbiological techniques as applied in the Food microbiology research.
Knowledge of Canadian meat packing plant operations.

Initiative
Interactive Communication
Planning and Organizing
Teamwork
Concern for safety

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

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by Work Force Adjustment.

Ability and willingness to travel within Canada.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime on short notice or without notice.
Ability and willingness to take samples in meat/slaughter processing plants under conditions of production (temperature/noise).
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials and pathogenic bacteria.
Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory, abattoir and animal rearing facility environments.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.

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

ASSESSMENT 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.