Aquatic Science Biologist - Inventory

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

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Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) manages Canada’s fisheries and safeguards its waters. Through our services and programs, we contribute to the safety, security and accessibility of the country’s waterways using sound science, forward-looking policy, and operational and service excellence. DFO protects Canada’s oceans, freshwater, and aquatic ecosystems and species, from the negative impact of humans and invasive species. This is proudly accomplished through sound science, and in collaboration with Indigenous communities.

Science Branch ensures Canada’s fisheries, including aquaculture, are protected, managed sustainably and support Indigenous participation. Members of this dynamic group support strong economic growth in our marine and fisheries sectors, contribute to innovative research in aquaculture and biotechnology, and are instrumental in our clean and healthy environments and sustainable aquatic ecosystems. By working with provinces and territories, Indigenous Peoples, industry, environmental organizations, coastal communities and a host of other partners, DFO has developed an outstanding team, valuing democracy, people, integrity, stewardship and excellence.

Intent of the process

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the Maritimes Region. As positions become available, essential qualifications will be established and applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION:
► Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

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

Depending on the position being staffed, any of the following criteria may be deemed as an essential or asset qualification.

When applying, you are only required to answer "Yes" or "No" to the following qualifications. You will receive a questionnaire at a later date where you will have to provide further information outlining how you meet the qualifications.

EDUCATION:
►Post-graduate degree from a recognized university in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

►Experience conducting scientific work in:
a. marine mammal ecology; or
b. fish population science; or
c. biodiversity science or conservation biology; or
d. oceanography; or
e. ecosystem science; or
f. fisheries productivity science; or
g. aquaculture science; or
h. benthic ecology; or
i. fish stock assessments; or
j. aquatic animal health; or
k. Atlantic Ocean species, ecosystems, or oceanography; or
l. in open waters on medium or large vessels; or
m. fresh or coastal waters on small vessels.

►Experience using statistical software to analyze data.

►Experience using, maintaining, and troubleshooting specialized aquatic science field or laboratory equipment.

►Experience with spatial analyses.

►Experience in species distribution/habitat suitability modelling.

►Experience in authoring or coauthoring scientific papers and reports.

►Experience conducting marine mammal surveys on small vessels or from small aircraft.

►Experience conducting scientific field work by snorkeling/scuba diving.

►Experience with underwater passive acoustic monitoring technologies.

►Experience with passive acoustic data analysis.

►Experience conducting scientific work or policy/program work with respect to Marine Protected Areas or other ocean area-based conservation measures.

►Experience working with live aquatic organisms or plants in the laboratory or in the field.

►Experience working with the marine or fishing industry, indigenous organizations, or stakeholder groups.

►Experience with time-series analysis.

►Experience developing and providing science-based advice and recommendations to scientists, managers, or stakeholders.

►Experience in the development of new instrumentation, methods, technology or quality control/assurance procedures and protocols for the collection and analysis of scientific data.

►Experience in the use of aerial and underwater drones.

►Experience negotiating and managing contracts or funding agreements.

►Experience with DFO’s Canadian Science Advisory processes, policies, and publications.

►Experience in multivariate statistical analysis of large ecological or oceanographic data sets.

►Experience with modern sampling/data collection technologies (e.g. data storage tags, sensors).

►Experience in scientific data management, database use or design (relational or non-relational), or query programming for the storage, analysis and access of scientific data types.

►Experience in population dynamics modelling.

►Experience in quantitative analysis of ecological data related to population dynamic modeling.

►Experience in quantitative analysis of ecological data related to spatial analysis of movement data.

►Experience working in scientific studies of fresh water species and ecosystems.

►Experience evaluating scientific results and communicating scientific issues, findings or technical information to non-experts.

►Experience in the assessment of the status of aquatic species, habitat, or ecosystems to generate science advice.

►Experience with Matlab, R, SAS, SQL, S+, VB, C++, ADMB, or other scientific programming software.

►Experience in developing complex data transformation and/or load procedure using languages such as SQL, PL/SQL, Python, R, MATLAB.

►Experience assessing cumulative effects of environmental and anthropogenic stressors on aquatic ecosystems.

►Experience organizing and conducting research as a project lead.

►Experience providing data management support and advice to scientists, technical staff, and management.

►Experience coordinating national science programs and activities.

►Experience managing scientific projects and teams.

►Experience preparing research proposals.

►Experience in spatial analysis of fishery survey data.

►Experience in developing stock assessment models, using either a maximum likelihood framework or a Bayesian framework.

►Experience in spatiotemporal analyses of fish distribution data.

►Experience conducting scientific work in marine macrophyte ecology.

►Experience in designing and conducting field surveys and/or laboratory experiments.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES:
►Ability to communicate effectively orally.
►Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
►Initiative
►Dependability
►Effective interpersonal skills

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

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

For some positions:
►Valid driver’s license
►Willingness and ability to work flexible hours and overtime.
►Willingness and ability to work at sea for prolonged periods of time in various weather conditions.
►Willingness and ability to travel by air, land or by sea.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

For some positions:
►Valid Health Canada Medical.
►Valid driver’s license.
►Willingness and ability to work flexible hours and overtime as required.
►Willingness and ability to work at sea for prolonged periods of time in various weather conditions.
►Willingness and ability to travel by air, land or by sea.
►Willingness to work aboard various platforms including small planes and boats of various sizes.

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

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APPLICATION/ASSESSMENT PROCESS
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► Step 1: Application

When applying to this selection process, you will be asked if you have any of the experience listed above. Only a “Yes” or “No” response is required at this time. Further, you will be required to provide an updated resume and asked to provide an example of when you’ve demonstrated the personal suitability that DFO is looking for.

► Step 2: Job Matching

As positions become available, the hiring manager will establish the experience requirements a candidate would need in order to be successful in the role. They may also identify some “nice to have” qualifications which would be an asset if a candidate had such experience.
Upon identifying the requirements of the position, Human Resources will review your responses to the experience questions and your location preference. Should you indicate you have the experience factors the hiring manager is looking for and the position’s location is within your preference, Human Resources will contact you to:
1. Confirm you are interested and available in the position
2. Ask you to elaborate on how you meet the experience required.

This communication will be sent to you using the GC Jobs communication platform as well to your e-mail. Please ensure that you check your e-mail and GC Jobs account frequently as there is often a deadline for your response.

► Step 3: Online Interview

You will be asked to complete an online video interview using the VidCruiter Platform which will be recorded and made available to the hiring manager. The online interview is designed to assess your verbal communication skills and assess you against the personal suitability required for each BI-02 and BI-03 position.
Please note: You may be asked to complete an online interview before you’ve been matched to a position.

► Step 4: Additional Assessment

Depending on the position being staffed, the hiring manager may establish additional criteria that are essential qualifications which candidates must meet. These criteria may include additional abilities and/or knowledge factors for their vacancy. Therefore, in addition to reference checks, a knowledge test or additional interview may be required.

► Step 5: Appointment

If the hiring manager has determined that you meet the requirements for the position, you will receive an official notification from Human Resources. Should you be selected for the position, the hiring manager will contact you directly. You will be required to meet any conditions of employment for the position, such as a valid security clearance which will be reflected in your employment letter of offer.


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APPLICATION EXPIRY PERIOD
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Applications to this selection process will expire every 150 days from date of submission. If your application is expired, you will not be referred to future vacancies. You will automatically be send an e-mail when the warning period date is reached (125 days) and a notice will be placed on your GC Jobs account. The expiry and renewal dates displayed in the notice are adjusted daily until the warning period is over. If you do not renew your application, the expired notice will remain in your account and you can renew your application until the closing date for this inventory.


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FREQUENCY OF INVENTORY PULLS
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There will be two inventory pulls conducted from this inventory a year, January and June. However, should there be no qualified candidates for a vacancy, additional pulls may be conducted.


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COMMUNICATION
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Communication for this process will be sent to your GC Jobs account and to your e-mail. You must check your e-mail account frequently as there may be a deadline for responses. It is your responsibility to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Please ensure your e-mail address accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). Please note that we will consider that you are not interested in participating in this selection process should you not respond to our communication.

When communicating with us during any stage of this process, please indicate the selection process number (19-DFO-MAR-EA-EOS-269937) in the subject field of your email.

Please note that your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, throughout the entire process may be used in the assessment of qualifications.


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OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
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Persons are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

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SELF-DECLARING, BECAUSE YOU COUNT
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By completing the Employment Equity section in your application, you help create a Public Service that is diverse, inclusive and representative of identities, cultures, perspectives and experiences that make up Canada.

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ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
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In order to achieve a representative workforce, selection may be based on qualified candidates self-declaring (at time of application) as being a member of visible minority group or an aboriginal person or a person with a disability or a woman.

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.