Stream 1 - Laboratory Technician / Stream 2 - Water Quality Technician

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

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified or partially assessed candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions at this group and level with various language requirements, in various locations, with various tenures (acting, assignment/secondment, deployment, term and/or indeterminate) within Environment and Climate Change Canada.

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)

Essential Qualification
► Education - Stream 1 & 2:
•Successful completion of a 2 year program from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in environmental science, biology, microbiology, or any other field related to the position.

Degree equivalency

Essential Qualifications
► Experiences - Common to both streams:
• EX1: Experience in collecting, managing and analyzing environmental or technical data.
• EX2: Experience planning and coordinating technical and logistical requirements for laboratory and/or field projects.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Essential Qualifications
► Experiences - Stream 1 Laboratory Technician:
• EX3: Experience working in a microbiology laboratory.
• EX4: Experience providing support for maintenance and operations of laboratory equipment.

Essential Qualifications
► Experiences - Stream 2 Water Quality Technician:
• EX5: Experience in collecting environmental samples (such as water, sediment or biota).
• EX6: Experience providing support for maintenance and operations of field equipment and laboratory equipment.

Essential Qualifications
► Knowledge:
Common to both streams:
• K1: Knowledge of Occupational Safety & Health practices for field and laboratory related activities.
• K2: Knowledge of proper techniques and procedures for handling environmental samples to maintain scientific integrity.

Stream 1 Laboratory Technician
• K3: Knowledge of the theories and principles of microbiology.

Stream 2 Water Quality Technician
• K4: Knowledge of sampling procedures and instrumentation for *aquatic ecosystem field sampling investigations.

*Aquatic ecosystem field sampling refers to the collection of sediment, water quality or biological samples and physical-chemical measurements from either lakes, wetlands or rivers or from the marine environment.

Essential Qualifications
► Abilities - Common to both streams:
• A1: Ability to analyze, assess and validate scientific data.
• A2: Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• A3: Ability to manage conflicting priorities and meet deadlines.

Essential Qualifications
► Personal Suitability - Common to both streams:
• PS1: Teamwork
• PS2: Initiative
• PS3: Judgement

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

Asset Qualifications
► Education:
• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in environmental science, biology, microbiology, or any other related field to the position.
► Experience : Both Streams
• AE1: Experience working within a quality management system, such as ISO 17025.
• AE2: Experience carrying out Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures.
• AE3: Experience in the operation of boats and towing trailers.
• AE4: Experience in driving large vehicles or off-road vehicles.
• AE5: Experience in safe boating practices, techniques and instrumentation used in marine navigation.
• AE6: Experience working with First Nations, the public, stakeholders, other government departments, and/or Non-Government Organizations.
• AE7: Experience collecting and processing data within a Geographic Information System (GIS).
• AE8: Experience in conducting aquatic ecosystems field sampling investigations.
• AE9: Experience in the microbiological analysis of water samples.
• AE10: Experience working in the management of shellfish resources..

N.B. Based on the hiring division’s needs, additional asset qualifications and operational requirements may be identified and applied during the assessment and/or selection of candidates.

Management may decide to seek all qualified candidates of the pool, at an opportune time, for an update of the evolutionary assets.

► Organizational needs:
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s commitment is to the creation of an inclusive organization wherein diversity is integrated throughout the organization. In support of achieving a representative workforce and our employment equity goals, consideration may be given to qualified candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the Employment Equity groups.

► Operational Requirements - Common to both streams
• Willing to attend training to obtain periodic First Aid, laboratory safety, boating safety and other applicable Health & Safety related certifications.
• Willing to work with hazardous samples, chemicals, growth media and pathogenic bacteria.
• Willing to work overtime.

Stream 1 – Laboratory Technician
• Willing to operate large vehicles and to travel in remote areas.

Stream 2 – Water Quality Technician
• Willing to operate small vessels and to travel/sample in both remote and inhabited areas, including by floatplane and helicopter.
• Willing to work outdoors in all seasons and under adverse sea and environmental conditions.

Conditions of employment

► Common to both streams:
• Reliability Status: security clearance
• Possess a valid Canadian Drivers License (Class 5).
• Pass a pre-employment medical and subsequent.

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

Asset qualifications may be used in the screening process. Therefore candidates must clearly demonstrate in their application which of the asset criteria for education and experience they possess.

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

The hiring Department will only accept on-line applications. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). Following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line.
• Applicants can create a profile and a resume that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time.
• Applicants can modify their application/resume at anytime BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.
• Applicants can verify the status of their applications, at any time.
• Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results.
For some jobs, applicants will find important information, namely the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria that are only available when applying on-line.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email and contact information are maintained with the Assessment board AND in your Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) account. As all of the communication for this process will be conducted via the email address provided in your application AND via your PSRS account, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check for messages regularly and to ensure that your email address accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email or filter them to a junk mail folder). Failure to respond to key messages may result in your being eliminated from this process.

Depending on the number of applicants, the needs and/or Human Resources plans, volume management strategies such as random selection, 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.

Candidates invited to an interview will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript (original documents only).

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/

Please note that any information provided through this selection process may be considered in the assessment of any of the essential or other qualifications, including the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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

Reference Check: Please ensure that your referees have a thorough and direct knowledge of your work and are able to answer specific questions about your achievements and strengths. In addition, supervisors must be able to comment on your abilities and competencies. Referees must have worked with you for at least 6 months in the last 5 years.

Candidates may be assessed using of the following tools: written exam, interview and reference check.

A pass mark will be established for each qualification. However, achieving the pass mark is not guarantee of an appointment or that candidates will be put through the next stages of the assessment process. A cutoff score and a top-down approach may be used at any step if there is a sufficient number of candidates to meet immediate and anticipated staffing needs.

Candidates are expected to make a reasonable effort to make themselves available for assessments as scheduled. Rescheduling will only permitted for accommodation measures or for other exceptional/extenuating circumstances, to be determined on a case-by-case basis.

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.