Researcher – Climate Change

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

The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled workforce that is representative of Canada's diversity, which includes the recruitment of Canadian Veterans and releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/public-service-jobs/canadian-armed-forces-members-veterans.html

We encourage applicants to identify any abilities, competencies, and/or experiences acquired through employment with the Canadian Armed Forces where applicable.

Work environment

The Northern Forestry Centre is a leading forest science research facility recognized for its expertise in fire, climate change, and restoration and more generally in the ecology and productivity of forest ecosystems. Our team is comprised of a vibrant group of scientific researchers, policy analysts and administrative staff in a creative and stimulating work environment. The research centre is located in Edmonton, Alberta with easy access to field study opportunities in boreal and mountain forest regions.

Challenges

Working with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technicians, and analysts as well as with decision makers in different areas of the country, you will carry out research on regional, national and international issues important to the management of forests in the context of climate change.

The successful candidate will plan, develop and conduct a research program on climate change and forests in Canada, designed to fit within national forestry research priorities. The detailed components of such a program would be subject to internal review, and depend upon opportunities for collaboration with other researchers, both within CFS and in other research centres, including academia, industry and other government agencies. Specific research areas could include:

• Impacts of changes in climate on unmanaged and managed forests, at the stand scale (e.g., growth performance, intra- and inter-specific competition, mortality and succession) and at the landscape scale (e.g., wildfire, pests, drought and other disturbances), and their impacts on the forest industry and other social, environmental and economic benefits provided by forests.

• Impacts of climate change on the role of Canada’s forests as a carbon sink, and the potential to develop alternative management strategies to reduce negative impacts and enhance carbon benefits in mitigating Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.

• Role of Canada’s forests and their integral ecosystems (e.g., wetlands) in contributing both positive and negative feedbacks to regional and global climate forcing.

• Impacts of climate change on Canada’s forests as habitat for biodiversity.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to staff one (1) English Essential indeterminate SE RES poisition located in Edmonton, Alberta.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar SE-RES positions at Natural Resources Canada with various tenures (determinate period or indeterminate), various language requirements (English or French Essential and Bilingual BBB/BBB or CBC/CBC), various security requirements and various conditions of employment.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural or physical sciences. Candidates who will be graduating with a doctoral degree (as above) prior to December 30, 2019 may be considered. Evidence of graduation will be required from successful candidates.

Productivity/Recognition:
Productivity or Recognition refers to achievement in the form of authorship or editorship of published manuscripts, books, papers, or other communications resulting from research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems.

Degree equivalency

Experience in designing and leading research studies.
Experience in the design, development, and testing of computer simulation models.
Experience in conducting studies directly applicable to climate change and its multiple effects on natural and managed forests, using computer models combined with field, or laboratory research.
Experience writing scientific papers.
Experience working with, and analyzing, large spatial datasets such as GIS coverages, gridded climatologies and remote sensing raster data.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of forest ecology and forest vegetation dynamics or forest ecophysiology.
Knowledge of climate science or earth system science.
Knowledge of climate change impacts on forests.
Knowledge of natural disturbances (e.g., fire activity, insects. droughts) and their effects on Canadian forests.
Knowledge of the management of forests in Canada including approaches for adapting forests and forest management to climate change, and use of forests for climate change mitigation.

Ability to prepare research proposals.
Ability to work in a team.
Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to prepare and give presentations.

Leadership
Vision and strategic thinking
Effective interpersonal relationships
Adaptability/Flexibility

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

Experience in developing successful research funding proposals.
Experience in communicating and applying research results to applied end-user tools or products.
Experience supervising professional or technical staff.
Experience with spatial data analysis.
Experience developing computer code.

Knowledge of methods to manage and interpolate weather station data and output from global and regional climate models, including statistical and dynamical downscaling.

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity Groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability, Visible Minorities, and Women.

Periodic field work may be required.
Medical clearance for field work must be obtained prior to field work.
Valid driver’s license.
National and International travel will be required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status 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

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

Candidates may/will be required to meet the other qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

The hiring organization will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. To submit an application on-line, please select the button “Apply Online” below. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

We thank all applicants for their interest in our position(s). For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

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.