Research Scientist - Wildland Fire Scientist

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

Work environment

The Great Lakes Forestry Centre is an internationally recognized forest science laboratory specializing in forest ecology, productivity and impact of disturbance. A vibrant group of scientific researchers, policy analysts and administrative staff work to maintain a creative and stimulating work environment. The research centre is located in the Great Lakes region with easy access to field study opportunities in boreal and Great Lakes-St Lawrence forests.

Intent of the process

Longer fire seasons create a threat to the social and economic health and safety of Canadians who live and work in the forest. We are seeking up to three research scientists with a variety of expertise and experience to provide the Canadian Forest Service of NRCan with cutting-edge science to optimize wildland fire risk assessment, detection, monitoring, prediction, mitigation, management and recovery. The successful candidate will develop a fire research program in one of the following areas, depending on their field of expertise:

1) Remote sensing
2) Meteorology
3) Management Science/Decision-making/Risk


A pool of (fully or partially qualified) candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions within Natural Resources Canada with various tenures (determinate or indeterminate), various language requirements (English Essential, French Essential, English or French Essential, or Bilingual), linguistic requirements (imperative and/or non-imperative) and profile(s) (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, etc.), various security requirements (Reliability status or Secret clearance), various conditions of employment and for various locations.

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)

Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural or physical sciences related to the duties of the position.

Productivity or recognition includes developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved tools, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment. It also refers to recognized achievement in the form of authorship and editorship of published or unpublished reports, books, papers, or other communications resulting from:
• Research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems;
• Operational research and scientific analysis;
• Planning, analysis and evaluation of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development.

Degree equivalency

EX1 Experience in designing and conducting research studies directly applicable to wildland fire behaviour, risk, impact or management, in field, laboratory or computer modeling environments.

EX2 Experience writing scientific peer reviewed papers.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

K1 Knowledge of the management of forest fires in Canada
K2 Knowledge of fire activity and its impact on Canadian forests
K3 Knowledge of the physical fire environment

A1 Ability to develop research proposals
A2 Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in English
A3 Ability to prepare and give presentations
A4 Ability to develop research collaborations and partnerships
A5 Ability to work in or lead multidisciplinary research projects

PS1 Leadership
PS2 Vision and strategic thinking
PS3 Initiative
PS4 Effective interpersonal relationships
PS5 Adaptability / Flexibility

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

AQ1 Experience in developing successful research funding proposals
AQ2 Experience in applying research results to end-user tools or products
AQ3 Experience in technology transfer to operational organizations and/or end users
AQ4 Experience supervising professional and/or technical staff
AQ5 Experience with spatial data analysis
AQ6 Experience measuring and/or modelling the physical characteristics of the forest environment and fire spread within it
AQ7 Experience collaborating with operational fire management agencies
AQ8 Experience with risk assessment
AQ9 Experience in scientific programming
AQ10 Experience in remote sensing of active fire, smoke, or fire effects
AQ11 Experience in assessing the human dimensions of wildfire
AQ12 Experience working with indigenous communities.

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.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally
Medical clearance to conduct field work may be required depending on the position.
Valid driver’s license.

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

All applications must be submitted online through the GC Jobs website. DO NOT email, fax or mail in applications, as these will NOT be accepted..

Acknowledgment of receipts of applications will not be sent; we will only contact successful applicants when the screening process has been completed.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Applicants are required to meet the Essential Qualifications. Asset Qualifications MAY be applied at any point in the assessment process. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to answer Asset Qualifications questions in your online application. Applicants do not need to meet any/all of the Asset Qualifications for consideration, however, possessing any/all of the Asset Qualifications may increase the likelihood of being considered for an appointment.

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

An interview may be sought.

A written test may be administered.

A situational exercise may/will be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

Random selection and/or top-down selection may be used at any time during the process to identify which applicants will be further assessed.

Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of education (copy of degree/diploma) and citizenship or permanent resident status. If you have obtained education outside Canada, you will be required to submit proof of evaluation of Canadian equivalency.

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

If you are selected for further consideration, please advise the person who will contact you of any accommodations you may require during the selection process.

Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.
The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

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.