MSc Student – Beluga Habitat and Habitat Use - Research Affiliate Program

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

When submitting an application to this selection process, you will be prompted to answer screening questions concerning the essential education, and the essential and asset experience qualifications. It is your responsibility to provide clear and concrete examples in your responses to each question, including when (from-to), where (occupational title, organization) and how you obtained your education and experience. It is recommended that you describe the experience examples in specific terms, providing sufficient details so that the Assessment Board can clearly understand. Describe the situation/task, the action you took, what you accomplished and/or what you learned. Content of your response must be supported by your CV/resume as your responses to these questions will be used as a primary source of information and your CV/resume will only be used to validate this information. Should you indicate in your response "please refer to CV/resume" your application may be rejected. Lack of examples and details may result in your application being rejected as the Assessment Board will have insufficient information to determine if the requirement is met.

Duties

Challenges of the position include analyzing spatial habitat data obtained via spatial techniques (i.e. remote sensing) and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)/Indigenous Knowledge (IK). Bringing these two different types of data sets together will be required for the co-interpretation of beluga habitat and habitat use. Data and results will be prepared for community reports and peer review publications. These publications require a standardized peer review process that must be followed.

Work environment

The Arctic Aquatic Research Division of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is based at the Freshwater Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Division provides information and advice to support the management of Arctic fisheries resources, their habitat and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, and on the Yukon North Slope. Successful management and conservation of these resources depends on acquiring, interpreting and sharing biological information, the processes affecting them and the ecosystem of which they are part.

There are two positions currently available.

The first position will investigate the habitat of Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga, specifically in the Mackenzie Estuary using remote sensing and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) toward a co-developed understanding of habitat changes and impacts on beluga habitat use. The habitat components include the carbon flux changes from coastal erosion (turbidity), water temperature, winds, salinity and the data to assess beluga habitat use will include telemetry, aerial photography, acoustics and TEK.

The second position will investigate the behaviour of Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga using a combination of photo data collected from the 2019 aerial survey and TEK. The research will focus on interpreted beluga behaviour and group composition with special attention of mother calve units/groups. Comparison with historical surveys for the Eastern Beaufort Sea and other nearby locations will be an important component.

Both positions will require working closely with Inuit Wildlife boards, hunters and community members to help develop best approaches for TEK gathering.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

The student must be currently enrolled or willing to enroll in a MSc program at the University of Manitoba, in a field of study related to Arctic marine ecosystems.

Degree equivalency

In the context of student recruitment in the federal public service, experience can be acquired through studies, work experience or volunteer activities.

- Experience collecting, analyzing and reporting scientific data
- Experience in writing and communicating research findings
- Experience working with research teams

- Knowledge on methods of measuring spatial data

- Teamwork
- Organized
- Independent

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Note: Each student hired through the Research Affiliate Program (RAP) must meet the security requirements of the position as a condition of employment. Therefore, the student will be asked by the hiring organization to complete security-related documents.

- Valid Health Canada medical may be required as necessary to suit the needs of the position (For example, if fieldwork is required)
- Maintaining your student status is a condition of employment. Once you have defended your thesis you are no longer eligible for the program.
- Student must be willing to work in remote locations.
- Willingness & ability to travel

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

A variety of assessment tools may be used in the assessment of candidates, such as: written exercise, oral interview, and/or reference checks. Some assessment tools may be administered electronically, others, in-person or over the telephone.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

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

PLEASE NOTE: For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail and PSRS. Applicants who apply to this selection process must ensure their email address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has an Accommodation Policy and will accommodate up to the point of undue hardship for the duration of the selection process, and upon any offer of employment, for the performance of duties in the position.

An alternative format (such as Braille) of this notice is available upon request.

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

Successful candidate(s) must meet and maintain the Conditions of Employment throughout their employment.

Preference

Preference will be given to Canadian citizens.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.