Meat 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

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities or Women).

Duties

This position is part of the team working on the study of meat quality for the improvement of genetic and environmental factors influencing muscle physiology and the conversion from muscle to meat. The tasks are to develop new knowledge, foster innovation and increase the adoption of animal husbandry and preslaughter practices or systems that reduce stress and carcass and meat quality variation. The person in charge plans, organizes and realizes the technical elements of the experimental research projects in meat science under the responsibility of the researcher. For projects under the responsibility of the researcher, the research assistant sets up technical protocols and carries out experiments, develops methods of measurement and analysis, and collects and processes data. The research assistant writes procedures and technical reports, participates in the technical training of the students or trainees of the team, plans and coordinates the operational work of the team and participates in budget management.

Work environment

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers based on its exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs. AAFC welcomes diverse applicants and strives to foster a supportive, respectful, fair and inclusive work environment where everyone's contributions and individual differences are acknowledged and appreciated.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada drives innovation and ingenuity to build a world-leading agricultural economy for the benefit of all Canadians. The impression we make can be seen from the farmer to the consumer and through all phases of producing, processing and marketing of farm, food and bio-based products.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: To staff an indeterminate position

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

IF YOU HAVE FOREIGN CREDENTIALS, please follow the link below for information on how to obtain a degree equivalency. You must obtain an equivalency, at your own expense, in order to be considered for appointment into the public service.

Diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization in natural, physical or applied sciences, or an acceptable combination of studies, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience in designing experiments, establishing draft research protocols and developing methodologies, tools, procedures or techniques.
Experience in using Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook) and internet search engines.
Experience in using, maintaining and calibrating simple or complex laboratory instruments (for example, among others, pH meters, scales, texturometers, colorimeters, etc).
Experience in setting project objectives and managing budgets.
Experience in coaching and training interns, students and colleagues and assigning workload.

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

Bachelor’s degree in science from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of these fields:
o Food science
o Animal science
o Veterinary Medicine

Degree equivalency

Experience working in slaughterhouses and cutting rooms.
Experience in using Adobe Photoshop.

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

French essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and directives.

Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive communication
Teamwork
Planning and organization

Ability to make observations, gather and record accurate data and interpret and statistically analyse results.
Ability to draft reports, technical bulletins and scientific postings and help draft scientific presentations.

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

Knowledge of animal muscle anatomy and physiology.
Knowledge of animal wellbeing and stress in animals.
Knowledge of methods for grading the quality of carcasses and meat.
Knowledge of commonly used dosages for analysing muscle metabolism and meat composition.
Knowledge of physiological stress responses in blood and other tissues.
Knowledge of the rules of hygiene and safety in slaughterhouses and cutting rooms.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid driver’s licence.
Ability and willingness to work variable schedules.
Ability and willingness to travel frequently and far from the place of residence.
Ability and willingness to work in laboratories, stables and commercial slaughterhouses, cold rooms and freezers for extended periods.
Ability and willingness to stand the sight of slaughter and slaughterhouse operations.
Ability and willingness to handle animal carcasses (beef, pork, lamb) and cuts of meat.

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

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:

- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.jobs.gc.ca.

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

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

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

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.