Biological Safety Officer

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

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE/ HOW TO APPLY
Please read carefully the following instructions before applying. Candidates who do not follow these instructions may be subject to rejection of their application.
• It is your responsibility, as a candidate, to submit a cover letter, which clearly demonstrates how you meet each of the screening criteria (Education and Experience, both Essential and Asset).
• Please note it is not sufficient to simply state that the qualification is met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities.
• You must provide concrete examples, which illustrate how you meet each qualification (Education and Experience, Essential and Asset).
• Please apply the following approach: use each screening qualification as a header and then provide a description outlining when, where and how you meet each qualification.
• Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the education and / or experience described in the cover letter.
• FAILURE TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE HOW YOU MEET THE SCREENING CRITERIA WILL RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION. CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR POSSIBLE MISSING INFORMATION.
• Any or all of the criteria under the Asset Qualifications may be used for screening purposes
• The client 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 the Infotel Service at 1-800-645-5605.
• Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.•
• Please note your application may be used to help assess “Ability to communicate technical and non-technical subject matter in writing to a variety of audiences”

Intent of the process

Immediate need will be to fill 1 permanent position. A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 9,999 words (maximum)

Contact information for 3 references.

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

EDUCATION:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical, or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position (e.g., biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, biosafety, biosecurity, etc.).

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
Significant and recent experience (minimum 3 years within the last 5 years) working in a biological containment (CL3 or higher) laboratory.
Significant experience (minimum 3 years) working with or advising employees, contractors, students, post-doctoral fellows, visitors, or visiting scientists on aspects of biosafety.
Experience developing, writing, editing, and evaluating operational safety procedures.
Experience in writing detailed technical reports.
Experience maintaining, calibrating, and inspecting laboratory instrumentation or laboratory equipment.
Experience in the interpretation of safety regulations and safety related policies.
Experience in conducting risk assessments and in managing risk for biological hazards.
Experience in incident investigation.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of the theories, principles, methods, and practices of biological safety.
Knowledge of microbiology and virology appropriate to the scope of work as a biosafety officer.
Knowledge of safe operating practices within Containment Levels 2 and 3 laboratories, including those for work with animals.
Knowledge of CL2 and CL3 laboratory design guidelines.
Knowledge of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations, as well as any other applicable federal and provincial legislation in Alberta (including, but not limited to, that related to the transportation of infectious substances by all modes of transportation).
Knowledge of appropriate emergency response procedures for biological hazards.
Knowledge of decontamination and sterilization methods.

ABILITIES:
Ability to effectively communicate orally to a variety of audiences.
Ability to effectively communicate in writing to a variety of audiences.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
Initiative
Flexibility
Teamwork
Dependability
Values and Ethics

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:
Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a post-graduate degree in a natural, physical, or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position (e.g., biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, biosafety, biosecurity, etc.).

Degree equivalency

CERTIFICATION:
Designated as a Registered Biosafety Officer within Canada through the Canadian Association for Biological Safety.

EXPERIENCE:
Experience in conceiving and implementing studies involving infectious biological agents or toxins.
Experience in conducting or participating in national or international level meetings or consultations.
Experience in using biosafety expertise to advise management, external partners, or stakeholders.
Experience advising on the design of biological containment (CL3 or higher) laboratories.
Experience in the design and delivery of education, information materials, or courses.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
Employment equity may be used to address the under representation of designated groups

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be willing and able to work in a setting where animal models are utilised by researchers and other personnel for experimental and training purposes.
Must be willing and able to work with hazardous biological agents and other highly toxic biological agents and materials, for some of which medical countermeasures are of limited effectiveness.
Must successfully complete training in basic first aid and advanced emergency medical training.
Must be willing and able to wear a personal protective ensemble for extended durations of at least 4 hours in the laboratory.
Must be willing and able to become a member of a Suffield Research Centre Emergency Response Team.
Must be willing and able to work overtime, including weekends.
Must be willing and able to travel for government business several times per year for periods possibly in excess of 1 week at a time.
Must be willing and able to obtain and retain a DND 404 licence.
Must undergo and pass employment medical assessments, as may be periodically required

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Reliability status security clearance.
Must be willing and able to obtain and retain a Secret (Level II) security clearance.
Must be willing and able to obtain and retain a Human Pathogens Toxins Act (HPTA) 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

Other information
• Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.
• 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).
• Candidates will be asked to provide proof of their education credentials and proof of citizenship at the assessment stage of this process. Failure to do so may result in your application not being considered further in the selection process.
• The assessment of candidates could take the form of one or more of the following: written examinations, interviews, practical exercises, role-plays, behaviour-based questions, situational exercises and reference checks.
• 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
• Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.
• You must indicate on your application if you require a technical aid for testing or an alternative method of assessment.
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.