Cropping Operations Supervisor

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

The incumbent will be responsible for supervising a field operations team and coordinating field operations on plot land used for research by scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in Saskatoon at the Lowe Road and Llewellyn Road locations. The land is fundamental to a diversity of research including plant breeding, integrated pest (weed, disease, and insect) management, agronomy, and soil and environmental science. Liaising with the research scientists and senior technicians, the incumbent will plan, allocate and coordinate resources required for research on plant breeding, pest management, agronomy, and soil and environmental science. As such, the incumbent will coordinate research projects using field resources and laboratory protocols (mainly related to plant tissues and soil samples), supervise the cropping operations team, and garner feedback from the research teams for on-going and future experiments.

Main responsibilities:
- Oversee cropping operations and supervising cropping operations staff at Saskatoon including evaluating staff performance.
- Coordinate human, financial, and material resources associated with the Research Centre’s field operations; oversee the maintenance of agricultural and plot research equipment, including supervision and coordination of mechanical repairs or improvements.
- Collect and organize information on cropping/land management in a standardized, accessible format.
- Provide advice and recommendations to the Associate Director, Research, Development and Technology (ADRDT) regarding farm/field/plot equipment procurement and prioritization for Saskatoon, Melfort, Scott, and Outlook farms.
- Oversee field experiments and other projects under guidance of AAFC scientists.
- Adopt and implement land, air, and water stewardship practices that include sustainable rotations, irrigation management, conservation farming practices, and adoption of current technologies for data collection, record keeping, and machine guidance.
- Encourage and maintain a safe work environment in line with the regulatory framework.
- Provide advice on the feasibility and resources required to perform new studies; keep abreast of technical advances; maintain awareness of current research.

Secondary responsibilities:
- Collect, compile, and organize data and field notes from selected field experiments; write reports and contribute to scientific presentations and publications.
- Participate in technology transfer activities to disseminate new knowledge to stakeholders.
- Contribute to various trans-program plot research needs, for example the coordination of plot irrigation when required.
- Coordinate space usage and re-allocation for crop science buildings at the Saskatoon Research and Development Centre farm and communicate maintenance requirements.

Work environment

Working with scientists and scientific technical staff, the incumbent will organize and execute field-based experiments supporting agronomic, breeding, and phytopathology research programs.

Intent of the process

The immediate intent of the process is to staff one (1) indeterminate position.

In addition, a pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to staff similar positions with various tenures.

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)

EDUCATION
Graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in a biological science or in a field relevant to the duties of the position or an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience.

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.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
Recent* experience in implementation of agricultural field experiments.
Recent* experience with scientific data collection, organization, and analysis.
Recent* experience exchanging scientific or technical information with at least two (2) of the following groups: producers, industry, and scientific colleagues.

Recent* is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with performing these duties in the last three (3) years.

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

EXPERIENCE
Experience managing multi-year projects with associated land, labour, and capital resources, including planning and budgeting.
Experience managing staff including supervision, training, conducting performance appraisals, setting priorities, and managing work schedules for staff.
Experience working on a multi-disciplinary team.
Experience planning and conducting field experiments under dryland and irrigated conditions.
Experience planning and implementing research activities in pest management (such as integrated management of weeds, insects, and diseases).
Experience conducting agronomic evaluation of plant breeding trials in crops grown in Western Canada.
Experience developing and implementing agronomic management strategies for sustainable crop production in Canada.
Experience with Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.) applications and systems.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of current farming technologies, including cropping systems, agricultural machinery, and pest management practices relevant to Western Canada.
Knowledge of integrated management strategies for enhanced crop yield and reduced environmental impact.
Knowledge of experimental design and management of field experiments.
Knowledge of farm land management, crop rotation, and crop production methods in a research setting.
Knowledge of resource acquisition and allocation (human, physical, consumable) to meet program requirements.

COMPETENCIES
Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Planning and Organizing
Problem Solving
Team Leadership

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

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION
Possession of a valid pesticide applicator certificate of qualification.

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of sustainable cropping systems, crop selection, and implications for environmental protection and profitability.
Knowledge of the Canada Labour Code Part II and Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
Knowledge of agriculture-related legislation and regulations.
Knowledge of protocols for Confined Release trials and Good Laboratory Practices for field trial experiments.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
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: Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities; visible minorities, women.

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by work force adjustment.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT
Ability and willingness to acquire a valid pesticide applicator certificate of qualification within six months of start date.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver's license.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
Ability and willingness to work overtime, including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field environments for extended periods at a time.
Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work activities including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting objects (up to 25 kg).
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides and obtain a valid pesticide applicator certificate of qualification.

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.

Reference checks may be sought.

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.

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 the email referenced below under “Contact Information”.

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.

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.