Research Technician - Herbicide-Resistant Weed Surveys

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 managing the technical aspects of the herbicide-resistant weed surveys covering Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The position will require the collection of time-sensitive samples and data from farmer’s fields, processing of samples, greenhouse propagation, and screening samples for herbicide resistance. The incumbent will develop and implement experiments used to characterize novel herbicide-resistant weed biotypes collected from the surveys or submitted by farmers for testing.

Responsibilities include:
- Surveying farmer’s fields for herbicide-resistant weeds.
- Sample collection, processing, and archiving.
- Propagation of plant samples.
- Greenhouse screening of weed samples for herbicide resistance.
- Experimental setup and design, data collection, and data interpretation.
- Mapping of weed populations using GIS software.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time temporary position (from April 2020 to March 2024).

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment.

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)

Graduation with a B.Sc. or M.Sc. degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in biology, agriculture, or plant sciences or other specialization 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 working directly with farmers or landowners.
Experience conducting research experiments in a field or greenhouse environment.
Experience working with and applying pesticides.
Experience identifying weed species at various developmental stages.

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

Experience in propagation of plant samples.
Experience working with GIS mapping software.
Experience collecting time sensitive samples with minimal supervision.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of Canadian cropping systems.
Knowledge of herbicide-resistant weeds present in western Canada.

Adaptability
Initiative
Teamwork
Interactive Communication

Ability to make observations, organize and record data accurately.
Ability to organize and archive a large number of samples.

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

Knowledge of herbicides used in western Canada.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s licence.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
Ability and willingness to work away from home for extended periods of time up to one month.
Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a valid pesticide applicators certificate.
Ability and willingness to travel to and work independently in remote locations throughout the prairie provinces.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work in greenhouse, laboratory and field environments.
Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals, including pesticides.

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

ASSESSMENT 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).

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.