Technician / Support Subject Matter Expert

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

Intent of the process

The immediate intent of this process is to staff one (1) Indeterminate position with an English Essential profile.

In addition, applicants should be aware that this selection process may be used to staff similar positions with various security and language requirements (English Essential, BBB/BBB and CBC/CBC) across Health Canada.

As a result of the potential and possible use of the selection process and subsequent pool by hiring managers, we encourage all employees seeking this type of position/workstream and/or group and level to apply.

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 secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives.

Degree equivalency

Experience

Experience in leading the design, conduct and evaluation of microbiological experiments with minimal supervision;
Experience in the isolation and identification of bacteria from foods or clinical specimens;
Experience in the use of molecular biology;
Experience in the use of whole genome sequencing or bioinformatics;
Experience in the maintenance and verification/calibration of laboratory equipment, including the provision of technical advice.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge

Knowledge of the methods and techniques of food microbiology;
Knowledge of bacterial characterization procedures including light microscopy;
Knowledge of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR);
Knowledge of agarose gel electrophoresis;
Knowledge of DNA isolation techiques;
Knowledge of genome sequencing;
Knowledge of analysis of whole genome DNA sequence data;
Knowledge of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and Transportation of Dangerous Goods procedures;
Knowledge of the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines.

Abilities

Ability to communicate effectively orally;
Ability to communicate effectively in writing;
Ability to conduct analyses of food or clinical specimens in accordance with ISO 17025;
Ability to translate or adapt complex scientific data and issues into understandable language and make recommendations to management;
Ability to prioritize and manage workload.

Personal Suitability

Thoroughness;
Initiative;
Leadership;
Dependability;
Judgement;
Effective Interpersonal skills;
Respectful of diversity.

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

Asset Education

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in biology, microbiology, biochemistry or a field relevant to the duties;

Successful completion of an acceptable two (2) years post-secondary education program with specialization relevant to the position to be staffed.

Degree equivalency

Asset Experience

Experience in maintaining a microbiology reference laboratory;
Experience working with Listeria in a laboratory setting;
Experience working with foodborne pathogens in a laboratory setting;
Experience handling, disposing of and keeping inventory of biohazards or hazardous chemicals in accordance with the Canadian Biosafety Standards and Guidelines;
Experience in training technicians, students or visiting staff in the use of equipment, analytical methodologies or techniques associated with microbiological experiments;
Experience with bioinformatics, Linux, or computer programming;
Experience in the use of standard software (e.g., Powerpoint, Excel, Word);
Experience in the isolation and identification of bacteria from food or clinical specimens;
Experience in molecular detection techniques for pathogen identification;
Experience in manipulating, analyzing and assembling microbial next generation sequencing data.

Asset Ability

Ability to supervise.

Operational Needs

Willingness and ability to work overtime on short notice;
Willingness and ability to work with experimental animals.

Condition(s) of employment

Enhanced 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

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 will not be solicited for incomplete or possibly missing information.

For this process, emails are the most efficient way to communicate with you. Candidates who apply to this selection process must include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). If you do not wish to receive results by email or if you change your email address during the process, it is your responsibility to inform us.

If you required technical support to apply for this position, please contact jobs.gc.ca at: http://emplois-jobs.gc.ca/centres/contact-contactez/index-eng.php

Please note that candidates are responsible for submitting their application by the closing date in order to be considered. No applications will be accepted once the deadline has passed.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The PSRS system will time out after 60 minutes of inactivity which may result in your inability to save your work or loss of data. It is recommended that you draft ALL RESPONSES in another document on your PC which may be saved (e.g. in MS Word or WordPerfect) and copy/paste into the PSRS system when completed. HEALTH CANADA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SYSTEM PROBLEMS WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF DATA AND/OR INCOMPLETE OR NON SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE THROUGH THE PSRS SYSTEM. Do not e-mail, fax, or mail in hard copy documents.

Please note that volume management strategies, such as random selection, top-down approach, invoking any asset(s) and/or cut-off scores, MAY be used at any point in the staffing process for the purpose of managing volumes of applications/candidates.

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.