Biology Study Leader- Bioinformatics

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).

Preference may be given to the following employment equity groups: Aboriginal peoples and Women.

Duties

Duties for the Biology Study Leader Bioinformatics include, but are not limited to:
-Managing and establishing priorities for a Bioinformatics Research Support Unit serving the AAFC Research and Development Centres in Summerland and Agassiz.
-Supporting science leads and their staff in providing expert analysis and advice on developing and adapting experimental design for large data sets in the “omics” fields (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome analyses, etc.).
-Interpreting and presenting data to science programs for publication in scientific journals.
-Managing the activities of and mentoring members of the local unit allocated to various studies.
-Acting as an authority for contracted bioinformatics services.
-Reviewing scientific literature to maintain knowledge of current research and new research methodologies.
-Identifying research opportunities in science programs pertaining to bioinformatics.
-Actively contributing to the Bioinformatics Biologist community within the AAFC
Bioinformatics Research Support Network to co-develop research techniques and analytical methodologies and integrate such bioinformatic tools to facilitate analyses by members of the different science programs.

Work environment

The Summerland Research and Development Centre is a multidisciplinary federal research centre performing scientific research in the fields of grape and tree fruit breeding and physiology, insect and microbe and virus-plant interactions, population studies and pest control, food quality and microbiology, climate modelling, GIS, and others (see https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/en/research-centre/summerland-research-and-development-centre). At the Agassiz Research and Development Centre, research activities are focused in the following four broad strategic areas: soil health management, innovative crop production systems, integrated pest management and biodiversity enhancement (see https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/en/research-centre/agassiz-research-and-development-centre).

Intent of the process

Immediate staffing of 1 full-time permanent position at the Summerland Research and Development Center. A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff identical or similar biology positions within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with various tenures, various linguistic requirements or profiles, various security requirements, various conditions of employment and for various locations.

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 an acceptable Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution OR a baccalaureate degree in science with approximately 5 or more years' experience in a field of science with a specialization related to the duties of the position, such as, but not limited to: Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Plant or Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Genetics, Breeding or other specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Applications will be accepted from candidates enrolled in their final year, but who have not yet completed a Master’s program. Completion of the Master’s degree must occur before the date of appointment.

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:
Experience in the biological experimental design and bioinformatic analysis of large data sets.
Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
Experience educating and mentoring.
Experience developing a creative solution for bioinformatic analysis

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

EDUCATION:
A graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of science in specialization related to the duties of the positions such as but not limited to Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Plant or Biological Sciences, Microbiology, Genetics, Breeding, OR other specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
Experience with programming using “C++” and “java”.
Experience managing human, financial and capital resources.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of various “omics” analyses.
Knowledge of the scientific methods and logical and deductive reasoning required to plan and conduct analyses in the field of bioinformatics.

COMPETENCIES:
Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork
Written Communication

ABILITIES:
Ability to provide advice on experimental design and to analyse data.
Ability to communicate research results to science audiences.
Ability to use operating systems (specifically Linux/Unix) and be proficient in coding languages (Python, ”R”, Perl or equivalent) commonly used for bioinformatic analyses.

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

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of genetics and breeding.
Knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of Machine Learning.

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 license or personal mobility to the extent normally associated with the possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work in laboratory or office for extended periods at a time.

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.

Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies such as random selection, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, may be used for the purpose of managing applications. Please note that although you may attain the established pass mark on any of the assessments used in this staffing process, management may decide to use a higher cut off score.

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.

Candidates who meet all criteria may be invited to give a seminar as part of the process to assess suitability.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

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).

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.