Research Assistant – Plant Biology

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

Under the supervision of a Research Scientist:
- Leads a technical team consisting of junior technicians and co-op/summer students to implement pathology/agronomy field trials on AAFC Melfort Research Farm.
- Coordinates research activities in the laboratory and in field, including (but not limited to) developing bioassays, experimental protocols, and standard operating procedures
Plans research trials, assigns staff and students, and ensures to fulfill research plans on time and budget.
- Ensures all lab and field equipment are well maintained and arranges repairs when necessary.
- Monitors research trial progress on site, applies treatments as scheduled, assesses trial results, and prepares summaries/progress reports.
- Collects, organizes, and maintains research data.
- Fosters a safe working environment in the lab and field, and provide safety training to new staff members.
- Collaborates with other groups on multi-site field trials.

Work environment

• A team environment on a research farm with a focus on field pathology/agronomy research.
• Providing the leadership to a pathology technical team for the implementation of a range of field projects.
• A range of field research equipment may be used in carrying out plot trials.
• There may be infrequent need to work overtime or on weekends during crop season.
• Infrequent needs for travel to conduct trials offsite or disease/crop surveys in Saskatchewan.
• Crop pollens can be a source of allergy; Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) / medication may be needed to control allergies.
• May involve the application of chemicals/pesticides to research plots, with use of PPE.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

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 degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Agronomy, Pest Management, Plant Science, or an acceptable specialization 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
- Experience in conducting field research on agronomy or pest management.
- Experience in supervising employees.
- Experience in operating research-scale field equipment.

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

EXPERIENCE
- Experience in canola field trials.
- Experience in fungal diseases of field crops.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of current concepts and principles in Pest Management.
- Knowledge of common methodologies used for field experimentations.

COMPETENCIES
- Adaptability
- Initiative
- Interactive Communication
- Teamwork

ABILITIES
- Ability to plan, organize and coordinate complex field trials.
- Ability to gather scientific or technical information for research.
- Ability to organize and analyze research data using a computer program.

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

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 REQUIREMENTS
Travel may be required, mostly within northeast of Saskatchewan, for crop surveys.
With appropriate safety precautions and personal protection equipment, this position involves pesticide applications in research plots.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Driver’s licence
Ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicator’s License issued by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture within eighteen months of appointment.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).
Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
May sometimes need to lift heavy objects up to 25 kg.

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 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).

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.