Head, Monoclonal Antibody Unit

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

Screening questions have been built into the application process, when answering the screening questions you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly
demonstrate how you meet the qualification. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the experience. We’ll only use your résumé as a secondary source of information. The breadth and depth of experience may be considered during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidates.Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or missing information.

Duties

The Monoclonal Antibody Unit is NML’s centre of immunological excellence to support national diagnostic and reference programs via the development of novel or otherwise unavailable immune-reagents and front line serology testing during emerging pathogen outbreaks.
The Head of the Monoclonal Antibody Unit will occupy a leadership role in the Science Technology Cores and Services Division of the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML). The successful candidate will be tasked with initiating and performing antibody discovery campaigns, developing and optimizing serological tests, as well as participating in cross-divisional research projects. The position also offers the opportunity to develop novel, immunology-focused research projects using state-of-the-art technologies. In addition, the Unit will carry out front line serology testing as a means to augment NML diagnostic / reference service capacity during emerging

Work environment

The Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) provides scientific expertise and laboratory capacity for infectious disease monitoring, detection, investigation and outbreak response to support national and international public health action. NML strives to be the employer of choice for Canadian and international scientific and non-scientific staff. Our employees contribute leadership, ingenuity, expertise and innovation to safeguard the health of Canadians and the global community.

Intent of the process

This process will be used to staff one (1) position on a permanent basis.

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar positions within the Public Health Agency of Canada with:

* various tenures,
* various language requirements and linguistic profiles and/or
* various security requirements .

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)

You will be required to complete an online experience screening questionnaire when you apply. The information you provide in the questionnaire must be true. When answering the screening questions you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet each qualification.
We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the experience. If you don’t clearly demonstrate you have the required experience, we won’t ask for additional information and you may be screened out. The breadth and depth of experience may be considered during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidates.

Education:
Graduation with an acceptable Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of immunology, cell biology or a related biomolecular discipline (e.g. microbiology, biochemistry).

Degree equivalency

Experience:
1. Recent* experience in planning and conducting research related to experimental immunology
2. Significant** experience with antibody discovery (e.g. hybridoma technique, recombinant antibodies, synthetic proteins) and antibody characterization (e.g. affinity, kinetics)
3. Significant experience planning and managing multidisciplinary and multi-year projects involving functions related to management of human resources, research infrastructure and budgets
4. Experience in publishing research results in recognized scientific journals
5. Experience in communicating complex scientific subject matter, in writing and orally
6. Experience supervising scientific personnel, establishing work objectives, monitoring progress and assessing performance.

* Recent experience refers to an acceptable combination of breadth, depth and complexity of tasks that is typically acquired over a period of two (2) years or more, within the last five (5) years.
** Significant is defined as the depth / breadth of experience normally acquired by performing these activities for three (3) or more years

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
1. Knowledge of methodologies for developing immunologic tests as it relates to diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases
2. Knowledge of immune response to viral and bacterial pathogens
3. Knowledge of principles of zoonoses and other infectious diseases
4. Knowledge of laboratory procedures used to conduct and perform immunological research

Competencies:
1. Demonstrating integrity and respect
2. Working effectively with others
3. Thinking things through
4. Showing initiative and being action-oriented
5. Communication

Abilities:
1. Ability to deliver scientific presentations to an array of audiences
2. Ability in setting priorities and meeting deadlines

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

Asset Education:
Successful completion of a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) from a recognized university in the field of immunology. Candidates with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in cell biology, biochemistry or microbiology who have post-doctoral experience in experimental immunology will also be considered.

Degree equivalency

Asset Experience:
1. Experience in performing experimental immunology with focus on single cell or display technologies
2. Experience in antibody engineering, cloning or profiling cellular & molecular diversity
3. Experience in immune response studies on infectious agents
4. Experience with serological diagnostics

Operational Requirements:
1. Willingness and ability to work full time and five days per week
2. Willingness and ability to work overtime and/or weekends, as required
3. Willingness and ability to travel (within and/or outside Canada), as required

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Conditions of Employment:
Medical 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

// Are you ready to apply? //

■ To apply for any position, you need to first create a profile in the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS), which should only take about 10 minutes. Then, after ensuring you meet the position requirements, scroll to the bottom of the poster and click on "Apply online."

■ Work your way through the list of requirements, completing each section and saving as you go. Before submitting your application, please ensure that there are green check marks on every single category before submitting your application.

■ If there are any red Xs on the categories, please click into that category and ensure that everything has been filled out. Screening questions have been built into the application process and occasionally an applicant may miss a field on the Screening Questions page. Please thoroughly review to ensure that you have responded to each question, including all the "Yes / No " questions.

■ PSRS will automatically disconnect candidates without warning after 60 minutes if there is no activity. You need to save or move to a new screen to maintain your connection. Typing information without saving does not prevent you from being disconnected. Applicants may find it helpful to first use a word processing software to complete their responses using concrete and detailed examples, then copy and paste the responses into PSRS afterwards.

■ If you have further questions on how to apply or experience technical difficulties with your application, please visit the following website: http://www.cfp-psc.gc.ca/contact-jobs/index-eng.php

■ We will only accept on-line applications received via the Public Service Jobs site. Persons with disabilities or residing in locations that prevent them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

// Screening //

■ Screening criteria is established to determine which candidates will qualify for further consideration and assessment. During the screening stage, the screening board will review your application to determine if you meet the essential education and essential experiences. However, some managers may opt to use asset education and asset experiences as well. This is why it is essential to provide concrete examples when answering the experience questionnaire section in your application.

■ If you are a candidate that has been “screened-in,” this means that you may undergo further assessment to determine if you meet the other essential and/or asset criteria (i.e. knowledge, abilities, competencies, etc.).

// Assessment //

■ Managers can use a combination of assessment methods they deem relevant. Some common assessment methods are written exams, interviews, and reference checks. However, managers have the flexibility to use role-play, simulations, and performance / talent management considerations as part of their assessment.

■ When candidates are invited to the assessment stage, they will be notified of the qualifications being assessed and the assessment method (interview, written take home test, etc.). To help you prepare for assessment, you should think about examples that will best highlight how you meet the qualifications being assessed. During the assessment, use the “STAR” method to best explain your example. STAR stands for the following:

▪ Situation: Think of a situation in which you are/were involved.
▪ Task: Describe the tasks involved in the situation.
▪ Action: Specify what actions you took to achieve your results.
▪ Results: What results followed due to your actions? List them and describe each one briefly.

■ In assessing candidates, assessment boards may use a variety of tools and methods including, but not limited to, reviews of past performance and accomplishments, written tests, interviews, simulations, PSC tests, reference checks, board member knowledge etc. In addition, all information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

■ Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

■ Depending on the number of applicants, needs and/or plans, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores, asset selection, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates and/or determining which candidates will continue in the staffing process. Should a volume management strategy be used, communication regarding the application of the strategy will be provided to those candidates who are impacted.

■ 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.

■ 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.
- The organizational need of restructuring/budgetary constraints

■ Candidates from outside the federal public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

■ Proof of education will be required. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca.

// Important Notes //

▪ Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

▪ Candidates will be contacted by email and it is imperative that you provide a current email address that accepts e-mail from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate's responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

▪ Candidates are strongly encouraged to check their email on a regular basis. It is your entire responsibility to inform us at all times of any changes regarding your contact information.

▪ All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

▪ Proof of citizenship will be requested if you are considered for a position.

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.