Research Scientist (American Lobster)

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

Duties

As part of a multidisciplinary team, the successful candidate will be partly responsible for the development of a framework for the collection and integration of socio-economic data on the American lobster fishery into stock assessments. A holistic approach which incorporates industry members, Resource Managers, DFO sectors (Science, Policy and Economics), academics and non-governmental organizations will be required. The position will entail the development of surveys and the planning and delivery of workshops to various stakeholder groups.

The incumbent will be expected to publish research findings, lead and/or participate in science advisory processes to transfer science advice to internal and external clients, and manage assigned human, financial and material resources.

Work environment

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery is currently the most lucrative in North America. Although it has been an active fishery for over 150 years, within the last 30 years total landings in many areas have doubled. Accompanying this change, the socioeconomic reliance on this fishery has increased in many coastal communities (e.g. Greenan et al. 2019). A combination of environmental, ecosystem and fisheries drivers have likely caused the recent increase in lobster landings.

Much of the information on the increases in lobster productivity comes from the long time series of fisheries landings. As lobster fisheries are input controlled rather than output or total allowable catch (TAC) controlled, it has been presumed that landings are largely reflective of available biomass. Studies have revealed changes in fishing behaviour over time as lobster fishing became more profitable and other fisheries have collapsed (Fogarty 1995). These changes have resulted in increased fishing effort and/or fishing efficiency which would result in higher total landings independent of the changes in population biomass.

Gathering and synthesizing the information on the sequence and timing of changes to the fishery (including individual fishermen’s behaviour, policy changes and management controls) will help to standardize the landings time series. In order to complete this work a thorough literature review including archival and unpublished information will be required. Interviews and questionnaires of harvesters will provide specific details on the frequency and timing of changes in fishing behaviours and accompanying socio-economic drivers. This information will be used to develop measures of effective effort with which to standardize the landings time series as well as gaining insight into the socio-economic drivers of the fishery.

Intent of the process

In this process, we are seeking a qualified person to fill a 2-year temporary Research Scientist position at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, NS. A pool of qualified candidates may be used to staff other similar positions within DFO Maritimes Region on a permanent or temporary basis.

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)

►Graduation with an acceptable doctoral (PhD) degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or employer approved alternatives in a field of the social sciences with acceptable specialization in studies related to the position.

Degree equivalency

►Experience in networking and conducting collaborative research with fishing industries/stakeholders
►Experience in developing, implementing and analyzing social science survey tools.
►Experience with quantitative analyses exploring trade-offs among socio-economic objectives (e.g. cost-benefit analysis)
►Experience in planning and conducting scientific research relevant to the position.
►Experience in authoring or co-authoring scientific publications in international peer reviewed journals.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

►Knowledge of Tri-Council Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.
►Ability to communicate effectively orally to technical and non-technical audiences
►Ability to communicate effectively in writing to technical and non-technical audiences
►Ability to effectively lead meetings and workshops
►Effective Interpersonal skills
►Initiative
►Dependability

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

►Experience with Management Strategy Evaluation
►Experience with Decision Support Analyses
►Experience with the development of Conceptual models
►Experience in managing the financial and human resource components of a scientific research project or program.
►Experience in the presentation of scientific research results at scientific conferences, symposia or meetings.
►Experience with statistical analyses in R, SPSS, text analysis software, or other scientific programming environments.

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

Information on employment equity

Operational Requirements

Willingness to travel for extended periods of time
Willingness and ability to work flexible hours and overtime (i.e., weekends, holidays, shift work, and overtime when required)

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status 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

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ASSESSMENT
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Candidates must meet all of the essential qualifications prior to being appointed to a position.

Please note that your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, throughout the entire process may be used in the assessment of qualifications and competencies.

You will be asked to provide proof (original documentation will be required) of your education credentials. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. For more information please click on “Degree Equivalency” in the Education section above.

Please note that achieving the pass mark on any of the assessments used does not necessarily mean you will move forward in the selection process. Management may decide to use a score that is higher than the pass mark on any of the evaluations used throughout the selection process. Management may also decide to use top-down or random selection at any stage of the process, or to invoke an asset(s) at any point of the process.

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OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
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Persons are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

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COMMUNICATION
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Communication for this process will be sent via email. Applicants must check their e-mail accounts FREQUENTLY as there may be a deadline for responses. 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). Please note that we will have to consider that you are no longer interested in participating in the selection process and that you have withdrawn your candidacy should you not provide us with an up-to-date email address or respond to our communication.

If you need to communicate with us during any stage of this process, please indicate the selection process number in the subject field of your email (20-DFO-MAR-EA-EOS-298131).

Please note that your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, throughout the entire process 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.