Research Scientist – Plant Physiologist and Viticulturist

Update: o UPDATE: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to January 18, 2021 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

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

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

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

The position requires scientific innovation and leadership in the area of plant physiology and viticulture. The successful candidate will lead and develop a program in grapevine physiology, ecology, and production system design. The focus will be on grapevine ecophysiology and stress physiology, and the development and application of geomatics and sensing technologies for characterizing spatial variations in vineyard conditions. This program realizes strong collaboration with other viticulture and related research programs and with industry stakeholders, and plays an important role for wine grape producers throughout Canada, particularly in BC.

Work environment

Research at the Centre is focused on building resilient and profitable horticultural production systems, with a focus on tender fruit crops including wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) and tree fruits. The Centre is located in the Okanagan Valley at the heart of British Columbia’s wine industry. The region is ecologically sensitive, and has a restricted land base and limited water supply. The Centre’s wine grape research is directed towards conserving resources and the natural environment while enhancing the quality and value of grapes and wines. The local industry has a long record of collaboration and providing support for research at the Centre. Most wine grape research is conducted by multidisciplinary research teams. For more information on the Summerland Research and Development Centre, please visit: https://profils-profiles.science.gc.ca/en/research-centre/summerland-research-and-development-centre.

The incumbent will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories, a small lot research winery, field monitoring technologies including drones with imagers, greenhouses, growth chambers, and research field sites. There are opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders in academia and industry. Research Scientists have access to competitive core and external funding opportunities, and are supported by technical and administrative staff. Research Scientists are encouraged to seek university affiliation and co-supervise graduate students.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff one permanent position at the Summerland Research and Development Centre in Summerland, British Columbia (BC). A pool of qualified candidates may be established through this process and may be used to staff identical or similar SE-RES positions within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada with various tenures, linguistic requirements or profiles, security requirements, and 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 doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of science with a specialization related to the duties of the position, such as, but not limited to:

Plant physiology, plant ecology, plant science, viticulture, horticulture, or botany, 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 Ph.D. program. Completion of the Ph.D. thesis 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

► Recognized achievement in the form of authorship and editorship of published or unpublished reports, books, papers, peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals, or other communications resulting from:
a) Research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems; OR
b) Operational research and scientific analysis; OR
c) Planning and analysis of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development; OR
d) Developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved varieties, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment.

Candidates will be assessed on their experience* in:

► Measuring and characterizing grapevine physiological and developmental responses to environmental conditions and vineyard management practices, and application of precision management techniques.
► Characterizing vineyard environmental conditions.
► Assessing wine grape composition responses to vineyard environments and viticultural manipulations.
*Experience refers to experience and skill in using approaches, tools, or technologies within a scientific context.

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

Asset Qualifications:
► Experience writing research grant applications.
► Experience working within a multi-disciplinary science team.
► Experience managing multi-year projects with associated human-resource, budgetary, and planning functions.
► Experience interacting with industry and other stakeholders to garner support and research direction.
► Experience in assessing wine quality responses to vineyard environments and viticultural manipulations.
► Experience in spatial monitoring techniques such as sensor networks and drone-based remote sensing.
► Experience in application or interpretation of geostatistics, spatial statistics, or geographic information system techniques.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
► Knowledge of grapevine stress physiology and ecophysiology
► Knowledge of grapevine developmental physiology and phenology
► Knowledge of grape berry composition that influences wine quality
► Knowledge of viticulture techniques such as canopy management, vine training systems, nutrient management, irrigation methods, and floor vegetation management

Competencies:
► Initiative
► Adaptability
► Teamwork
► Written Communication

Abilities:
►Ability to communicate complex scientific subject matter
►Ability to interact with sector stakeholders to report research findings, and garner support and research direction

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

Asset qualifications:
► Knowledge of data management systems.
► Knowledge of integrated pest management practices used in vineyards.

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

► Security: Reliability Status
► 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 control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.

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

ASSESSMENT 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.

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.

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.