Chemist, soil and plant analytical services

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Assessment accommodation

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The successful candidate is a dynamic, motivated, responsible, versatile and detail-oriented individual with a true passion for science that is reflected in his or her work experience and accomplishments. Someone who wants to invest in his or her career and is eager to learn.

Duties

As a Chemist, soil and plant analytical services you will be responsible for performing chemical analyses of soils and vegetation from several forestry related research projects. You will also plan and coordinate the performance of chemical analyses and implement the annual planning of projects to be carried out. You will also have the opportunity to work on the analysis and interpretation of data obtained from chemical analyses and to provide expertise to researchers on the most appropriate methods of chemical analysis.

This extremely diverse position, which allows for innovation on a daily basis, will also allow you to maintain close and constant links with the various stakeholders at the Laurentian Forestry Centre, including researchers, technicians responsible for data collection, the health and safety environmental officer and your counterparts responsible for laboratories in other CFS centers.

Work environment

A CAREER WITH THE CANADIAN FOREST SERVICE

The position is located in Quebec City, a few steps away from the campus of Laval University. Quebec City is located on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1608, it is one of the oldest cities in North America. Its fortified colonial center makes it a UNESCO World Heritage City.

The position is with the Canadian Forest Service (CFS). The CFS is the national and international voice of Canada's forest sector. The organization is part of Natural Resources Canada. The CFS provides scientific and policy expertise and advice on national forest sector issues. It works closely with Canada’s provinces and territories to ensure sustainable and healthy forests for the benefit of our country and the world.

Specifically, the position is located in one of six research centers across the country, the Laurentian Forestry Centre. The center is oriented towards research activities and the transmission of knowledge on the forest ecosystem, its components and their interactions.

The incumbent will work with a team of highly qualified professionals, researchers, technicians and biologists whose scientific research and leadership promote sustainable forest management and forest conservation in Canada and internationally.

Intent of the process

A pool of partially or fully qualified candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions at Natural Resources Canada with various tenures, various linguistic requirements, various language requirements and profile(s), 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 a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in chemistry; or
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Note:
1.The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
1) Recent* and significant** work experience in carrying out chemical analyses of plants and soils.
2) Recent* and significant** experience in planning and organizing a chemical analytical laboratory.
3) Recent* experience in using and maintaining basic chemical analysis laboratory equipment (such as: flow injection analyzer (FIA), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), gas chromatograph or CNS analyzer).
4) Experience in communicating and providing timely analytical results to main stakeholders.

*Recent experience implies having acquire the experience within the past five (5) years.
**Significant experience implies having performing those duties for at least three (3) years.

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

Asset qualifications - EDUCATION:
1) Graduation with a degree from a recognized university with acceptable specialization in chemistry, environmental science or other natural science degree relevant to the position.
2) Graduation with a degree from a technical program in analytical chemistry.

Degree equivalency

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

Various language requirements
French essential or Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

KNOWLEDGE:
1) of basic methods of analytic chemistry particularly for the chemical analysis of soils and plants;
2) of quality control methods;
3) of computer science for the manipulation of databases and use the software integrated in automatic analyzers;
4) of laboratory health and safety practices and procedures;
5) in managing the operations of a laboratory.

COMPETENCIES:
1) EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION (Listen to, receive and share information effectively orally and in writing and transmit clear, concise and effective messages appropriate to the needs of the other person. This include the ability to clearly summarize and explain analytical results.)
2) THINKING AND ACTING (Examine all aspects of an idea, situation or problem in an open approach, identify the best solution/direction and take appropriate action in a timely manner.)
3) EFFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS (Establish and maintain constructive working relations based on listening and respect, to advance the work of the organization. motivate staff under supervision.)
4) THOROUGHNESS AND RIGOR (The capacity to complete all aspects of tasks, to take into consideration all relevant factors, to be detailed in analyzing and documenting of information.)
5) INITIATIVE (The capacity to seek to actively influence events rather than passively accept the status quo. The capacity to originate, develop and carry through activities. The capacity to undertake new work activities without specific direction, to rectify a situation by taking corrective action rather than placing blame. Striving to design and organize activities and to carry them through to completion.)
6) ABILITY TO SET PRIORITIES AND MEET DEADLINES (Capacity to pull together the necessary elements and get the co-operation required to complete work as quickly as possible, in the most cost-effective manner and in compliance with the highest quality standards. Capacity to balance work quality and deadlines.)

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Medical exam

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

Indeterminate employees at the same group and level or equivalent will be considered for deployment. If no deployment is made, applicants from other groups and levels will be considered in the advertised appointment process.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice.

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.

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.