Research Scientist

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

PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ ALL POSTER NOTES THOROUGHLY AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WILL BE REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS. FAILURE TO READ THE NOTES AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION MISSING CRITICAL INFORMATION PROVIDING FOR INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION FOR THE ASSESSMENT BOARD TO COMPLETE YOUR ASSESSMENT RESULTING IN YOUR ELIMINATION FROM THE PROCESS.

*All Research Scientist (RES) appointments are incumbent based. Therefore, the level of the position is determined by the qualifications/accomplishments of the successful candidate as determined by a committee.

*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/.

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.

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 successful candidate will engage in studies designing, implementing and analyzing factors important for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Specific emphasis will be placed on studies of wastewater material for optimization of virus detection, and development/evaluation and verification of innovative rapid diagnostic tools for SARS-CoV-2. The successful candidate will work with a diverse team of research scientists, biologists and clinicians from across Canada and globally. The candidate will develop external collaborative partnerships with academia and other government departments and agencies.

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

The immediate need is to staff one (1) English Essential term position, with a Secret Security Clearance.

A pool of qualified candidates will be created and this pool may be used to staff immediate and future vacant positions within the National Microbiology Laboratory:
* various tenures,
* various language requirements and linguistic profiles,
* various geographic locations,
* various security requirements and/or
* various conditions of employment.

We are seeking research scientists with a wide variety of expertise and experience to provide the National HIV and Retrovirology Laboratories with cutting-edge science across the breadth of its activities in the area of its COVID-19 pandemic response.

Particular emphasis is placed on research to support the efforts of the Division in meeting its overarching goals and objectives in helping to reduce health inequities in Northern, Remote, and Isolated (NRI) communities across Canada. This is in keeping with the NML’s Innovative Diagnostic Program (IDP) to provide innovative approaches in reaching the undiagnosed as part of its population-based public health approach.

The specific expertise sought will contribute to attaining the following goals:

Goal #1: Expand the knowledge base of SARS-CoV-2 in the international scientific community

Goal #2: Provide a better understanding of sensitive and rapid testing approaches for point-of-care diagnostics of SARS-CoV-2

Goal #3: Develop novel approaches for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and deployment of novel techniques for SARS-CoV-2 detection to NRI communities

Goal #4: Develop/validate and lead efforts to support innovative technologies SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing

Goal #5: Expand SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic capacities in remote underserved Canadian communities

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

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 the natural sciences with a specialization in microbiology, immunology or related field.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Experience in providing specialized scientific, technical expertise or recommendations.
Experience in leading, organizing and delivery of scientific projects in a laboratory setting.
Experience in advanced molecular biological techniques.
Experience in communicating scientific findings (publications, presentations).
Experience in validation of new technologies for COVID-19 diagnostic rapid testing

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

Asset Experience:
Experience in leading, managing and delivery of mandated scientific programs.
Experience being an expert representative for national or international conferences, symposia, seminars or workshops.
Experience in training scientific personnel.
Experience in consulting, engaging and liaising with scientific collaborators (nationally and/or internationally)
Demonstrated research experience and expertise in SARS-CoV-2

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
French Essential
Bilingual Imperative (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge of trends, emerging issues and concerns relating to minimizing risks of human illness, particularly as it relates to SARS-CoV-2

Competencies:
Demonstrating integrity and respect
Thinking things through
Showing initiative and being action-oriented
Collaboration and Partnerships
Innovation
Productivity
Impact

Abilities:
Ability to collect data information and perform an analysis
Ability to transfer and exchange knowledge
Effective oral communication
Effective communication in writing

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

Asset Knowledge:
Knowledge of PHAC’s mandate, surveillance and outbreak response systems.

Organizational needs:
The Public Health Agency of Canada is committed to Employment Equity. In order to ensure a diversified workforce, preference may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one or more of the following Employment Equity groups: Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups provided the candidate meets all essential qualifications listed on the job opportunity notice and any applicable asset qualification(s).

Operational Requirements:
Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime
Willingness and ability to travel nationally and internationally.
Other operational requirements may also apply, depending on the position being staffed.

Conditions of Employment:
Secret security clearance
Medical clearance (depending on the position)

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

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages 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.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Salary ranges:
SE-RES-01 - $59,441 - $80,550
SE-RES-02 - $73,807- $113,877
SE-RES-03 - $93,276 - $126,408
SE-RES-04 - $111,705 - $140,313
SE-RES-05 - $122,311 - $153,645

Please note: SE-RES staffing is considered “incumbent based staffing”. Therefore, the level of the successful candidate will not be determined until the advertised process is complete and a successful candidate is chosen.

For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

Managers can use a combination or variety 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, past assessments and performance/talent management considerations as part of their assessment.

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.

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. As English is essential for the position, the applicant’s ability to communicate scientific information related to the position orally and in writing in English may be tested as part of the selection process.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications, the operational requirements or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

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

The hiring Department will only accept on-line applications. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS).

To submit an application on-line, please click on the button "Apply Now" below.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to contact us toll free at 1-800-645-5605 and press '0' for assistance.

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.