Aquatic Science Technician IV **AMENDMENT TO CLOSING DATE**

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

When submitting an application to this selection process, you will be prompted to answer screening questions concerning the essential education, and the essential and asset experience qualifications. It is your responsibility to provide clear and concrete examples in your responses to each question, including when (from-to), where (occupational title, organization) and how you obtained your education and experience. It is recommended that you describe the experience examples in specific terms, providing sufficient details so that the Assessment Board can clearly understand. Describe the situation/task, the action you took, what you accomplished and/or what you learned. Content of your response must be supported by your CV/resume as your responses to these questions will be used as a primary source of information and your CV/resume will only be used to validate this information. Should you indicate in your response "please refer to CV/resume" your application may be rejected. Lack of examples and details will result in your application being rejected as the Assessment Board will have insufficient information to determine if the requirement is met.

Duties

Planning logistics, identifying, organizing, and preparing equipment and instrumentation, and providing technical support for field and laboratory scientific studies and projects within a specialized field of aquatic science.

Collecting, processing, validating, and analyzing field/laboratory or survey samples/data, providing technical support and advice, and interpreting results for inclusion in project reports and scientific manuscripts.

Operating, testing, calibrating, and maintaining specialized technical instrumentation and equipment, techniques, and methodologies for conducting field and laboratory studies to meet project objectives.

Maintaining databases, validating, inputting and manipulating data, and utilizing a variety of software applications for statistical and preliminary data analyses.

Managing sample archives and ensuring adequate preservation of samples.

Serving as technician-in-charge of assigned field, laboratory, or at-sea science projects and initiatives.

Participating in the planning and administration of proposed projects and the projected utilization of unit resources, the identification and procurement of goods and services, and the preparation of reports and scientific manuscripts.

Providing technical advice and information to managers, colleagues, stakeholders, and collaborators, and special interest groups with respect to data quality and products, equipment and methodologies, validation of data, and projects/survey goals and objectives.

Work environment

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible for policies and programs in support of Canada’s economic, ecological, and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters; for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Canada’s fisheries resources in marine and inland waters; for leading and facilitating federal policies and programs on oceans; and for safe, effective, and environmentally sound marine services responsive to the needs of Canadians in a global economy.

About the positions:
The incumbents will be joining dynamic research groups studying:

i) Marine Mammal Stock Assessment (Indeterminate) – this position specifically involves: organising and participating in field work according to established project objectives as they relate to marine mammal research projects (i.e., outreach and communicating with regional Hunters and Trappers Organizations; contracting sample collections from subsistence hunts of marine mammals through community hunter sample kits, sampling in-person on site; satellite and acoustic tagging, biopsy collections; and participating in aerial surveys); organising, operating, and maintaining equipment for field and laboratory projects; purchasing materials and supplies for field and laboratory projects; maintaining marine mammal physical sample inventory and database; summarising and analysing collected data; and compiling and preparing data for inclusion in reports.

ii) Arctic Oceanography (Term) - this position specifically involves:
organising and participating in field work according to established project objectives as they relate to Arctic oceanography research projects including potential coastal (nearshore; ice camp based and small vessel based) and ship-based (offshore; large vessel based) work as well as distributed sampling in ice-covered conditions utilizing small aircraft or helicopters; preparing, operating, maintaining and programming multiple types of oceanographic, cryospheric science, and meteorological instruments for the collection of chemical, physical, and biological oceanographic data and environmental data; planning, assembling, and deploying ice-tethered and bottom-tethered observational platforms such as oceanographic moorings or ice drifting buoys or other autonomous samplers such as remotely operated vehicles in ice-covered or open-water conditions; downloading, organizing and managing data collected by means of instruments and observational platforms; creating and maintaining applicable databases, and contributing towards national integration of collected datasets; purchasing materials and supplies for various field and laboratory projects; summarising and analysing collected data; and compiling and preparing data for inclusion in reports, and participating in report preparation.

Intent of the process

The intent is to staff one (1) indeterminate position and one (1) term position in Winnipeg (MB).

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates will be created and may be used to staff similar positions on an indeterminate, acting, specified period, deployment, secondment or assignment basis, within Fisheries and Oceans – Ontario & Prairies Region.

Positions to be filled: 2

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 a degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in a field of natural, physical, or applied science relevant to the duties of the position, OR an acceptable combination* of education and experience.

*An acceptable combination is defined as a secondary school diploma and 5 years of relevant work experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience participating in and providing technical support for scientific and field or laboratory projects relating to aquatic organisms or environments in one of the following areas: population science, stock assessment, habitat science, fisheries productivity science, ecology, ecosystem science, biodiversity science, aquatic invasive species, species at risk, animal health, genomics or biotechnology, benthic ecology, oceanography, or cryospheric science.
Experience collecting scientific data in one or more of the following areas: population science, stock assessment, habitat science, fisheries productivity science, ecology, ecosystem science, biodiversity science, aquatic invasive species, species at risk, animal health, genomics or biotechnology, benthic ecology, oceanography, or cryospheric science.
Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Experience inputting and processing scientific data using computer software (e.g., R, MS Excel, MATLAB, SAS, Microsoft Access, Ocean Data View).
Experience in operating and maintaining field or laboratory equipment.
Experience in providing technical advice or information on: sample and data collection, or equipment and methodologies, or project/survey logistics to meet goals and objectives.

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

Experience conducting scientific technical work in open waters on medium or large vessels.
Experience conducting scientific technical work in fresh or coastal waters on small vessels.
Experience conducting scientific technical work from small aircraft, air boats, or helicopters.
Experience conducting scientific technical work in remote areas.
Experience conducting scientific technical work in ice-covered conditions in the Arctic (e.g., large vessels).
Experience conducting scientific technical work on sea ice in the Arctic (e.g., ice camps).
Experience in liaising, collaborating, and working cooperatively with clients, industry, stakeholder or Indigenous groups.
Experience operating all terrain vehicles or snowmobiles.
Experience operating, trailering, and launching small vessels.
Experience using GPS to navigate to ice camps, in remote areas or through waterways.
Experience using remotely sensed products to facilitate scientific technical work or field work (e.g., Radarsat data, MODIS data or products, drone-derived data).
Experience installing and operating fish enumeration systems.
Experience identifying freshwater or marine zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, or fish.
Experience identifying marine mammals in the field.
Experience using field equipment to sample plankton, invertebrates, fish, or marine mammals.
Experience collecting sea ice samples for biological and chemical analyses using specialized equipment (e.g., ice coring systems).
Experience collecting water samples for biological and chemical analyses using specialized equipment (e.g., niskin bottles).
Experience deploying radio, acoustic, or satellite tags on aquatic organisms, such as finfish or marine mammals.
Experience planning, assembling, deploying, or retrieving observational platforms in ice-covered or open-water conditions (e.g., oceanographic moorings, ice drifting buoys).
Experience working with live aquatic organisms in a lab environment.
Experience in the processing of stomach contents of invertebrates, finfish, or marine mammals.
Experience with internal anatomy for the purposes of sampling of invertebrates, finfish, or marine mammals.
Experience operating and maintaining or troubleshooting aquatic science field or laboratory equipment (e.g., data storage tags, satellite telemetry, drones, moorings, water samplers, rosettes, CTDs, microscopes).
Experience in analytical methods used in the processing of physical, chemical, or biological oceanographic samples including sea ice samples.
Experience with methods and equipment used to prepare structures for finfish or marine mammal age estimation.
Experience with laboratory techniques to determine energy content or proximate composition of aquatic organisms.
Experience in the development of sampling techniques or methods.
Experience with sample preservation, inventory, and archiving.
Experience manually counting marine mammals in photos taken during aerial surveys or in satellite images.
Experience using digital imaging software (e.g., Leica LAS, Image Pro, Adobe Photoshop).
Experience with programming languages such as Matlab, Python, R, SAS, SQL, C++, or other scientific programming software.
Experience developing, maintaining, or modifying relational databases (e.g., MS Access, SQL).
Experience using, managing, or maintaining large datasets.
Experience in processing or validation of oceanographic data or related meteorological or cryospheric data.
Experience in searching scientific or technical literature.
Experience writing procedural, data, or technical reports.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Dependability
Attention to detail
Solve problems
Effective interpersonal skills
Flexibility

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

Leadership

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Women, Aboriginal peoples, Persons with disabilities, Visible Minorities.

(vary with position)
Travel for extended periods of time (up to 12 weeks per year).
Modify work hours to fit the program schedule or requirements.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

(vary with position)
Valid Health Canada Medical.
Work overtime as required.
Work for extended periods of time (up to 6 weeks continuous per year) outdoors in remote Arctic locations (including ice camps) and travel in helicopters, small planes, snowmobiles, and boats.
Work for extended periods of time (up to 6 weeks continuous per year) aboard research vessels and platforms of different sizes, or in field camps.
Willing and able to work with firearms and obtain certification for a Possession and Acquisition Licence.
Valid Drivers Licence.

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

A variety of assessment tools may be used in the assessment of candidates, such as: written exercise, oral interview, and reference checks.

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.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

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

PLEASE NOTE: For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail and PSRS. Applicants who apply to this selection process must ensure their email address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has an Accommodation Policy and will accommodate up to the point of undue hardship for the duration of the selection process, and upon any offer of employment, for the performance of duties in the position.

An alternative format (such as Braille) of this notice is available upon request.

Successful candidate(s) must meet and maintain the Conditions of Employment throughout their employment.

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.