Scientific Support Assistant

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

The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled workforce that is representative of Canada's diversity, which includes the recruitment of Canadian Veterans and releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/public-service-jobs/canadian-armed-forces-members-veterans.html

We encourage applicants to identify any abilities, competencies, and/or experiences acquired through employment with the Canadian Armed Forces where applicable.

Duties

Provides technical assistance in support of an active greenhouse, field, and laboratory program, involved in research and application of phytoremediation and afforestation activities. Under guidance, assists in sowing, growing, storage, and planting of forest seedlings; assists in preparing equipment, material and work sites, in a greenhouse, nursery, or field setting, for analytical, experimental or investigative studies; conducts basic tests and measures under guidance. Requires attention to detail, knowledge of basic scientific principles, and some experience with measurement and recording data using scientific devices and computer software.

Work environment

Our team, part of Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service, is actively involved in a research and field-application program aimed at phytoremediation of severely disturbed lands on a military base in New Brunswick. The Department of National Defense, 5 Canadian Division Support Base (CDSB)-Gagetown Environmental Services Branch is now targeting difficult-to-regenerate areas for land reclamation. In the mid-1990s, approximately 7000 hectares of forest were cleared as part of an initiative to open areas for training; however, the vegetation and topsoil accumulated during the clearing process was piled into long line berms making the area unsuitable for mounted manoeuvres. While vegetation has since regrown on the berms, the areas between the berms have remained sparsely vegetated, treeless barrens, making them highly susceptible to erosion. The resulting significant sedimentation in surrounding river systems following rain events is negatively affecting fish habitat and water quality. In short, large tracts of previously forested lands amounting to approximately 7000 ha have been converted to barren land, now able to produce little to none of the ecological goods and services provided by normally functioning ecosystems.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to fill one position on a temporary basis.

A pool of (fully or partially) qualified candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions at Natural Resources Canada with various tenures (determinate period or indeterminate), language requirements (English Essential, French Essential, English or French Essential and Bilingual) and profile(s) (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, etc.)), 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)

Graduation with a technical diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in natural science or an acceptable combination of education, training or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience
Experience preparing and organizing work sites for biological assessment.
Experience in collecting, preparing and maintaining biological samples.
Experience collecting and recording data in a digital format.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
Knowledge of basic principles of tree biology.
Knowledge of basic programming, calibration and maintenance of equipment.
Knowledge of field and laboratory safety requirements and procedures to reduce their risk.

Abilities
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
Ability to follow and help modify established operating procedures
Ability to recognize issues, solve practical problems and make recommendations

Personal Suitability
Initiative
Adaptability
Conscientiousness

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

Asset Experience
Experience with land reclamation is an asset.
Experience in a seed lab is an asset.

Organizational Needs
Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

Operational Requirements
Field activities will involve riding and walking over rough ground, with biting bugs, on a military base, in inclement weather and with potential exposure to fire and smoke and occasionally lifting equipment up to 30 kg

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Driver’s License
Health Canada Medical

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

All job applications must be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the name given below.

Acknowledgment of receipts of applications will not be sent; we will only contact successful applicants when the screening process has been completed.

Applicants are required to meet the Essential Qualifications. Asset Qualifications MAY be applied at any point in the assessment process. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to answer Asset Qualifications questions in your online application. Applicants do not need to meet any/all of the Asset Qualifications for consideration, however, possessing any/all of the Asset Qualifications may increase the likelihood of being considered for an appointment.

Random selection and/or top-down selection may be used at any time during the process to identify which applicants will be further assessed.

Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of education (copy of degree/diploma) and citizenship or permanent resident status. If you have obtained education outside Canada, you will be required to submit proof of evaluation of Canadian equivalency.

If you are selected for further consideration, please advise the person who will contact you of any accommodations you may require during the selection process.

Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

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.