Research Assistant - Weed Management Support Tools

Update: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to May 6, 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

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

Working closely with the Research Scientist, the incumbent will provide technical support for a research project where the objective is to develop decision support tools for effective herbicide use as part of integrated weed management. Under the supervision of the Scientist, the incumbent will be responsible for creating a database, coding the tools, communication with other project participants, and creation of the tools utilizing R in collaboration with scientists at other AAFC centres, universities, and industry partners. Responsibilities of the incumbent include, but are not limited to, database creation and management, communication with project partners, coding and interfacing of 2 decision support tools, beta testing the tools, and collaborating on reports and publications associated with the project.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time temporary position (end date of March 31, 2023).

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

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)

Diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in Agronomy, Agriculture, Biological Science, Computing Science, Statistics or in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

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

Experience with running the statistical software R and coding within that framework for data analysis and interpretation.
Experience extracting, transforming and loading data.
Experience compiling and organizing large agricultural data sets.

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

Experience reading herbicide and pesticide labels, Guides to Crop Protection, and/or other sources of herbicide control information.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of crop production in western Canada.
Knowledge of pesticide use and safe handling of pesticides.
Knowledge of programming language (e.g., C, Python, Visual Basic, etc.).

Concern for Safety
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork

Ability to make observations, collect and record data accurately.
Ability to create and manage a database.

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

Knowledge of data storage platforms (e.g., Microsoft Access, SQL Server, etc.).
Knowledge of weed management practices and Integrated Weed Management Recommendations.
Knowledge of the SHINY package in R.
Knowledge of statistical analysis programs (e.g., SAS, R, Matlab, etc.).

Ability to write computer programming code, including testing and documentation.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by Work Force Adjustment.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Ability and willingness to work remotely.

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 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.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

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.