Field Agronomy Laborer

Update: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to May 28, 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

Under the supervision of lab and/or field supervisor you will:

- Operate, calibrate, and maintain farm equipment with standard transmission including tractors, seeders and combines and the implements that are required including cultivators, fertilizer spreaders, 3PT hitch mowers, trimmers and harrows.
- Prepare experimental materials such as seed, plant and soil samples for laboratory analysis and assist with sample processing activities and maintain records.
- Participate in controlled environmental studies and field-plot experiments to assess agronomic, physiological traits of various grain crops; participate in plot maintenance program.
- Record information on plant and seed attributes, maintenance, repairs, supplies.

Work environment

The Swift Current Research and Development Centre was established in 1920 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in the semi-arid prairie region, which encompasses 20 per cent of the arable land in Canada (the Brown soil zone). Research done at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre extends across the Dark Brown and Thin Black soil zones via the associated research site at Indian Head, Saskatchewan.

The Centre was founded originally to support the expanding settlements in the semi-arid region through research in areas such as severe drought, erosion, frost, pests, and crop disease related problems. Today, the centre is noted for world-class wheat and durum breeding, advancing research in forages and cattle nutrition, and improving agricultural sustainability through cropping practices and disease control. Today, as in the past, the Swift Current Research and Development Centre works closely with producers from across the prairies to provide research results to support the needs of farmers.

Intent of the process

Immediate Need: 1 full time Indeterminate position.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

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
- A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternative.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
- Experience in the operation of research equipment.
- Experience in operation of plot scale equipment (e.g. harvesters, seeders, sprayers, combines, etc.).
- Experience working with field crops or weeds.
- Experience in processing (cleaning) seed and/or (collecting) soil samples.
- Experience processing seed samples (such as weighing, sorting, drying, NIR-protein, test and kernel weights).
- Experience handling agricultural chemical products.

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

EDUCATION
- Graduation with a diploma or degree in agriculture, agronomy or science-related field.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
- Experience calibrating and operating agricultural/farm equipment.
- Experience working in an agricultural research setting.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of cereal, oilseed or pulse crops.
- Knowledge of crop production.
- Knowledge of agricultural products such as fertilizers and pesticides.

COMPETENCIES
- Concern for safety
- Initiative
- Teamwork

ABILITIES
- Ability to collect and process crop and soil samples.
- Ability to operate and assist in calibration of agricultural/farm equipment.
- Ability to operate basic laboratory equipment.

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

Class 1 driver’s license.

ABILITIES:
- Ability to follow instructions.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicators license issued by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

Conditions of employment

- Reliability and Security: Reliability Status
- Valid driver’s license.
- Ability and willingness to work overtime.
- Ability and willingness to work under variable weather conditions.
- Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work activities including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 30kg).
- Ability and willingness to work extended periods outdoors under harsh environmental conditions (outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).
- Under normal safety precautions, able and willing to work with hazardous materials.
- Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
- Ability and willing to work in laboratory and field environments.

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

ASSESSEMENT 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.

Reference checks may be sought.

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

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.

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.

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.jobs.gc.ca.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

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).

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

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.