Research Scientist – Soil Science

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

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

Managers may choose to invoke the organizational need and appoint someone from an EE group

Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by work force adjustment.

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: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability, Visible Minorities, and Women.

Duties

We are seeking a research scientist with expertise and experience in soil science who will lead a research program with the broad goal of improving the soil health and fertility in Canadian boreal-northern farming systems. The incumbent will adopt a systems perspective, conducting studies at the interface of the biotic, with an emphasis on the soil microbiome, and abiotic components that influence soil health, quality, and crop productivity. The incumbent will consider the long-term benefits of proposed management practices. In collaboration with other research scientists at the St. John’s Research and Development Centre, they will pursue strategies that foster economic viability within the agricultural sector and reduce the impact of land management practices on environmental health.
The incumbent must contribute to a working environment that fosters collegiality, diversity, and teamwork. They will actively engage with commodity groups of the agricultural industry and participate in the transfer of scientific knowledge and technology to partners and clients. The research scientist will be part of a multidisciplinary team of science professionals at the St. John’s Research and Development Centre, which includes expertise in plant biotechnology, propagation and genetic enhancement, plant pathology, plant eco-physiology, agronomy/crop physiology, and entomology, and will be expected to collaborate with scientists at other AAFC research centres. Active collaboration with stakeholders in industry is a requirement of the position, while collaboration with universities, including affiliation and supervision of graduate students, is strongly encouraged.

Work environment

The successful candidate will be located at the St. John’s Research & Development Centre (St. John’s RDC) located in eastern Newfoundland, close to one of several areas of agricultural production within the province. There is also some agricultural production in Labrador. Offices of the Newfoundland and Labrador Forestry and Agrifoods Agency are in a separate building attached to the St. John’s RDC. The Centre is a short distance from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). MUN’s Grenfell Campus, with its Boreal Ecosystem Research Institute and five agriculture scientists, is located in Corner Brook, a 700 km drive from St. John’s on the west coast of the province. Dedicated office and laboratory space as well as access to greenhouse and field facilities will be provided in support of research activities.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified and partially 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:
• Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of soil science, crop science, biology, chemistry, or a related discipline/sub-specialty. Applications will be accepted from candidates enrolled in, but who have not yet completed their dissertation. Completion of the Ph.D. thesis defense must occur before the appointment date.

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

► Recognized achievement in the form of authorship and editorship of published or unpublished reports, books, papers, peer-reviewed scientific journals, or other communications resulting from:
a) Research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems; OR
b) Operational research and scientific analysis; OR
c) Planning, analysis and evaluation of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development; OR
d) Developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved varieties, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment.

Experience:
• Experience in designing, conducting, and interpreting soil health research specifically in relation to soil fertility/conservation, as well as soil chemical, physical and biological aspects.
• Experience in soil-plant interactions.
• Documented scientific productivity/recognition in soil-plant interactions or related disciplines. Examples include, but are not limited to, publications in recognized journals, book chapters, editorships, patents, crop varietal development, awards for scientific achievement, and recognition in the review of articles and scientific proposals.

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

Experience:
• Experience writing grant applications.
• Experience working with a multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience managing multi-year projects with associated human resource, budgetary and planning functions.
• Experience interacting with industry and other stakeholders to garner support and research direction.
• Experience in designing and implementing scientific research in soil science relevant to Canadian agriculture.
• Experience in conducting and interpreting experiments related to soil science in managed ecosystems or farming systems.
• Experience in conducting and interpreting experiments investigating soil microbiome.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
• Knowledge of Canadian boreal-northern environment and agricultural systems and practices.
• Knowledge of current scientific methods for measuring soil parameters in agricultural systems.
• Knowledge of soil health parameters, soil microbiome and statistical methods.

Competencies:
• Initiative
• Interactive Communication
• Teamwork
• Adaptability
• Written Communication

Abilities:
• Ability to present scientific information.

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

Competencies:
• Team Leadership

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

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

• Possession of a valid driver’s license.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• Ability and willingness to work in various environmental and weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without impinging on the duties to be performed.
• Ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field environments for extended periods at a time.
• Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.

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.

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.

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 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).

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.