Research Technician (Ruminant Nutrition)

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

As part of a program, the incumbent will provide assistance on research projects focused on Ruminant Nutrition.
Responsibilities include:
- Provide technical leadership and support for projects.
- Contribute to the experimental design and planning of experiments and projects, and undertake their conduct under barn and/or field conditions.
- Co-ordinate research activities with external collaborators.
- Manage ruminant nutrition laboratory and the feed and greenhouse gas quantification laboratory (e.g., GreenFeed, SmartFeed Pro, SF6 halters and permeation tubes, N2O chambers etc.).
- Contributes to the development of laboratory standard operating procedures for research activities.
- Contributes to the SCRDC Animal Care Protocols and Animal Use Data Form in order to maintain Canadian Council on Animal Care “Good Animal Practice Requirement”.
- Draft reports and contributes to the preparation of research reports and presentations.
- Collect data as per protocols and complete sample analyses as required.
- Maintains equipment and quality control data to ensure accurate results.
- Input data and provides initial statistical analyses as per developed model procedures.
- Provides guidance and supervision, and assign duties to other team members including summer students and graduate students.
 

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 percent 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

The immediate need is for one indeterminate position.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar permanent and temporary employment for the location indicated for this process as well as other locations including Lethbridge and Lacombe Research Centers.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting or assignment/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)

EDUCATION
- Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in Ruminant Nutrition, Animal Science, Grazing Management, Range Ecology, Biology, microbiology or related program; or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

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
- Experience working with cattle.
- Experience collecting and performing analysis on feed and digesta samples.
- Experience working on in-vitro systems (batch culture, rumen simulation technique) to measure feed digestibility.
- Experience in creating and preparing technical or scientific writings including reports, technical bulletins, posters and research manuscripts.

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

EDUCATION
- Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a Master’s or PhD with specialization in Ruminant Nutrition, Animal Science, Grazing Management, Range Ecology, Biology, microbiology or related program.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
- Experience applying mathematical models in animal production systems.
- Experience providing technical support in a field and laboratory environment.
- Experience conducting research studies to measure gas emissions.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of ruminant digestive process and metabolism.
- Knowledge of field and laboratory methodologies related to ruminant nutrition research.

COMPETENCIES
- Adaptability
- Concern for Safety
- Problem solving
- Interactive communication
- Planning and Organizing

ABILITY
- Ability to use scientific methodologies associated with large animal research.
- Ability to collect and analyze data and interpret research results.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally.

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

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of environmental footprint of livestock production.
- Knowledge of pasture management of native and tame forage species.

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 and Security: Reliability Status.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license.
- Ability and willingness to work overtime, including evenings and weekends.
- Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
- Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory, greenhouse, farm and field environments.
- Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
- Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.

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.