Research Technician –Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Research

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

The successful candidate will work within the Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Research program and report to a Research Scientist at the Summerland Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The main tasks will include planning and conducting sensory evaluation and consumer research tests, food chemistry analysis and instrumental-textural determinations, contributing to the experiment and survey designs, developing research protocols, assisting in the coordination of scientific activities with other research programs, and assisting in the preparation of manuscript/report drafts and presentation materials. The incumbent will provide support to track and streamline equipment procurement, and train students and visitor researchers working in the Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Research Laboratory.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full time indeterminate position.

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)

Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of sensory science, food science, consumer science, or other relevant disciplines 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 planning and executing research activities in a laboratory environment and maintaining detailed records of experiments.
Experience with the application of sensory science research methodologies for the assessment of food and beverage products.
Experience with computerized systems for data acquisition of sensory/consumer/food quality research data, and preparing the data for analysis.
Experience conducting literature searches, and contributing to the preparation of scientific manuscripts, project reports and/or conference posters.

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

Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of sensory science, consumer science, food science, food chemistry or other relevant disciplines.

Degree equivalency

Experience with the compositional analyses of foods using instrumentation such as: a gas chromatograph (GC), GC mass spectrometer (GCMS), GCMS olfactometer (GCMS-O) or high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC).
Experience with textural analyses of foods using instrumentation.
Experience with univariate and multivariate statistics and related software (i.e. SPSS, JMP, etc.) for the analysis and interpretation of sensory and consumer data of food and beverage products.
Experience with Ethics Board requirements for research with human subjects.
Experience training students in a laboratory environment.
Experience developing consumer research questionnaires.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Interactive communication
Adaptability
Teamwork
Planning and organizing

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

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

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid driver's licence.
Ability and willingness to travel.
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 willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.
With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse and/or field environments for extended periods at a time;
Ability and willingness to work occasionally under challenging conditions (i.e. field, greenhouse or cold storage facilities with exposure to heat, cold, dust, humidity) and under normal safety precautions.
Ability to perform physically demanding work activities, including occasional moderate to heavy manual work such as lifting objectives up to 25 kg.

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 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.