Knowledge Transfer Specialist

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 Knowledge and Technology Transfer Officer supports the generation, management, and exchange of knowledge both within and beyond Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to help accelerate the adoption of beneficial management practices and technologies by Canadian farmers.

You will strive for innovation in knowledge and technology transfer activities to facilitate the active and effective collaboration of diverse participants and to ensure that relevant scientific and practical knowledge reaches the widest possible audience. This means that you will need to develop effective knowledge mobilization plans and leverage internal and external support in order to maximize your efforts and reach.

Work environment

Research at AAFC covers many disciplines: agro-ecology, agronomy, biodiversity, crop physiology, entomology, hydrology, molecular biology, rangeland and forage management, soil and fertility management, etc. While you will not be expected to be an expert in any of these fields, you will be working directly with several research and development teams.

In addition, AAFC has embarked on two new initiatives: Agriculture Climate Solutions and Living Labs. These initiatives take an integrated approach to agricultural innovation that brings together farmers, scientists, other government departments and external partners to develop, test and evaluate new practices and technologies in a real-life context at the farm and landscape levels.
Because issues are co-identified and solutions are co-developed, farmers will have confidence in these science-based beneficial management practices and technologies, resulting in an accelerated pathway from science to adoption.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to fill two (2) full-time permanent positions at the following locations: one (1) position in Brandon (Manitoba) and one (1) position in either Lacombe (Alberta) or Lethbridge (Alberta).

If you do not immediately receive a job offer at AAFC, qualified candidates will also be placed in a talent pool to be used for staffing similar permanent or temporary positions in the future for the locations indicated for this process as well as for other AAFC locations across Canada.

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: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with acceptable specialization in physics, geology, chemistry or some other science relevant to the position (e.g., agriculture, biology, environmental science).

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

Experience in translating and transferring knowledge through outreach activities.
Experience in producing research-based knowledge transfer products for targeted agriculture audiences.
Experience working with digital technologies and with various social media platforms.
Experience in planning, conducting and executing knowledge transfer projects.

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

Post-Graduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in a field relevant to the position.

Training in digital media, knowledge mobilization, plain language or communications.

Degree equivalency

Experience in planning and delivering knowledge transfer projects/activities in collaboration with researchers.
Experience writing project proposals.
Experience reporting on projects.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of agricultural production systems and practices in the Canadian Prairies.
Knowledge of the effective methods to engage with agriculture sector audiences.

Planning and Organizing
Writing Skills
Creative and Innovative Thinking

Ability to prepare and deliver presentations.
Ability to collaborate with, create and lead multidisciplinary groups.
Ability to use conventional as well as digital tools and platforms for knowledge sharing with targeted agriculture audiences.

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

Knowledge of the principles of open innovation, co-development, living labs, or multistakeholder/participatory research.
Knowledge of AAFC’s mandate, priorities and science and innovation objectives.

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 license.
With appropriate safety precautions in place, ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions for extended periods at a time; ability and willingness to work outdoors under various weather conditions and under normal safety precautions ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.
Ability to perform physically demanding work activities, including moderate to heavy manual work such as lifting objects up to 25 kg.
Known allergies must be controlled using personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work overtime hours including evenings and weekends.

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.