ANTICIPATORY: Section Head, Aquatic Science Biologist

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

**Please note that this poster replaces selection process 21-DFO-GLF-IA-314860.

**** If you have already applied on selection process 21-DFO-GLF-EA-315762 there is no need to apply again. The following knowledge qualifications have been transferred from an essential to an asset criteria:

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of analytical and statistical techniques and their application to one of the following: fishery or wildlife population stock dynamics, marine mammals, aquaculture, oceanography, or ecosystem assessments.

Knowledge of diagnostic test methods for infectious agents and supporting ISO 17025 quality management considerations.


Self-declaring. Because you count. Preference will be given to members of the following EE groups: Visible Minorities, Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities.

Duties

The Biologist classification in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) encompasses a diverse range of duties and skills, contributing to the full range of DFO’s core areas of research. The responsibilities associated with a Section Head, Aquatic Science Biologist position include: to manage science teams comprised of research scientists, biologists and technicians; manage financial resources and budgets; collaborate and present scientific information to various stakeholders including commercial and recreational industry representatives, Indigenous groups, Provinces, academia and other partners; and lead science programs to provide advice and to
support decisions by the various management sectors that affect Canadians and the aquatic resources of Canada.

The intent of this process is to identify candidates for positions in either the Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Division or in the Aquatic Health Division.

Fisheries and Ecosystem Science Division:
In general terms, a Section Head, Aquatic Science Biologist in this Division is expected to lead the delivery of science programs primarily related to fish stock assessments of
various marine and freshwater species, freshwater habitats, and/or marine mammals, as well as the provision of scientific advice on various topics related to fisheries,
anthropic activities, and ecosystem considerations.

Aquatic Health Division:
In general terms, a Section Head, Aquatic Science Biologist in this Division could be responsible for the management and direction of diagnostic services in support of the
National Aquatic Animal Health Program, as well as research and monitoring related to: aquatic animal health; sustainable shellfish (bivalves) aquaculture and fisheries; aquatic
invasive species; ecosystems stressors (including State of the Oceans reporting); and marine conservation.

Intent of the process

A pool of candidates will be established and may be used to staff permanent or temporary vacancies within the Science Branch. This process may be used to staff similar positions of various tenures within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Gulf Region.

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)

EDUCATION
Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Note:
1. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized postsecondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

(Note: Experience gained as part of an university study program will not be accepted as work experience)

- Recent* and significant** work experience in leading scientific and research activities in at least one of the following areas:
o Stock assessment of aquatic species
o Population dynamics research
o Biodiversity science
o Aquatic ecology
o Aquaculture science
o Aquatic animal health
o Ecosystem monitoring and science

- Recent* experience in managing financial and human resources.
- Significant** experience leading teams and supervising direct reports.
- Work experience in managing scientific projects; from planning to conducting research and publishing results in order to meet objectives.
- Work experience in client service delivery or collaboration with various partners such as
private sector, nongovernmental, academic, provincial or federal organizations or representatives.

*Recent is defined as experience acquired within approximately the last five (5) years.

** Significant is understood to mean the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having preformed a broad range of complex related activities for a period of approximately two (2) years.

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

The following education et experience qualifications could be deemed essential depending on the position.

EDUCATION
Post-graduate degree from a recognized university in aquatic or biological sciences or natural resources with a specialization in a field relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
- Work experience in aquatic research.
- Work experience in providing science advice for decision making purposes.
- Work experience working with stakeholder groups such as commercial or recreational
fishing industry, aquaculture industry, Indigenous organizations, provinces, academia or other stakeholder groups.
- Work experience in preparing and writing technical documents, scientific articles or
reports including publications in primary (peer-reviewed) journals or other refereed
publications.
- Work experience in reviewing research project proposals.
- Work experience working in a laboratory with an accredited quality management system.
- Work experience in planning, coordinating or delivering research or diagnostics activities
in animal health or human health.
- Work experience working in a microbiology or molecular laboratory.
- Work experience with commercially important finfish diseases (e.g. aetiology,
epizootiology) and methods to detect, circumvent or control these diseases.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES
Values and Ethics: serving with integrity and respect.
Strategic thinking ‐ Innovating through Analysis and Ideas.
Engagement: Mobilizing people, organizations, partners.
Management excellence ‐ Delivering through action management, people
management, financial management.

ABILITIES
Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to plan and manage complex science programs or projects to establish priorities
and deliver outcomes.
Ability to analyze complex scientific information and provide advice for decision making
purposes relevant to the Government of Canada’s mandate.

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

KNOWLEDGE (Asset)
- Knowledge of analytical and statistical techniques and their application to one of the following: fishery or wildlife population stock dynamics, marine mammals, aquaculture, oceanography, or ecosystem assessments.

- Knowledge of diagnostic test methods for infectious agents and supporting ISO 17025 - quality management considerations.

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

Information on employment equity

Operational requirements
Willingness and able to travel for extended periods of time (for some positions).
Willingness and able to work flexible hours and overtime on short notice.
Willingness and able to work in harsh environments on vessels at sea or in remote field
settings (for some positions).
Valid motor vehicle driver's license or mobility to the extent of the possession of a valid
driver's license (for some positions).

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment
Secret or reliability security clearance (depending on the position)
Valid motor vehicle driver's license or mobility to the extent of the possession of a valid
driver's license (for some positions).
Medical fitness in accordance with certification by Health Canada (for some positions).

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

PLEASE APPLY ONLINE: Please submit your application online. We request that you DO NOT email, fax or mail in hard copy documents. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line, are asked to contact(902) 426-4698 or toll free at 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.

Reference checks may be sought.
An interview may be administered.
A written examination may be administered.
A practical test may be administered.
A situational exercise may be administered.

Please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) is included in your application.

Candidates invited to an interview will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/

Candidates must meet all of the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position. A candidate may be appointed to a position even though he/she does not meet any or all of the asset qualifications or operational requirements. However, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

Depending on the requirements of the position(s) being staffed from this process, for current or future vacancies, any or all of the asset qualifications, operational requirements, and organizational needs may be applied at the time of staffing. Candidates may be contacted and assessed against these criteria at any time during this process.

Please note that the information provided may be considered in the assessment of any of the essential or asset qualifications, including the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Please note that candidates can be eliminated by the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) based on PSRS screening questions. Candidates may request to informally discuss their elimination at any point during the process. To do so, please contact the department at the coordinate(s) indicated on this poster.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email and contact information are
maintained with the hiring board AND in your Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) account. As all of the communication for this process will be conducted via the email address provided in your application AND via your PSRS account, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check for messages regularly and to ensure that your email address accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email or filter them to a junk mail folder). Failure to respond to key messages may result in your being eliminated from this process.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, 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.