Greenhouse and Growth Cabinets Worker

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

Under the direction of the Supervisor of the Greenhouse, the Greenhouse and Growth Chambers worker coordinates, implements and maintains agricultural operations in greenhouses or growth chambers of the Ottawa Research and Development Centre, located at the Central Experimental Farm. The Worker cares for plants and operates equipment in a greenhouse or growth chamber and provides routine maintenance as needed. The Worker is part of a dynamic and diversified team that supports innovative agricultural research programs focusing on a broad range of topics, such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), crop breeding and genomics, plant physiology, or plant pathology. Duties include:
. Plant care (seeding, watering, fertilizing, staking and tying, monitoring diseases and pests, IPM, harvesting, etc.)
. Monitoring and adjusting environmental parameters
. Application of biological and chemical pesticides
. Cleaning and disinfecting growth cabinets and greenhouses
. Preparing growing mediums and potting
. General housekeeping
. Performing preventive and minor repairs on equipment
. Use of horticulture equipment
. Assisting in research experiments
. Other duties

Work environment

The Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre (ECORC) is located on the historical Central Experimental Farm which was established in Ottawa in 1886 by an act of Parliament. The Centre leads Eastern Canada (Manitoba to Prince Edward Island) in crop development, targeting corn, soy, spring wheat, winter wheat, oats and barley.
ECORC also has a national mandate for assessing and utilizing biodiversity and environmental resources for Canadian agriculture.
The Centre’s main research focus lies in three areas:
. Crop genetic enhancement and genomics
. Biodiversity of vascular plant, fungi and bacteria, and invertebrates
. Integrated assessment of long-term environmental effect of agricultural practices

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 permanent 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.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

EDUCATION
Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

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
- Experience in the coordination, operation and maintenance of agricultural operations in greenhouses or growth chambers and associated equipment.
- Experience in plant care, including pest or disease management and plant maintenance.
- Experience using Microsoft software applications such as Outlook, Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of modern horticultural equipment, practices and plant maintenance in controlled environments.
- Knowledge of Integrated Pest Management including application of pesticides for greenhouse insect and disease control.

COMPETENCIES
- Concern for Safety
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Initiative
- Interactive communication

ABILITIES
- Ability to record information/data for the purposes of record keeping - accurately and legibly.
- Ability to perform dosage and dilution calculations for preparing fertilizer and pesticide solutions.

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

EDUCATION
-Diploma or certificate in nursery and/or greenhouse production management, plant science or horticulture from a recognized agricultural education program.

Degree equivalency

CERTIFICATION:
- Ontario Grower Pesticide Safety Certificate.

EXPERIENCE
- Experience working in an agricultural research environment.
- Experience in the operation of environmental control systems.
- Experience detecting signs and symptoms of crop stress, pests and/or diseases.

KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of main greenhouse crop insect pests and diseases, their symptoms, life cycles, control measures and phytosanitary procedures in controlled environments.

COMPETENCIES
-Planning and Organizing
-Problem Solving
-Client Focus

ABILITY:
- Ability to identify major grain crop species.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
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, Women.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

- Valid driver’s license.
- Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (greenhouses, outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).
- Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends and statutory holidays.
- Ability and willingness to work independently during scheduled weekends and statutory holidays.
- Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.
- Possession and/or ability and willingness to obtain the Ontario Pesticide Grower’s Safety Certification.
- Ability and willingness to do occasional heavy lifting up to 25 kg.
- 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.

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.jobs.gc.ca.

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 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.