Director, Research, Development and Technology Transfer

Update: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to October 21, 2021 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

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

In an effort to improve Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s (AAFC) representation in the executive ranks to reflect Canada’s diversity, consideration may be first given to applicants from Employment Equity designated groups (i.e. Aboriginal (Indigenous) Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, Women). We strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an employment equity designated group(s). All interested parties are encouraged to apply, including other equity seeking groups, as all potential candidates will be considered.

Duties

Provide scientific leadership to the Department’s value-chain approach linking scientific research, technological innovation and commercialization; manages research, development and technology transfer (RDT) programs in the Research Centres in the region; guides the design, development and implementation of regional and national RDT projects to respond to AAFC’s major research themes and to the needs of the agricultural sector in the region; contributes to the national identification and rationale for RDT priorities; provides analysis and advice to senior management on issues relevant to the region with respect to knowledge or technology discovery, development and commercialization; coordinates activities with other AAFC research teams, and domestic and international, private and public sector partners; and represents the Department on issues relevant to the development and introduction of new agricultural technologies.

Work environment

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. AAFC strives to foster a culture of inclusion in which the diversity of people and ideas are supported by a work environment that is welcoming, respectful and a positive workplace where all employees feel valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives.

Intent of the process

This process will initially be used to staff one (1) position on an indeterminate basis in Ottawa, Ontario.

A pool of qualified candidates may be created and used to staff similar positions in other Research, Development and Technology Transfer (RDTT) centres located in Quebec and Ontario (i.e. Sherbrooke, Guelph, St-Hyacinthe, Harrow, London, Quebec, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu).

A pool of qualified candidates may be created to staff similar positions within the Public Service

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:
Degree from a recognized university with specialty in a scientific or technical area related to agriculture and agri-food.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• Significant* experience in leading an interdisciplinary research team, practical experience in conducting scientific research OR significant* experience in leading and managing science-based activities.
• Significant* managerial experience in developing and evaluating proposals, work plans and resource allocations.
• Experience in working with senior officials, both within and outside government, to develop and maintain strategic collaborations and partnerships.
• Significant experience in managing financial** and human resources***.

*Significant experience is understood to mean the depth and breadth of the experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of complex activities related to this task, which are normally acquired over a period of at least three (3) years.
**Experience managing financial resources is defined as: Applicants must show evidence of managing a budget of $500,000 or more. This experience is defined as being responsible for sound financial planning, forecasting and reporting. Applicants must also indicate the size of the budget they managed directly or indirectly. This experience should be current and is normally acquired over a period of a minimum of three (3) years. Clear and specific examples should be provided by applicants in their application and demonstrate evidence of accountabilities, deliverables and level of complexity.
***Experience managing human resources is defined as: clearly demonstrating that they have supervised staff, assigned work, managed, and assessed performance and developed or contributed to the development of staffing plans. Applicants must indicate the number of staff they supervised. This experience is normally acquired over a period of a minimum of three (3) years.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
M.SC or Ph.D. from a recognized university with a specialty related to agriculture and agri-food.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• Practical or managerial experience in an agriculture or agri-food related field.
• Experience working in the science-policy interface (e.g. working with policy managers to develop a new science program, leading or significantly contributing to Memoranda to Cabinet and/or Treasury Board submissions, developing documents to position science as an instrument of policy).
• Significant* experience in managing in a unionized environment.
• Experience in formulating and providing information, advice and recommendations to senior management (Director General or equivalent, and above) on science and technology programs, issues, and the state of scientific knowledge related to research, development and technology transfer.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)
Please note that these positions require the use of English and French. If you do not have a valid linguistic profile provided by the Public Service Commission, you will be evaluated in order to ascertain your level of proficiency of your 2nd official language.

In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of language skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

The self-assessment test is found at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/second-language-testing-public-service/self-assessment-tests.html

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of the goals, objectives and priorities of AAFC in order to foster a climate of innovation and contribute to the long-term profitability and growth of the sector.
• Knowledge of national and international trends, challenges and emerging issues in agriculture, agri-food and agri-product science.
• Knowledge of the Canadian and international innovation systems, science providers, collaborators, collaboration mechanisms and funding sources relevant to agriculture.

Competencies:
• Uphold Integrity and Respect
• Create Vision and Strategy
• Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
• Mobilize People
• Promote Innovation and Guide Change
• Achieve Results

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Ability and willingness to travel.

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

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application online at www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) unless accommodation is required. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the email referenced below under “Contact Information”.

Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process. Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies MAY BE USED for the purpose of managing applications.

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.

For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail. This includes: information requests, invitations, provision of assessment results, etc. APPLICANTS MUST INCLUDE IN THEIR APPLICATION A VALID E-MAIL ADDRESS THAT IS FUNCTIONAL AT ALL TIMES AND ACCEPTS MESSAGES FROM UNKNOWN USERS. SOME E-MAIL SYSTEMS BLOCK THESE TYPES OF E-MAILS. ENSURE TO CHECK/VIEW YOUR SPAM FOLDER REGULARLY. Applicants MUST check their e-mail accounts frequently as there may be a deadline for responses. Responses provided after the indicated deadline WILL NOT be accepted.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Applicants are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice (English or French).

If pertinent, please identify clearly your substantive group and level, your employment status, preferred official language and your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) on your resume or application form.

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.