Wildlife Research Technician (wildlife field, wildlife health)

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

Stream 1 - Wildlife Research Technician (wildlife field)
Stream 2 - Wildlife Research Technician (wildlife health)

The information provided must enable the Selection Board Members to understand HOW (clear explanation of duties), WHEN and for HOW LONG (date and length of time in months or years), and WHERE (employer and geographic location) the experience was acquired. You will be asked to provide this information during the application process.

Your resume may be used to confirm the information provided. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or missing information. A lack of information may result in your application not being considered any further.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

ONLY APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED ON-LINE USING THE 'APPLY ON-LINE' BUTTON ABOVE WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Duties

The wildlife research technician will help to conduct research as part of the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Science and Technology Branch. The roles of the wildlife research technician may include coordinating and conducting field and/or laboratory work, managing and analyzing data, and assisting in the preparation of scientific reports and publications.

Work environment

Environment and Climate Change Canada is a science-based department, and we provide the science and technology information needed so that Canadians can make informed decisions about the environment. In addition, Environment and Climate Change Canada's science and technology work helps us to protect and conserve our air, water, wildlife and spaces. The wildlife research technician will be conducting work as part of the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate, the primary science provider of information on wildlife and their habitats to Environment and Climate Change Canada. Research conducted by the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate supports a broad range of government priorities, collaborating with partners in government, Provinces and Territories, academia, and the private sector to achieve mutual goals and shared priorities.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff one position in Saskatoon and one position in Ottawa.
A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures (acting, term, indeterminate, deployment, assignment, secondment), language requirements and profiles across the country.

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 field of the natural sciences directly related to the duties.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
CRITERIA FOR ALL POSITIONS:
• Experience in planning, organizing or conducting field or laboratory research studies on wildlife
• Experience in managing and analyzing wildlife and environmental/ecosystem research data
• Experience in preparing scientific reports or publications, including those written for general audiences

Criteria for wildlife field stream (stream 1):
• Experience capturing, handling, banding and taking biological samples from wildlife, including birds
• Experience in supervising field research personnel

Criteria for wildlife health stream (stream 2):
• Experience in the collection of wildlife or environmental samples in the field or in the laboratory
• Experience in supporting the execution of studies on the effects of environmental change on wildlife and ecosystem health
• Experience in the laboratory analysis of wildlife and environmental samples for the generation of information on wildlife and ecosystem health and safe laboratory practices

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

Asset Qualifications:

CRITERIA FOR ALL STREAMS:
• Experience in using R or other relevant statistical software
• Experience in the preparation of scientific manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Experience in maintaining inventories and databases of biological or environmental samples and associated information
• Knowledge of field techniques involving humane capture, handling, and sampling of wildlife

Specific to wildlife field stream (stream 1):
• Graduation with an acceptable master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural sciences directly related to the duties
• Experience with wildlife telemetry techniques and data analysis
• Experience using Geographic Information Systems data in field settings and to identify, analyze and manage geospatial data
• Experience operating small vessels
• Experience in working with members of Indigenous communities

Specific to wildlife health stream (stream 2):
• Experience in the determination of wildlife health endpoints using various laboratory analysis methods including data analytics
• Experience in the application of quality assurance and quality control procedures in analytical techniques in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
• Experience in the handling of delicate specimens for the eventual analysis of wildlife health endpoints and with laboratory techniques relevant to wildlife health, disease, and/or toxicology
• Experience in the design, implementation and troubleshooting of laboratory and field wildlife health studies
• Experience in the maintenance or troubleshooting of laboratory instrumentation necessary to carry-out the duties

Degree equivalency

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

Various language requirements
Wildlife Field positions - English essential
Wildlife Health positions – English Essential

This selection process may be used to staff similar positions with linguistic profiles such as Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC or CCC/CCC as well as English Essential or French Essential.

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge for wildlife field stream (stream 1):
• Knowledge of the principles of wildlife conservation and management
• Knowledge of the ecology and conservation of terrestrial and marine biota of Canada
• Knowledge of field techniques used to study bird populations, including study design

Knowledge for wildlife health stream (stream 2):
• Knowledge of the principles of wildlife conservation and management and environmental science
• Knowledge of approaches related to study design and the statistical analysis of data related to wildlife and ecosystem health
• Knowledge of laboratory and field-based health and safety practices and procedures and laboratory quality assurance
• Knowledge of the design, implementation and conduct of laboratory or field-based wildlife and ecosystem health studies

Abilities/skills:
CRITERIA FOR ALL STREAMS:
• Ability to set and manage priorities and workload to attain results
• Ability to communicate effectively orally
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Ability to work well independently

Personal Suitability:
CRITERIA FOR ALL STREAMS:
• Initiative
• Judgment
• Effective interpersonal skills and relationships

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

Organizational Needs:
Environment and Climate Change Canada is committed to having a skilled and diversified workforce representative of the population we serve. In support of our Engagement Strategy to achieve employment equity goals, 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 and Women.

Operational Requirements:
• Willingness to capture and handle wildlife
• Willingness to undertake program travel by various modes of transportation (car, airplane, helicopter, boat, all-terrain vehicle)
• Willingness to conduct and supervise fieldwork in adverse environmental conditions and remote areas
• Willingness to work irregular hours and on weekends
• Maintenance of laboratory or field equipment

Conditions of employment

• Security Clearance: Reliability Status
Those selected must meet and maintain the above condition of employment throughout their employment.
• Pre-employment medical
• Valid driver’s license

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

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

On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation.

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).

A written examination, an interview and/or a reference check may be part of the candidates' assessment.

Please identify clearly for which position(s) you are submitting an application.

Candidates will be required to submit a copy of his/her education documentation. 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/.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice.

A pass mark will be established for each qualification. However, achieving the pass mark is not guarantee of an appointment or that candidates will advance to the next stages of the assessment process. A cut-off score (in other words, establishing a higher threshold than the pass mark and selecting only the candidates who meet this threshold) and a top-down approach (in other words, establishing a maximum number of candidates who can proceed to the next assessment stage) may be used at any step if there is a sufficient number of candidates to meet immediate and anticipated staffing needs.

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

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

If you are already working for the Public Service, please clearly identify your substantive group and level, your employment status, and PRI on your resume / application.

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.