REPOSTED - Laboratory Supervisor

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Assessment accommodation

CLOSING DATE HAS BEEN EXTENDED

*Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) added as Work location*


Stream 1: Supervisor, organic chemistry laboratory

Stream 2: Supervisor, inorganic chemistry laboratory

Stream 3: Coordinator, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Program and Client Services

Duties

Streams 1 and 2:
• Reporting to the Laboratory Manager, the Chemistry Supervisor is responsible for overseeing an analytical service unit and scientific projects in support of the mandate of environmental science and technology laboratories. Tasks include, among others:
• Supervise the human, material and financial resources as well as the work of an analytical chemistry laboratory (organic or inorganic)
• Plan, prioritize and design analyzes and scientific projects according to clients' needs
• Evaluate, interpret and authorize analytical data and test results based on established procedures and guidelines; manage non-compliant results according to the procedures in place
• Keep comprehensive records of samples, observations, measurements, tests performed and procedures followed
• Provide information and scientific advice to the unit manager or project managers on subjects falling within his area of expertise
• Ensure that the work of his team is carried out according to best OHS practices
• Write, review and follow the standard operating procedures of his sector of activity

Stream 3:
• Reporting to the Laboratory Manager, the supervisor of the QA/QC sector is responsible for coordinating the activities relating to the accreditation of the laboratory according to the ISO 17025 standard and the assurance and quality control of the results produced by the laboratory. Tasks include, among others:
• Supervise the human, material and financial resources as well as the work of its sector of activity
• Plan, coordinate and execute activities related to the QA/QC program
• Ensure the certification of instruments such as balances, thermometers, certified weights, etc.
• Formulate advice and recommendations at various levels (manager and management)
• Establish and maintain partnerships with various work groups and clients

Intent of the process

The purpose of this selection process is to staff one (1) bilingual imperative (BBB/BBB) indeterminate (permanent) full-time position in Montreal, Quebec for Stream 1 (supervisor, organic laboratory). A pool of qualified candidates could be established and used to staff similar full-time or part-time positions with Environment and Climate Change Canada in Moncton (NB), Montreal (QC), Burlington (ON), Edmonton (AB), Saskatoon (SK) and North Vancouver (BC) where the tenure (determinate or indeterminate), security profiles and language requirements may vary depending on the position to be staffed.

Note: depending on the number of applicants, the needs of ECCC and the HR plans of the environmental science and technology laboratories, the use of assets for the purposes of managing job applications and applicants may therefore be used, consequently it is important for you to answer this section if it applies.

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)

►Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in natural, physical or applied sciences with a specialization related to the position.

Degree equivalency

All streams
►Recent* work experience in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory.
►Recent* work experience in planning and coordinating the activities of a team or a working group or a scientific project.
►Experience in drafting technical documents, research reports or scientific presentation.

*Note: recent work experience means a two (2) year experience gained in the last five years.

Streams 1 and 2:
►Experience in synthesizing and interpreting information and technical data.
►Experience in performing analytical chemistry analysis procedures (from sample preparation to instrumental analysis).
►Experience in preventive maintenance and instrumental troubleshooting of laboratory equipment.

Stream 3:
►Experience in managing and carrying out activities related to ISO 17025 quality assurance and control in a laboratory;
►Experience in developing and writing quality assurance and control policies and procedures;
►Experience in applying the requirements of ISO 17025 in an analytical laboratory.

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

►Graduate Degree (M.Sc. or Ph.D.) in chemistry or or other scientific area related to the position.

Degree equivalency

►Auditor's certificate from a recognized accreditation body (ISO/EIC 17025)

Streams 1 and 2:
►Experience with the use of computer languages (e.g.,Visual Basic, Visual Basic for Applications, R, Python or other languages related to the position) for processing and analysing data.
►Experience in the application of project management principles.

Stream 1:
►Significant experience* in liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer for the analysis of organic compounds.
►Significant experience* on a gas chromatography apparatus coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) (debugging, daily operation and data processing).
►Experience using a gas chromatography apparatus coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer (GC-HRMS) or a liquid chromatography apparatus coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer (LC-HRMS) of the type Time-of-flight (ToF), Orbitrap or magnetic sector (debugging, daily operation and data processing).

Stream 2:
►Significant experience* of using an ICP-MS and / or ICP-EOS device for the determination of metals
►Significant experience* in nutrient analysis
►Experience in the technique of ionic balance in inorganic analysis
►Experiment with the analysis of mercury analysis by atomic fluorescence (water and sediment)
►Experience in the operation of a clean room

Stream 3:
►Experience in acting as a laboratory auditor;

* Note: Significant experience means work experience of at least two (2) years.

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

Various language requirements
-English or French essential
-English essential
-French essential
-Bilingual Imperative (BBB/BBB), (CBC/CBC) or (CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

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

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

All streams:
►Knowledge of fundamental principles of analytical chemistry and of test techniques and methods

Streams 1 and 2:
►Knowledge of the requirements for maintaining, in a laboratory environment, a quality assurance and control system (QA/QC) according to ISO/IEC 17025.

Stream 3:
►Knowledge of ISO 17025 and its application in an analysis laboratory
►Knowledge of fundamental principles in ecotoxicology and test techniques and methods

All streams:
►Ability to communicate efficiently in oral and written form.
►Ability to supervise employees
►Ability to manage multiple priorities with tight deadlines, with minimal supervision.

All streams:
►Leadership
►Interpersonal skills
►Sound judgement
►Attention to details

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

Stream 1:
►Knowledge of the main extraction techniques for solids in organic chemistry, for example: Soxhlet, Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), Microwave, Solid Phase Extraction (SPE), QuEChERS, Polytron, Sonicator, etc.
►Knowledge of the main water extraction techniques in organic chemistry.
►Knowledge of mass spectrometry related to organic chemistry.
►Knowledge of gas chromatography.

Stream 2:
►Knowledge of metal analysis using ICP-MS

All streams:
►Ability to analyze information and provide strategic advice

Stream 3
►Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams

Conditions of employment

All streams:
Obtaining a reliability status (security).

Streams 1 and 2:
►Requirement to have a valid driver's license.
►Requirement to do occasionally field work.
►Requirement to work outside, in variable and/or unfavorable weather conditions.
►Requirement to work long hours under a chemical hood, sometimes with odors of organic solvents and constant noise.
►Requirement to work long hours while standing.
►Known allergies should be controlled by using an acceptable device (eg dust mask) or taking medication; they must not interfere with the performance of the work.
►Requirement to work occasionally with a chemical respiratory mask.

All streams:
►Requirement to do overtime and work during the weekends.
►Requirement to work long hours and use computers in an office, lab or field.
►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

*** ONLY ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ***

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter. Instead, they are required to answer questions and provide information through the electronic application.

As such, when submitting your application to this selection process, you will be required to answer screening questions to demonstrate how you meet the Essential Qualifications (education and all essential experiences) as well as any Asset Qualifications (if applicable).

When answering the screening questions, it is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past responsibilities. Rather, you must provide concrete examples of tasks you have accomplished with significant details to explain the WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW you acquired each qualification.

Candidates must also submit a resume with their application. The resume will be used to validate the information provided in the applicant’s answers to the screening questions. It could also be used by the hiring managers for their articulation of their decision.

Should your responses to the screening questions contain insufficient details to demonstrate that you meet the screening criteria, your application will not be given further consideration in this process. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

IMPORTANT: Cover letters are NOT required and WILL NOT be considered

Asset qualifications may be used in the screening process. Therefore candidates must clearly demonstrate in their application which of the asset criteria for education and experience they possess.

Depending on the number of applicants, the needs and/or Human Resources plans, volume management strategies such as random selection, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, may be used for the purpose of managing applications.

Several methods of assessment may be used to assess potential candidates (written exam, interview, reference check, etc.). Please note that any information provided through this selection process may be considered in the assessment of any of the essential or other qualifications, including the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

Persons are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice.

Candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript (original documents only). 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/.

Our intention is to communicate with the candidates by email. Candidates who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

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.

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.