Biologist in insect identification

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

The hiring organization will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. To submit an application on-line, please select the button “Apply Online” below. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

Duties

As a Biologist in insect identification, you will be responsible for identifying insects from several forestry related research projects. You will contribute to the interpretation of insect identification data and provide advice to researchers on the most appropriate methods of insect collection, conservation and identification. You will also plan and coordinate the work needed to maintain and update the collections and databases of the René-Martineau Insectarium, including the development of a component on the genomics of species by collaborating with researchers using molecular approaches (ex: BarCoding).

This extremely diverse position will make it possible to innovate on a daily basis and will require maintaining close and constant links with the various stakeholders of the Laurentian Forestry Center, including researchers, technicians and professionals responsible for data collection, the health and safety environmental officer, as well as with your counterparts responsible for insect collections in other CFS centers or institutions.

Work environment

The office is located in Quebec City, a few steps away from the campus of Laval University. Quebec City is located on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1608, it is one of the oldest cities in North America. Its fortified colonial center makes it a UNESCO World Heritage City.

The biologist will work with the Canadian Forest Service (CFS). The CFS is the national and international voice of Canada's forest sector. The organization is part of Natural Resources Canada. The CFS provides scientific and policy expertise and advice on national forest sector issues. It works closely with Canada’s provinces and territories to ensure sustainable and healthy forests for the benefit of our country and the world.

Specifically, the position is located in one of six research centers across the country, the Laurentian Forestry Centre. The center is oriented towards research activities and the transmission of knowledge on the forest ecosystem, its components and their interactions.

The incumbent will work with a team of highly qualified professionals, researchers, technicians and biologists whose scientific research and leadership promote sustainable forest management and forest conservation in Canada and internationally.

Intent of the process

A pool of (fully or partially qualified) candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions at the BI-02 group and level within Natural Resources Canada with various tenures (determinate period or permanent), various language requirements (English Essential, French Essential, English or French Essential, or Bilingual), linguistic requirements (imperative and/or non-imperative) and profile(s) (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, etc.), various security requirements (Reliability status or Secret clearance), various conditions of employment and for various locations.

The successful candidate is a dynamic, motivated, responsible, versatile and detail-oriented individual with a true passion for entomology and other sciences, which is reflected by his or her work experience and achievements. Someone who wants to invest in his or her career and is eager to learn.

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:
• Graduation with a degree (bachelor’s) from a recognized post-secondary institution in natural sciences with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position, such as bilology or forestry.

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

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
• Significant experience* of species identification on large orders of terrestrial insects
• Experience working with a collection of insects
• Experience working in the processing and manipulation of biological data

*Significant refers to 2 years of experience. Experience obtained during a masters or doctorate degree in a discipline relevant to the position may be recognized as experience.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge in taxonomy and ecology of insects:
• Insect classification
• Insect morphology
• Insect ecology
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office package (Word and Excel)

ABILITIES AND SKILLS:
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Ability to communicate effectively orally
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Work meticulously with small insects
• Organize work effectively to meet the needs of multiple researchers

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

An individual may be selected even if he or she does not meet all or part of the criteria of the asset qualifications. However, one or several of the asset qualifications could determine the choice of the individual selected.

EXPERIENCE:
• Experience in species identification of Coleoptera in North America
• Experience of species identification of Lepidoptera in North America
• Experience in species identification of insect parasitoids (Hymenoptera and Diptera) in North America
• Experience in a research scientific team
• Experience in forestry
• Experience in insect trapping (light traps, pheromone traps, pitfall traps...) and capture analysis.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

• Valid driver’s license
• Adequate vaccination against Covid-19

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.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidates.

You must provide proof of your education credentials. 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/.

References must have an in-depth and direct knowledge of your work, and must be able to answer specific questions pertaining to your achievements and strengths. References must have worked with you for at least six (6) months within the last five (5) years.

An interview may be conducted.

A written examination may be administered.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the other qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

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.

Candidates must meet the conditions of employment and continue to meet these same conditions during their employment.

Random selection and/or top-down selection may be used at any time during the process to identify which applicants will be further assessed.

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.