Technologist in Pilot Plants – Food Sciences

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

The successful candidate will work as a technologist in the pilot plants of the Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre. He/she/they will be responsible for carrying out food processing projects, involving the implementation and scaling of processing procedures, and the participation in research, development and technology transfer projects, through technical support offered to industrial clients under the Industrial Program (https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-programs-and-services/agriculture-and-agri-food-canada-saint-hyacinthe-research-and-development-centres-industrial-program), or to research teams from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, among others. The candidate may also be involved in organizational or social committees contributing to the Centre’s operations or organizational culture.

Work environment

The successful candidate will work at the Saint-Hyacinthe Research and Development Centre located in the Montérégie region of Quebec. The candidate will perform the majority of their duties in the Centre’s 1,320 m2 (14,235 sq.ft.) pilot plant, which is equipped with over 350 food processing machines and devices. He/she/they will join a multidisciplinary and dynamic team of five people.

Intent of the process

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.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

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
Postsecondary education with acceptable specialization in natural science, physical science or applied science, or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
• Recent** and significant*** experience in designing experiments, project planning and management, and developing tools, laboratory/plant protocols and methods in one of the following areas: Food Science, Food Processing and/or Food Processing Engineering.
• Experience in coaching, providing technical support services and training staff or clients on equipment use and work allocation.
• Experience in operating, maintaining and calibrating food processing equipment.
• Experience using word processing software, such as Word, database software, such as Excel, and Internet search tools.

** Recent means experience that was a core part of the candidate’s employment for the past five years.

*** Significant experience is understood to mean the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities which are normally acquired over a period of two years.

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

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science from a recognized university in one of the following fields:
• Food science and technology
• Food engineering
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Biology

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
• Recent** and significant*** experience in a food processing plant (industrial or pilot plant).
• Significant*** experience in the technical realization of research and/or development projects in plant-based processing.
• Significant*** experience in the formulation and manufacturing of plant-based products, such as cereal-, legume-, or oilseed-based products, including vegan products.
• Experience in extrusion of vegetable flour products.
• Experience in vegetable flour fractionation.
• Recent experience** in the use of innovative processes (pulsed electric fields, microwaves, Ohmic heating, etc.) applied to food.
• Experience in data collection and analysis and interpretation of results.
• Experience in writing reports, technical bulletins, equipment protocols, work instructions and/or contributing to the drafting of scientific communications

** Recent means experience that was a core part of the candidate’s employment for the past five years.
*** Significant experience is understood to mean the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities which are normally acquired over a period of two years.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
• Knowledge of food processing, manufacturing processes and technologies, and pilot plant operations.
• Knowledge of basic food or food ingredient characterization techniques.
• Knowledge of food quality and safety.
• Knowledge of laboratory and plant safety procedures and guidelines.

COMPETENCIES
Adaptability
Interactive communication
Teamwork

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

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

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.

• Valid driver’s licence.
• Ability and willingness to work overtime as required.
• Ability and willingness to travel on occasion.
• Ability and willingness to work with strong acids and bases.
• Ability and willingness to work in variable environmental conditions (Cold rooms – 4°C, humid, hot and noisy environments).
• Ability and willingness to handle heavy loads (boxes approximately 20-25 kg) and to move heavy equipment on castors/wheels.
• In case of allergies, know how to control them using personal protective equipment or medication so they do not interfere with the work to be carried out.
• Ability and willingness to work in laboratories, pilot plants and facilities of private-sector or academic stakeholders.

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.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

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).


On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. The details can be found on this site: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2021/10/backgrounder-covid-19-vaccine-requirement-for-the-federal-workforce.html

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. The Policy can be found on this site: https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32694

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.