Research Assistant - Nutrient Cycling

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

As senior technician for a laboratory specializing in soil phosphorus biogeochemistry, duties will include: leading and coordinating field sample collection and laboratory analyses, assigning work and training others, maintaining laboratory equipment, ensuring laboratory safety, using and adapting laboratory methods as needed, ordering supplies, and organizing and managing data.

Work environment

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives.

Intent of the process

If you don’t immediately receive a job offer at AAFC, qualified candidates will also be placed in a talent pool to be used for staffing similar permanent or temporary positions in the future. The skill specialization(s), work location, language profile, and security clearance requirements will vary according to the position being staffed.

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
Successful completion of a secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or
diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to
contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
Experience managing a research or laboratory environment, including allocating resources, allocating work, and assigning staff.
Experience designing experiments and performing analysis.
Experience collecting soil, plant or water samples from field plots.
Experience managing large multi-year data sets.

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

EXPERIENCE
Experience coordinating resources and personnel in collaborative research projects.
Experience adapting and developing scientific methods, such as for different instruments or different sample types.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of laboratory methodologies for soil and/or water chemistry.

COMPETENCIES
Adaptability
Concern for Safety
Planning and Organizing
Teamwork
Problem Solving

ABILITY
Ability to use scientific instruments.
Ability to make observations, collect and record data, and interpret and analyze results.
Ability to assist in the preparation of technical documents.

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

EDUCATION
Post- secondary degree from a recognized institution in one of the following fields: Chemistry; Environmental Science; Soil Science; Microbiology; Natural Resources; Biology;or a related program.

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or
diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to
contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

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 and Security: Reliability status

Valid Driver’s license.

Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work overtime.

Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and/or field environments for extended periods at a time; able and willing to work outdoors under various weather conditions and under normal safety precautions able and willing to work with hazardous materials.

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

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.