General Labourer

Update: UPDATE: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to May 11, 2022 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

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

Under the supervision of lab and/or field supervisor you will:
• operate, calibrate, and maintain farm equipment with standard transmission including tractors, seeders and combines and the implements that are required including cultivators, fertilizer spreaders, 3PT hitch mowers, trimmers and harrows
• prepare experimental materials such as seed and plant samples for laboratory analysis, and assist with sample processing activities;
• participate in controlled environmental studies and field-plot experiments to assess agronomic, physiological traits;
• participate in plot maintenance program;
• record information on plant and seed attributes, maintenance, repairs, and supplies.

Work environment

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) helps farmers and industry feed our country. We work to increase Canada’s exports, while providing leadership in the growth and development of a competitive, innovative and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

The Swift Current Research and Development Centre was established in 1920 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, in the semi-arid prairie region. The region where the Centre is situated encompasses 20 per cent of the arable land in Canada (the Brown soil zone). In addition, Swift Current Research and Development Centre research extends across the Dark Brown and Thin Black soil zones via the associated research site at Indian Head.

Canada is known worldwide for producing high performance and quality wheat, which researchers located at Swift Current have played, and continue to play a key role developing. Long-term-rotation field experimental plots have been in place at Swift Current for more than 40 years and at Indian Head for more than 50 years.

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.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, the person may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION
A secondary school diploma or employer approved alternative.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
Experience performing manual labour.

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

EDUCATION
Diploma or Degree in Agriculture or other related discipline relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
Experience working in an agricultural research setting.
Experience calibrating and operating agriculture/farm equipment.
Experience working in a greenhouse.
Experience handling agricultural chemical products, such as pesticides.
Experience working with specialized equipment, such plot combines and small-scale sprayers.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of Western Canadian field crops, and crop production.

COMPETENCIES
Concern for safety
Problem solving
Teamwork
Adaptability

ABILITIES
Ability to operate agriculture/farm equipment.
Ability to follow instructions.
Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.

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

Commercial driver’s license.
Pesticide Applicator License.

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

Ability and willingness to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicator License

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Valid Canadian driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to work under variable weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 22kg).
Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).
Ability and willingness to handling agricultural chemical products.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willing to work in a laboratory, greenhouse and field environments.
The Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police requires you to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and that you attest to your vaccination status prior to the date of your appointment unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act. You can find more specific information on the collection and use of your personal information when you submit your attestation.  

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.