Director General, Science Reference and Surveillance at the National Microbiology Laboratory

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

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is a Government of Canada agency in the Health Portfolio, established by the Public Health Agency of Canada Act in 2004. It was established to assist the Minister of Health in exercising or performing the Minister's powers, duties, and functions in relation to public health, and the Chief Public Health Officer in performance of that position’s duties.

The National Microbiology Laboratory is looking for a seasoned leader for the role of Director General, Science Reference and Surveillance.

Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) Branch plays an integral part in the achievement of this important mandate. The NMLB is a recognized leader in laboratory-based infectious disease science, both nationally and internationally, with its Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health site in Winnipeg home to the country’s only containment level 4 microbiology laboratory.

The Director General, Science Reference and Surveillance (SRS) is responsible for providing executive, and scientific leadership and direction for the infectious disease surveillance and microbiology reference testing functions performed in Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratories to support public health with the scientific database essential to ensuring informed decision making and appropriate public health action. Specifically, the Director General, SRS leads highly specialized scientists, biologists and technicians involved in diagnostic and references services, applied/basic research and laboratory responses pertaining to bacterial, viral and prion diseases including enteric, sexually transmitted and blood borne pathogens.

The Director General, SRS is also responsible for leading the surveillance of public health threats, including the identification, tracking, and study of zoonotic and other rare or emerging pathogens; the development of emergency and public health interventions, and applied research to develop improved diagnostic tests and investigative research to develop a better understanding of disease/pathogenesis. A component of this work involves the development and application of advanced investigative methods and highly technical approaches (genomics, mass spectrometry and proteomics, bioinformatics); contributing to global initiatives; and providing scientific and technical expertise and support for provincial, national and international public health partners in public health actions.

If this opportunity speaks to your skills, knowledge and experience, we are interested in learning more about you.

Intent of the process

The immediate intent of this process is to indeterminately staff the position with the most qualified individual through an appointment, deployment, interchange, or other staffing mechanism.

Employees of the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada who are substantively at the EX-03 or EX-02 group and level may be given priority of consideration. Employees of these same departments who are currently acting at these levels are also invited to apply.

Employees who are substantively at the EX-03 group and level may be given first consideration and could be considered for deployment.

Organizational Needs:

Priority of consideration may be given to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities.

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar positions within the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "A covering letter in 4,000 words maximum: You must clearly demonstrate, in your covering letter, how you meet the essential education and experience qualifications as well as the asset qualifications listed below. You should use the experience, education and asset factors as a header and then write concrete examples (2 to 3 paragraphs) demonstrating how you meet each one. The résumé can be used to validate the experience, education and asset listed in the covering letter. Failure to provide sufficient information in the covering letter may result in the candidate being screened out."

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

Education:
Graduation with a degree from a recognized university with an acceptable specialization related to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Significant* experience in the development and implementation of policy, programs and regulations on complex health, public health or scientific matters.

Significant* experience in developing and maintaining partnerships and interacting, including building consensus, with other government departments, other levels of government, professional bodies, and stakeholders, central agencies.

Significant* experience in providing strategic advice, both orally and in writing, to senior officials (Assistant Deputy Minister and equivalents and above) and in representing an organization nationally and internationally.

Significant* experience in managing financial and human resources

*Significant is defined as the scope, depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of various, complex related activities which would have been acquired at an executive level.

Knowledge:
Knowledge of key national and international stakeholders and partners involved in public health and public health disease prevention

Key Leadership Competencies:
• Create Vision and Strategy
• Mobilize People
• Uphold Integrity and Respect
• Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
• Promote Innovation and Guide Change
• Achieve Results

https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/professional-development/key-leadership-competency-profile/examples-effective-ineffective-behaviours.html

Abilities:
Ability to communicate effective orally
Ability to communicative effectively in writing

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Education
Ph.D. or Master’s Degree from a recognized university with specialization related to the functions of the position

Degree equivalency

Experience
Experience leading the development and management of strategic public health and scientific frameworks on key horizontal policy issues.

Experience in conducting laboratory research and overseeing scientific teams

Experience in managing a multi-disciplined scientific, regulatory, medical or health related organization.

Experience in supporting the development and management of national surveillance systems

Knowledge
Knowledge of the role, mandate and priorities of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative CBC
Bilingual Non-Imperative CBC*
*Bilingual in both official languages (English/French) is essential, however this position can be staffed by an individual who agrees to become bilingual within a defined period of time.

Information on language requirements

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Agreement to be deployed to another position in the EX Group within the core public administration.

As per the 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 (temporary), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment, the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an 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

We are also 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 special accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Proof of citizenship will be requested if you are considered for the position.

While we appreciate all the candidates’ interest, only those being considered in the process will be contacted. Should
your application be retained, you will be contacted for further assessment. The qualifications you will be assessed
against will be communicated to you in advance.

A random and/or top down selection approach may be used in the process in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process;

• Asset qualifications may be invoked at any point in the process;
• Management may decide to establish a higher pass mark on any of the assessment tools;
• Recent and past performance evaluations may form part of the assessment.

The Cracking the Code video helps people who are looking for a new career with the Government of Canada to navigate the application process step by step.

Do you want to be better equipped to complete your application? Here is a video made for you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GW7P3g9hhI

Why join the Public Service?

By joining the Federal family, you become eligible for benefits for you and your family, including

• Pension plan
• Work-life balance
• Continuous-learning opportunities
• Various leaves including four week annual leave and 15 sick days
• Full family benefits, including dental and health care plans

When you work for the Public Health Agency of Canada you will have dental and health care for you and your family, an appealing pension plan and access to our family and Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Please also see the following link outlining the benefits of joining the Federal Public Service! https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/site/proudly-serving/top-10-reasons-join-public-service.html

The current annual salary range for the EX-03 group and level is from $140,900 – $165,700. You will also be eligible for performance pay based on end of year performance ratings.

In addition to the 11 paid statutory holidays each year, new employees in this category at the Public Health Agency of Canada are provided with 20 vacation days.

Several other types of leave are available like 15 days of paid sick leave per year, two personal days and maternity and parental leave with top-up allowance equal to 93% of salary for 52 weeks.

Relocation:

Please note that the position to be staffed from this process is located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Relocation Provisions may be offered, if required, to the successful candidate. For more information, please consult our Directive on Relocation Provisions: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/travel-relocation/executive-group-governor-in-council-appointees-relocation-provisions.html

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.