Agronomy Technician

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).

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

Duties

• Field season preparations including minor repairs and services to equipment.
• Establishing and maintaining field research experiments designed to develop best management practices for growers.
• Calibrating and operating seeders, sprayer, tractors and other equipment for seeding, plot maintenance, data collection and harvesting.
• Assessing, sampling, managing and collecting data related to crops, weeds, insects and diseases.
• Processing harvested samples for kernel weights, test weights, dockage, etc.
• Entering data into a computer.
• Ordering and picking up supplies.

Work environment

Agronomic research at the Lacombe Research Centre is primarily conducted on the large arable land area located at the centre. Research is also conducted in growth chambers and laboratories.

The agronomy/weeds group is located in a building designed to conduct cropping systems research, and consists of four highly efficient and motivated technical staff who practice and place a high priority on teamwork, productivity and workplace safety. The technicians interact on a regular basis with AAFC and variety of cooperators from other programs housed in the building including plant pathology, forages and crop breeding; and with other AAFC technical staff, universities and provincial and private research organizations across Canada.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time temporary position (1 year).

A pool of qualified and/or partially qualified candidates may be established and used to staff similar positions on a temporary or permanent basis.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, 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)

B.Sc. or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in plant sciences or related area of specialization.

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 with agricultural field plot experiments.
Experience preparing, calibrating and applying pesticides in field crops.
Experience assessing, sampling and managing crops commonly occurring in field plot situations.
Experience operating farm and plot equipment.

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

Possession of a valid pesticide applicator’s certificate.

Experience growing and managing crop plants and weeds in a growth chamber.
Experience with common computer programs (i.e. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel).
ATV and/or UTV operation experience or certification.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of crops and common cropping practices.
Knowledge of weeds common to central Alberta.
Knowledge of pesticide use and safe handling procedures.

Concern for Safety
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Teamwork

Ability to use scientific instruments and tools.
Ability to make observations, and collect and record data accurately.

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

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication without affecting the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work with pesticides.
Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to lift heavy objects up to 25 kg.
Ability and willingness to work in both a field and laboratory environment.

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

ASSESSMENT 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.

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).

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.