Field Technician, Oilseed Breeding

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

The incumbent will be part of a team of technical staff carrying out the various field operations of the AAFC-SRDC oilseeds breeding programs (on plot land at the Lowe Road and Llewellyn Road locations). In collaboration with the research scientists and other technicians, the incumbent will plan, allocate and coordinate resources required for conducting field-based plant breeding research.

Main responsibilities:
- Carrying out summer field operations, including monitoring crops for pests and coordinating and/or performing spray applications, plot maintenance (rototilling, weeding), data recording and note taking on replicated yield trials.
- Coordinating and performing pre-harvest preparations, such as envelope/label printing and crop desiccation.
- Supervising a large number of students, including training, conducting performance appraisals, setting priorities and managing work schedules.
- Training students in the operation of tractors and other field equipment used by the oilseeds group.
- Cleaning of harvesting equipment.
- Organizing and maintaining areas used by the oilseeds group.
- Encouraging and maintaining a safe work environment in line with the regulatory framework.

Secondary responsibilities:
- Assisting with seeding, harvesting and seed cleaning.
- Assisting with note-taking in nurseries, when needed.
- Assisting with off-site field trial work.
- Contributing to various trans-program plot research needs, for example the coordination of plot irrigation when required.

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time temporary position from June 1, 2022 until October 31, 2022 with the possibility of extension.

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)

A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives. The employer-approved alternatives to a secondary school diploma are a satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test 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

Significant* experience implementing agricultural field experiments as they relate to plant science.
Experience with scientific data collection, organization and analysis.
Significant* experience operating small plot research equipment, including tractors, plot seeders, plot combines and tillage implements.
Experience supervising students.

* Significant is defined as at least 2 field seasons.

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

Graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in agriculture, agronomy, biology, plant sciences or ecology or similar field.

Degree equivalency

Experience planning and conducting field experiments under rain-fed and irrigated conditions.
Experience conducting agronomic evaluation of plant breeding trials in crops grown in western Canada.
Experience with Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.) applications and systems.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of current farming technologies and agricultural machinery relevant to cropping in Western Canada.
Knowledge of experimental design and management of crop science field experiments.
Knowledge of land management and crop production methods in a research setting.

Adaptability
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Planning and Organizing
Problem Solving
Concern for Safety

Ability to organize and manage data sets in Microsoft Excel.

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

Knowledge of sustainable cropping systems, crop selection, and implications for environmental protection and profitability.
Knowledge of resource allocation (human, physical, consumable) to meet program requirements.

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 (greater than Class 5).
Ability and willingness to travel.
Ability and willingness to work flexible hours.
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 impinging on the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work under various environmental and weather conditions.
Ability and willingness to work in a field environment for extended periods at a time.
Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work activities including moderate to heavy manual labor requiring bending and lifting objects (up to 25 kg).

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.