Molecular Biology 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

We want you to succeed! Our objective is to identify qualified candidates by fairly assessing their abilities. Assessment accommodations are intended to remove obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that all candidates can showcase their capabilities.

Please help us meet our commitment of providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment by letting us know if you require assessment accommodations, including assistance with the application process. Additional information on the assessment format(s) (for example: exam, interview) will be provided at each assessment stage.

As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) 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. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace.

We welcome all candidates, including Indigenous Peoples, Black, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ2+ community to apply and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Indigenous (Aboriginal*) Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Women or Visible Minorities - Black people and other racialized groups).

*The term “Aboriginal” is used within this job advertisement as it relates to the Employment Equity Act and other legislative frameworks. The term “Indigenous” is used where possible, in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Duties

As part of an experienced team, the successful candidate will assist with research related to plant breeding, germplasm development, and host-pathogen interactions in horticultural crops. Duties include conducting molecular studies on plants and microbes with an emphasis on DNA sequencing, gene expression, genetic mapping, gene cloning, and metagenomics. The successful candidate will contribute to generating new knowledge by collecting experimental data, conducting data analysis, assisting in the preparation of reports and presentations, and supporting technology transfer activities. Other duties will include training, lab maintenance, and coordinating activities with staff/collaborators.

Work environment

At Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) we grow a lot more than you may think. As you might expect, AAFC helps Canadian farmers and the Agri-food industry feed our country. An array of professionals contribute to help and support the competiveness of our Canadian exports, while developing an innovative, safe and environmentally sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry. Do you want to grow along with us? This role is more than a job, it’s the beginning of a career path filled with meaningful work experiences and learning opportunities. You will be integrated into a team of experienced science professionals, where you will contribute by assisting in research projects. At AAFC we are proud to have been awarded the “Best Diversity Employers” in Canada for several consecutive years and we continue be a leader in this area. We have five active Diversity Networks that coordinate many initiatives, programs, events and learning activities to promote a welcoming, diverse, respectful and inclusive environment for all employees. Noteworthy examples are the Indigenous Network Circle and the Persons with Disabilities Network.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, 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)

EDUCATION:
Graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in biology, biochemistry, botany, microbiology or molecular biology OR an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
►Experience in planning and conducting laboratory or field experiments.
►Experience in making scientific observations, collecting data, and recording data accurately.
►Experience in performing molecular or biochemical analyses on DNA, RNA and proteins (such as:
DNA and RNA purification and analysis, gel electrophoresis, PCR, reverse transcription-PCR, real-time PCR, protein purification and characterization, Western blot).
►Experience maintaining plants in growth cabinets or greenhouses, or tissue culture.

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

ASSET-EDUCATION:
Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with a Master of Science degree in Genetics, Plant Physiology, Plant Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or some other science discipline relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

ASSET-EXPERIENCE:
►Experience in molecular marker genotyping and analysis.
►Experience using advanced plant tissue culture techniques.
►Experience using microscopy for cytogenetics.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
►Knowledge of data analysis using basic statistics.
►Knowledge of laboratory safe work practices.
►Knowledge in one or more areas including basic plant biology, or genetics, or microbiology or plant pathology.
►Knowledge of laboratory or field practices related to research in biological and agricultural sciences of crop plants.

COMPETENCIES:
►Interactive communication
►Planning and Organization
►Problem Solving
►Teamwork
►Initiative

ABILITY:
►Ability to prepare chemical solutions and perform mathematical calculations.

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

ASSET-KNOWLEDGE:
►Knowledge of plant breeding.
►Knowledge of plant pathology, including disease screening for bacterial and viral pathogens.
►Knowledge of soil microbiology and metagenomics.
►Knowledge of plant physiology.
►Knowledge of plant genomics, including whole genome sequencing.

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

• Security: Reliability Status

OTHER CONDITIONS:
• Valid driver’s licence
• 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 in a manner that does not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work activities, including moderate to heavy manual
work such as lifting objectives up to 20 kg.
• Under normal safety precautions, ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.
• With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse
and field environments for extended periods at a time.
• 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.