Research Assistant, Sustainable Crop Protection and Sustainable Crop Production

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

BOTH POSITIONS:
• Participate in designing and implementing research projects.
• Plan and conduct field, laboratory, greenhouse, mesocosm, and/or controlled environmental
chamber
experiments.
• Maintain accurate records of research activities, experimental results, data archives, and perform
quality assurance/control.
• Collect plant, soil and environmental data (e.g., plant phenological stages, weeds, diseases, soil
moisture, and soil temperature, weather data).
• Setup and maintain electronic equipment, such as sensors, data loggers, GPS equipment and the
compiling of the data files involved.
• Perform chemical and microbiological lab procedures.
• Perform statistical analysis using standard software.
• Contribute to technical reports and presentations, and the preparation of scientific publications.
• Collect and prepare plant, soil, and air samples for lab analysis.

POSITION 1 (RESEARCH ASSISTANT, SUSTAINABLE CROP PROTECTION):
• Contribute to the development of alternative methods of pest control and managing pesticide resistance.
• Contribute to the understanding of pesticides risk mitigation and behavior in the environment.
• Contribute to the registration of new pest control products.
• Contribute to communicating and exchanging knowledge with growers.

POSITION 2 (RESEARCH ASSISTANT, SUSTAINABLE CROP PRODUCTION):
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge and technology in crop production.

Work environment

The successful candidate will be located at the St. John’s Research & Development Centre (St. John’s RDC) located in eastern Newfoundland, close to one of several areas of agricultural production on the island of Newfoundland as well as in in Labrador. The St. John’s RDC is a leader in the research, development and technology transfer of agricultural innovations that support sustainable and productive boreal-northern agriculture and food systems. Science teams at the centre focus on the development of sustainable, climate-smart production systems for vegetables, berries and forage crops.

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: 2

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 alternatives (see note 1):

Note 1: The employer-approved alternatives to a secondary school diploma are:

• A satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary
school diploma; or
• An acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
►Experience in scientific activities related to agricultural research, plant science, soil science, crop pest management, water quality, ecology, microbiology, or agronomy.
►Experience contributing to preparing technical reports or research protocols.
►Experience in organizing and processing information or data using different software.

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

ASSET-EDUCATION:
Degree from a recognized university with an acceptable specialization in one of the following fields: agriculture, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, plant biology, botany, soil biology, agronomy, or other relevant fields.

Degree equivalency

ASSET-EXPERIENCE:
►Experience growing various plants in the field, growth chamber or greenhouse.
►Experience using statistical software (e.g. R, SAS, SPSS).
►Experience working with microorganisms or chemicals in a lab (e.g. working in a biosafety cabinet, preparing solutions).
►Experience implementing laboratory or pesticide safety concepts and regulations in a field, laboratory or related setting.
►Experience working in integrated pest management.
►Experience operating scientific or technical equipment.

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

English essential
Official Language Proficiency : English Essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
►Knowledge of research methodologies, practices and principles.

COMPETENCIES:
►Teamwork
►Interactive communication
►Problem solving
►Planning and Organizing

ABILITIES:
►Ability to read, interpret and apply technical documents.
►Ability to make quantitative calculations in chemistry (e.g. to prepare solutions).

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

ASSET-ABILITIES:
►Ability to apply and adapt scientific techniques and methodologies.
►Ability to interpret and analyze results

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

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 CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours and overtime as required for the position.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license or personal mobility to the extent normally associated with the
possession of a valid driver’s license.
• Ability and willingness to work around and near large farm equipment
• Ability and willingness to work in remote field environments
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• With appropriate safety precautions in place, able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse and/or field
environments for extended periods at a time;
• Ability and willingness to work occasionally under challenging conditions (i.e. field, greenhouse or cold
storage facilities with exposure to heat, cold, dust, humidity) and under normal safety precautions.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work activities, including occasional moderate to heavy manual work
such as lifting objectives up to 25 kg.
• Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment or medication
and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials, including chemicals and pesticides.

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.