Physical Science Policy/Planning Officer

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

The Physical Science Policy/Planning Officer supports the generation, management, and exchange of knowledge both within and beyond Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s nationwide network of living labs to help accelerate the adoption of beneficial management practices and technologies by Canadian farmers. They will strive for innovation in knowledge and technology transfer activities to facilitate the active and effective collaboration of diverse participants and to ensure that relevant scientific and practical knowledge reaches the widest possible audience (especially farmers).

Work environment

A living lab is an integrated approach to agricultural innovation that brings together farmers, scientists and other partners to develop, test and evaluate new practices and technologies in a real-life context. This will result in more efficient technologies and more sustainable agricultural practices adopted more quickly by Canadian farmers.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has established a nationwide network of living labs to develop innovative solutions that will help the sector:
• Tackle climate change by storing more carbon and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions);
• Reduce water contamination;
• Improve soil and water conservation;
• Maximize habitat capacity and biodiversity on agricultural landscapes.

Farmers will work directly with researchers and other partners to conduct experiments on their land. This will allow them to develop and implement beneficial management practices and give them faster access to technologies.

This new integrated approach is an opportunity for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada employees and their colleagues in other departments, in collaboration with external partners, to develop joint solutions to agri-environmental problems.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s nationwide network of living labs has been established through two programs:
1. The Living Laboratories Initiative (2018–2023) (https://agriculture.canada.ca/living-lab).
2. Agricultural Climate Solutions – Living Labs (2021–2031) (https://agriculture.canada.ca/agricultural-climate-solutions).

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We have several networks dedicated to ensuring that the department continues to grow as an inclusive, accessible, respectful and diverse workplace. All employees are encouraged and welcomed to join the networks and participate in their activities and events.

• The Gender and Sexual Diversity Inclusiveness Network
• The Indigenous Network Circle
• The Managers' Community
• The Persons with Disabilities Network
• The Student Panel of Representatives for Orientation, Unity and Training
• The Visible Minorities Network
• The Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network
• The Young Professional's Network

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to proceed with an indeterminate hiring for one of the locations indicated for this process. Other tenures could be used such as specified-period employment, acting, deployment, assignment or secondment.

A pool of qualified candidates may be created and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures (indeterminate, specified-period employment, acting, deployment, assignment or secondment) at AAFC.

Positions to be filled: 1

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 degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with acceptable specialization in agriculture, biology, environmental science, or another field related to the position.

Note:
Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for a specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required 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:
Significant* experience developing a variety of knowledge or communication products, tools, or processes (e.g., events, social media, factsheets, websites, newsletters, videos, blog posts, press releases).
Significant* experience collaborating with diverse organizations or multidisciplinary groups.
Significant* experience planning or implementing projects in a key or leading role.

*Significant experience is defined as having performed a broad range of related activities as a key and ongoing component of duties, typically over a period of approximately two consecutive years.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge of the principles or best practices of knowledge transfer and communications.
Knowledge of the information, knowledge transfer, and communications methods currently used to engage with Canadian farmers.

Competencies:
Initiative
Teamwork
Adaptability
Judgement

Abilities:
Ability to collaborate with and lead multidisciplinary groups.
Ability to identify key messages or examples from a large volume of information and communicate their importance in plain language.
Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in the social sciences.
Master’s degree or doctorate from a recognized post-secondary institution, with an acceptable specialization in a field relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Knowledge of the social or human dimensions that influence the adoption of innovations.
Knowledge of the principles of open innovation, living labs, or multistakeholder or participatory research.

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.

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 travel.
Willingness to work overtime when required, often on short notice.

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.