Senior Biologist, Senior Scientific Evaluator, Manager

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

Duties

Priority areas for staffing as a result of this process:

Chief, Wastewater Section, BI-05
Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory seeks an individual to lead the National Wastewater Surveillance program. The successful individual will lead the Wastewater Section in the One Health Division and work within a collaborative network across multiple sectors (i.e. public health, academia, wastewater engineers and operators, and health authorities) to strengthen and expand Canada’s wastewater surveillance system. We seek an individual with strong leadership and communication skills along with an innovative mindset to advance the use of this technology as a public health tool.

Head, Genomics Core, BI-04
At the heart of Canada’s scientific response to outbreaks, pathogen surveillance and challenging patient diagnoses, the Genomics Core is a critical core service technical facility that provides advanced molecular biology, liquid handling, and data generation to requesting labs in the NML or on behalf of provincial/hospital clients. Logistics coordination and supervision of this high throughput facility falls to the Biologist, Head/Supervisor. We are looking for an adaptable leader who loves teamwork, is process-oriented, and has interest in molecular biology, microbiology and Genomics. Computational biology is also a highly desirable asset. Work in our lab is high-paced, efficient and quality-oriented, but also involves various applied public health research endeavours.

Section Chief, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core, BI-05.
The Science Technology Cores and Services Division (STCS) is seeking a Section Chief for the Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Section (MSPC). The MSPC Section is responsible for the development and deployment of methods contributing to mass spectrometry and proteomics programs supporting outbreak detection, surveillance, and management of infectious diseases in Canadian Public Health. It also provides strong support to understanding the roles of host-associated molecules in the disease process. The Section also is developing methods to facilitate PHAC’s wastewater program for the detection and monitoring of molecules important in public health, including infectious agents, and drug and other metabolites. The successful candidate will have a strong track record in the development of method, implementation of programs to screen and monitor important biomolecules, as well as a history of managing a large mass spectrometry infrastructure, including the management of staff.

Program Manager (Innovation), BI-05
Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory seeks an individual to lead the Integral Genomics Innovation Program. The Innovation Program Manager is responsible for building a collaborative environment for innovation across Canada’s provincial public health laboratories and partners (PPHL) to enhance genomics capability. The successful candidate will be an adaptable and creative individual able to communicate across scientific, technical and administrative boundaries and bring a culture of shared learning and insight to innovation project teams supported by NML.

Work environment

The Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) provides scientific expertise and laboratory capacity for infectious disease monitoring, detection, investigation and outbreak response to support national and international public health action. Our laboratories lead the development and application of cutting edge tools to support innovation in infectious disease diagnostics, lab-based surveillance and applied and basic research on a range of pathogens with public health significance. We are seeking highly motivated individuals to provide scientific and operational leadership across a variety of disciplines including microbiology, cell biology, pathology, immunology, vaccinology, molecular biology, microscopy, structural biology, genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, and computational biology (depending on the position).

Roles may involve collaboration, coordination, and leadership across public health partners across the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network and associated stakeholders.

NML strives to be the employer of choice for Canadian and international scientific and non-scientific staff. Our employees contribute leadership, ingenuity, expertise and innovation to safeguard the health of Canadians and the global community.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to create a pool of fully qualified candidates as well as a pool of partially qualified candidates at the BI-04 and BI-05 group and level across the Public Health Agency of Canada.

In addition to the priority areas for staffing listed above, a pool of qualified candidates will be created to staff other positions as required, (which may include Senior laboratory biologist, scientific project coordinators, or scientific evaluators)

Candidates in the fully qualified pool will be available immediately for term and/or indeterminate appointments. Candidates who have been fully assessed and found to have met all essential qualifications except official language requirements/profiles may update their second- language evaluation (SLE) results for as long as the pool is valid.

Candidates in the partially qualified pool will be informed as to which areas require further development.

We plan to have this poster reopen on a regular basis in order to refresh the candidate pools. The frequency however will be dependent on organizational needs. This will provide new and screened out applicants the opportunity to apply. It will also provide candidates that have previously been placed in the partially qualified pool an opportunity to be reassessed on the competencies where they had gaps so that they can become part of the fully qualified pool.

If you are an employee of the public service of Canada and are qualified through this process, you may be considered for acting, assignment, secondment or deployment opportunities and the proper approval will be sought.

Positions to be filled: 10

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

The minimum standard is:

- Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in a biological science; or

For multidisciplinary positions classified as BI, the minimum standard is:

- Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a natural, physical or applied science with specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Note:
The courses for the 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.

Degree equivalency

Essential Experience:
• Significant* experience writing documents or reports with technical, regulatory, or scientific content.
• Significant* experience in leading, planning, and conducting scientific or regulatory evaluation.
• Experience in providing recommendations to management on the development, delivery, or implementation of programs.
• Experience in coordinating, leading, and supervising multidisciplinary teams, projects or activities.
• Experience in communicating with a diverse group of stakeholders.


BI-05 only:
Significant* experience in coordinating, leading, and supervising multidisciplinary teams, projects or activities.

*Significant is defined as performing complex activities for at least 2 years (consecutive) related to this task in a wide variety of situations.

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

Asset Education:

Graduation with a MSc or PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position(s).

Degree equivalency

Asset or Essential Experience:
• Experience working in a biological science laboratory relevant to the duties of the position.
• Experience conducting risk assessments as related to human or animal pathogens or toxins.
• Experience conducting and coordinating scientific evidence reviews.
• Experience in providing advice and recommendations to senior management on complex issues.
• Experience managing/maintaining chain of custody of biological material.
• Experience in Quality Management.
• Experience managing human and/or financial resources.
• Experience developing and maintaining a network of national or international professionals.
• Experience providing leadership within public health infectious disease response that includes coordination of multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in mathematical modelling or risk assessment of biological systems.
• Experience in analysing whole genome sequence data, including command-line interfacing programs, and experience in UNIX or LINUX-based operating systems.
• Significant experience in the development and optimization of mass spectrometry and proteomics assays in a public health context.

Operational Requirements
Operational requirements vary by position; candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following operational requirements depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed:
•Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime, often on short notice.
•Willing and able to work outside of core hours to support outbreak and emergency laboratory response efforts.
•Willing and able to travel across Canada (or internationally) in order to participate in meetings, training and potential outbreak and emergency response.
•Willingness and ability to assist, mobilize, or deploy to fulfill operational requirements including outbreak and emergency laboratory responses.

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

Various language requirements
English essential
French essential
Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC

Information on language requirements

Essential Abilities:
• Ability to provide scientific or regulatory advice and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Key Leadership Competencies:
• Create Vision and Strategy
• Mobilize People
• Uphold Integrity and Respect
• Collaborate with Stakeholders and Partners
• Promote Innovation and Guide Change
• Achieve Results

NOTE:
▪ Based on the hiring division’s needs, additional essential qualifications, asset qualifications, organizational needs, operational requirements and/or conditions of employment maybe identified and applied during the assessment and/or selection of candidates.

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

Asset or Essential Knowledge:
• Knowledge of laboratory biosafety regulations and procedures.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques in mathematical modelling and data analysis.
• Knowledge of high-throughput and reference laboratory operations.

Asset or Essential Abilities:
• Ability to negotiate.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Ability to lead and manage both projects and teams.
• Ability to produce and manage requests to purchase major capital assets.

Asset or Essential Personal Suitability:
• Judgment
• Adaptability

Organizational Needs:
The Public Health Agency of Canada is committed to Employment Equity. In order to ensure a diversified workforce, preference may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the four designated Employment Equity groups provided the candidate meets all essential qualifications listed on the job poster and any applicable asset qualification(s): Indigenous Peoples, Persons with a Disability, Visible Minorities, and Women.

Conditions of employment

Secret or Reliability security clearance (depending on the position)
Medical clearance (depending on the position)

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

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.