Forest Research 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

The Government of Canada is committed to building a skilled workforce that is representative of Canada's diversity, which includes the recruitment of Canadian Veterans and releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/public-service-jobs/canadian-armed-forces-members-veterans.html

We encourage applicants to identify any abilities, competencies, and/or experiences acquired through employment with the Canadian Armed Forces where applicable.

Duties

Forest health is intricately linked to trade of forest products. The Pacific Forestry Centre conducts research and analysis to support safe and efficient trade of forest products, protecting Canada’s trade interests abroad, reducing the risks from alien invasive species to Canadian and global forests. Working with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technicians, and economists at PFC and across the Canadian Forest Service, as well as with pest management managers, regional and international plant protection organizations, industry and stakeholders, the person in the position will work with a team to conduct research and develop information and guidance on the safe trade of wood products, covering topics in plant pest movement, pest surveillance, forest product treatments, pest risk reduction, benefit-cost analyses of interventions, and emerging issues. The incumbent is expected to facilitate and support communications and collaborations between various stakeholders working on these issues. A combination of field, laboratory, and policy writing approaches are expected.

Work environment

The Pacific Forestry Centre is an internationally-recognized forest science laboratory specializing in forest disturbances, economics, invasive species, entomology, pathology, carbon science, and remote sensing. A vibrant group of researchers, technical staff and administrative staff work to maintain a creative and stimulating work environment. The research centre is located in Victoria, a dynamic coastal city on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Intent of the process

A pool of (fully or partially qualified) candidates may be established through this process to staff with identical or similar positions within Natural Resources Canada with various tenures, various language requirements (English Essential, French Essential, English or French Essential, or Bilingual), linguistic requirements (imperative and/or non-imperative) and profile(s) (BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC, etc.), various security requirements (Reliability status or Secret clearance), various conditions of employment and for various locations.

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 degree in forestry or wood science from a recognized post-secondary institution or graduation with a degree in a related science from a recognized post-secondary institution combined with acceptable experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience
Experience planning, developing and conducting research studies relevant to the position, such as in forestry or agriculture, in a field or laboratory setting, including analyzing data, writing reports and presenting results to different audiences.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
• Knowledge of forestry practices relating to pest management
• Knowledge of pest biology
• Knowledge of sampling and detection techniques of organisms in forests or other ecosystems or environments

Competencies
• Ability to communicate effectively orally
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Ability to identify and analyse problems and recommend viable solutions
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities to meet deadlines

Personal Suitability
• Initiative
• Judgement
• Effective interpersonal relations
• Teamwork

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

Asset Qualifications
Education: Master’s or PhD in forestry or wood science from a recognized post-secondary institution or graduation with a degree in a related science from a recognized post-secondary institution combined with acceptable experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience working on alien and invasive species?

Experience leading or supporting economic analysis, policy development or science communication in a field related to the position, such as forestry or agriculture

Knowledge of domestic and international trade in wood products

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

Operational requirements
Available to work onsite at the Pacific Forestry Centre on a regular basis. The position will not be eligible for full-time telework.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

• Valid driver’s licence
• Willing and able to work flexible hours and overtime
• Willing and able to travel within Canada (and abroad) including travel by car, rail and air, and stay in remote locations for a few days to a few weeks.
• Medical clearance in accordance with Treasury Board Occupational Health Evaluation Standards for fieldwork.

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

All applications must be submitted online through the GC Jobs website. DO NOT email, fax or mail in applications, as these will NOT be accepted.

Acknowledgment of receipts of applications will not be sent; we will only contact successful applicants when the screening process has been completed.

Applicants are required to meet the Essential Qualifications. Asset Qualifications MAY be applied at any point in the assessment process. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to answer Asset Qualifications questions in your online application. Applicants do not need to meet any/all of the Asset Qualifications for consideration; however, possessing any/all of the Asset Qualifications may increase the likelihood of being considered for an appointment.

Natural Resources Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified as part of the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

An interview may be sought.

A written test may be administered.

A situational exercise may/will be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

Random selection and/or top-down selection may be used at any time during the process to identify which applicants will be further assessed.

Candidates should be prepared to provide proof of education (copy of degree/diploma) and citizenship or permanent resident status. If you have obtained education outside Canada, you will be required to submit proof of evaluation of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

If you are selected for further consideration, please advise the person who will contact you of any accommodations you may require during the selection process.

Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.
The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

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.