Forest Fire Research Scientist

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

Challenge

Wildland urban interface fires are an important fire and emergency management challenge and a threat to public safety. Research is needed to better model fire behaviour in the interface between wildlands and communities, and to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation techniques to enhance the resilience of Canadian communities, landscapes, and fire management systems to wildland fire.

Working with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, technicians, and economists, as well as with fire managers and stakeholders, nationally and sometimes internationally, the successful candidate will develop a fire behaviour oriented research program relevant to fuels and the wildland-urban interface. Research topics could include fire behaviour prediction in the wildland-urban interface, or stand and landscape level fuel modelling and management, in and adjacent to the wildland-urban interface. A combination of field, laboratory, and simulation approaches are expected.

Work environment

The Pacific Forestry Centre is an internationally recognized forest science laboratory specializing in forest disturbances, carbon science, forest inventory, 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.

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 an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of engineering, the natural or physical sciences related to the duties of the position.

Productivity/Recognition:
Productivity or recognition refers to recognized achievement in the form of authorship and editorship of published or unpublished reports, books, papers, or other communications in wildfire science or fire management resulting from:
● Research, experimental development, or tasking associated with operational equipment and problems;
● Operational research and scientific analysis;
● Planning, analysis and evaluation of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development.
It also includes developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved varieties, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Ex1 Experience in designing and conducting research directly related to any of the following: forest fire behaviour, forest fuel dynamics, stand or landscape management related to fire, fire protection engineering, or combustion physics.
Ex2 Experience working with analytical packages and tools such as R, SAS, MatLab, Python or similar.
Ex3 Significant experience in the publication of peer-reviewed articles relating to the fire research topics described in Ex1; ‘significant experience’ signifies being a named author of at least 4 manuscripts and first author of a minimum of two.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
K1 Knowledge of how the physical environment influences wildfire behaviour at stand and landscape scales.
K2 Knowledge of forest fire management systems.
K3 Knowledge of how forest fuels influence wildfire behaviour at stand and landscape scales.

Abilities:
A1 To prepare research proposals and manage projects.
A2 To communicate effectively in English orally.
A3 To communicate effectively in English in writing.

Personal Suitability:
PS1 Leadership
PS2 Strong organization skills
PS3 Integrity
PS4 Effective interpersonal relationships

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

Asset Experience:
AE1 Experience with field sampling, environmental monitoring, or laboratory-based research methods.
AE2 Experience with quantitative methods and modelling of stand, fuels or forest dynamics.
AE3 Experience supervising scientific staff.
AE4 Experience in communicating and applying research results in the end-user community, including writing technical reports for field managers and other stakeholders.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Other Conditions of Employment:
CE1 National and International travel is required
CE2 Some fieldwork is required
CE3 Valid driver’s permit
CE4 Health Canada Occupational Health Assessment

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.