Epidemiologists - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

Are you looking for a meaningful career in epidemiology? Join Health Canada or the Public Health Agency of Canada!

We have immediate openings and future hiring needs for epidemiologists.

Do you have:

• Education and experience in the field of epidemiology or public health?
• A passion for working with health data?
• An ability to analyse, interpret, synthesize, and provide recommendations?
• A desire to be part of a team that achieves results?
If so, then we just might be your perfect match!

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. To request accommodation measures or adjustments during any phase of this process and for any questions, contact us at . Any information you provide in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

The Government of Canada is committed to fostering a public service culture grounded in diversity, inclusiveness and accessibility. An inclusive workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated and respected, and where each person’s talents and strengths are fully developed and utilized.

Representation matters!

Creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued begins with self-declaration. Count yourself in and self-declare by identifying which employment equity group(s) you belong to. To learn more about self-declaration, visit our website: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/opportunities/government/self-declaring-because-we-care.html

INFORMATION SESSION ON HOW TO APPLY
Register now for our upcoming Information Sessions to learn more about how to apply and the recruitment process and hear directly from one of our epidemiologists about Epidemiology and Infectious Disease Prevention and their career journey.

Please use the links below to register:
November 17, 2022 – English session: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/453049341777
November 21, 2022 – French session: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/453009713247

Duties

Some of the duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conducts, plans, designs epidemiological research, studies, surveillance through data collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and interpretation.
• Critically evaluates and assesses epidemiological/statistical and other scientific evidence, studies, targeted surveillance and research activities, and methodologies to identify and evaluate risk factors to public health as well as to validate the integrity of the data and scientific methodology.
• Prepares and disseminates reports for use by stakeholders and prepares data/statistics and information for briefings, presentations, responses to ministerial enquiries, the media and the public.
• Develops recommendations for consideration by HC and PHAC senior management in making evidenced-based decisions on strategic planning and required areas of research.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary project teams to conduct epidemiological studies and analysis.
• May manage project teams or a unit conducting epidemiological and/or bio-statistical research, surveillance, risk assessment and investigations.

Work environment

Who are we?

Health Canada (HC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) are cutting-edge organizations that value physical and mental health and wellness, provide rich career development opportunities, and reward innovation. HC is among Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2021, and has been recognized as a Top Employer for Young People since 2015, and Best Diversity Employer since 2010!

HC is the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. Our goal is for Canada to be among the countries with the healthiest people in the world.

PHAC promotes and protects the health of Canadians by preventing and controlling chronic and infectious diseases and injuries as well as preparing for, and responding to, public health emergencies.

We encourage our employees to be creative, motivated, inspired and innovative, regardless of their level. We promote opportunities for growth because we support employee development.

We believe life is about more than just your job. We support our employees by encouraging work-life balance and employee wellness. We offer our employees a competitive salary, generous vacation, paid leave for family and health, comprehensive benefits, and an attractive pension plan.

Apply now to enjoy the unparalleled benefits of working in the public service, and to be part of our award-winning team!

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to establish an inventory of candidates to draw from for current and future needs within the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and other federal public service organizations looking to staff the same type of positions. Online applications will be accepted as long as the posting is active.

Depth and breadth of experience/response may be used during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidate.

Positions to be filled: 30

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity to you, please confirm that you meet the criteria for the positions and apply now!

To complete this application, you will need to verify the information in your GC Jobs profile (which includes your education level), respond to all the screening questions (make sure you provide details), and upload your resume. Come join this important team!

EDUCATION

• Degree already obtained or that will be obtained no later than June 30, 2023 from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Statistics and epidemiology*.

Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

*Epidemiology education must include at a minimum one course in Bio-statistics and two courses in Epidemiology.

If you completed this education outside of Canada, proof of Canadian equivalency will be required at the time of appointment, for more information please see the link below:

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in Public Health or Epidemiology**.

**Public health or epidemiology experience is defined as experience gained in the analysis and interpretation of health data in the context of public health practice, which may include surveillance related activities, investigation of public health issues, program development, implementation, evaluation, or health promotion. The experience can be obtained through employment in an academic program, a clinical setting or a public health organization, or government department/agency.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential, French Essential, Bilingual Imperative – BBB or Bilingual Imperative – CBC

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

COMPETENCIES
• Working effectively with others
• Thinking Things Through
• Shows initiative and is action-orientated
• Judgement
• Respectful of Diversity
• Attention to detail

ABILITIES
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally or using an alternative method of communication
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Ability to analyse, interpret and synthesize data and provide recommendations

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

Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR BOTH of the following education qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification.

• Graduation with a Master's or PhD degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in epidemiology, public health, behavioural sciences or another specialty related to the position being staffed.
• Graduation with a Clinical degree (MD, DVM, RN) from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Degree equivalency

Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification.

• Experience in working with large data sets and performing data analysis.
• Experience in using statistical software to manipulate datasets.
• Experience in the design, development, evaluation or management of public health surveillance activities or system(s).
• Experience compiling, analyzing and interpreting epidemiological or surveillance information for technical reports or briefing materials.
• Experience planning, developing or delivering content used in public health training such as a workshop, in-person or online training course.
• Experience working with external or internal stakeholders.
• Experience conducting complex statistical analysis (e.g. statistical modelling, factor analyses, geospatial analyses, regression analyses, etc.).
• Experience in applied epidemiology (e.g. conducting or coordinating outbreak investigations, chronic or infectious/communicable disease surveillance or other applied epidemiological studies).
• Experience in conducting risk assessments or risk analysis.
• Experience conducting literature reviews of published articles.

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

Operational Requirements:
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 availability to travel domestically and/or internationally.
• Available to work overtime, often on short notice based on operational requirements.

Conditions of employment

• Reliability Status security clearance; or
• Secret security clearance.

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

You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of your choice (English or French). You are asked to indicate your preferred official language in your application.

ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Your resume may be used as a secondary source of information to validate your answers to the screening questions. Make sure you provide detailed responses to the screening questions to be matched with the best job for you.

You’ll be assessed to ensure that you meet the qualifications of these positions. This includes a review of the information you provide in this application and may include other assessments such as a test, an interview, or reference checks.

When managers consider you for a specific position, they may ask for more information before making a final decision. Depending on the position being staffed, certain operational requirements such as shift work and/or conditions of employment could apply (e.g. security clearance).

ACCOMODATION MEASURES
Accommodation measures are designed to remove barriers to a fair assessment and allow candidates to fully demonstrate their competencies. For additional information regarding assessment accommodation, please consult: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html

At every step, from the application process to the end of the assessment process, accommodation measures or adjustments are available to you. Examples include accessible environments, different formats, larger fonts, adaptive technology, extra time, individual testing, and more.

To request accommodation measures or adjustments, and for any question about the process, contact us at .

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.