Research Technician Analytical Soil and Food Sciences

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

Under the direction of research scientist, the technician will :
1. Provide leadership and technical support for laboratory-based projects.
2. Provide leadership in a soil and food research environment; supervise and assign duties to students and other technical staff as needed.
3. Supervise activities in a soil and food laboratory, maintain supplies and equipment, and ensure operations meet Health and Safety Standards.
4. Collect data as per protocols by conducting chemical, agronomic, biological, and physical determinations on soil, plant, food, amendment, water and gas samples as required.
5. Maintain equipment, trouble-shoot and conduct measurements of soil, plant, food, amendment, water and gas samples collected using various techniques, or methods.
6. Develop Standard Operational Procedures as required, use relevant methodologies and ensure equipment operation and maintenance.
7. Maintain accurate laboratory records of experiments performed and results obtained.
8. Contribute to the preparation of research reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
9. Co-ordinate research efforts with internal and external collaborators, graduate students and others.

Work environment

The Science and Technology Branch (STB) undertakes agricultural research, development and knowledge transfer activities to support and contribute to the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector. We work with industry, academia, Provincial governments and other partners to generate new knowledge, foster innovation and increase adoption and commercialization of agricultural, agri-food, and agri-based products, process and practices. Together, we will work to support a resilient and innovative agriculture sector. The strategic objectives for the Branch include: increasing agricultural productivity; improving environmental performance; improving attributes for food and non-food uses; and addressing threats to the agriculture and agri-food value chain.

The STB is organized into three agriculture regions, each with unique ecological environments to tailor delivery of national priorities to regional needs: Coastal Region; Prairie Region; and Ontario-Québec Region. In addition, there is a Partnerships and Planning Directorate. Our science and technology transfer capacity is distributed across the country in an extensive network of Research Centres, farms, labs, and offices.

Scientists at the Summerland Research and Development Centre. The incumbent will provide technical support for analytical work at the research station. The position will involve the supervision of junior research technicians, summer students and short-term technical support staff. Further, the incumbent will work in a research laboratory and possibly in greenhouse, growth chamber, field conditions and/or Pilot Plant environment as required supporting research activities under the direction of aforementioned research scientists. They will obtain samples (soil, plant and food materials, including but not limited to, samples derived from tree fruits and grape vines and growing environments) to process and analyze.

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 fill one (1) position on an indeterminate basis. A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures, linguistic requirements, and security requirements within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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 science from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in chemistry, environmental chemistry, biochemistry, biology, food science, soil science OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience related to the duties of the position.

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:
Experience providing technical support and organizing and conducting day-to-day laboratory operations.
Experience in the operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting of instrumentation related to analytical chemistry and chemical analyses.
Experience in extracting and analyzing (identifying and quantifying) compounds from various matrices (soil, plants, organic materials including, but not limited, to food), using chemical and/or biochemical methods.
Experience in developing methodologies/tools for analyzing materials.
Experience in collecting, compiling, and analyzing experimental data.
Experience in basic statistical analysis and interpreting experimental results.
Experience in writing protocols, methods and analysis reports.

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

Experience in conducting colorimetric assays for sugars, antioxidants along with enzyme activity assays using UV-Vis spectroscopy.
Experience in using one or more of the following instruments: CHN or CNS analyzer, Segmented flow or Injected Flow Autoanalyzers, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)/High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID), UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).
Experience in fruit quality assessment.
Experience working with food processing operations and using food processing equipment.
Experience in supervising staff and allocating tasks and training others.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of chemistry and biochemistry.
Knowledge of data management and basic statistical analysis.
Knowledge of chemical analyses of organic and inorganic compounds.
Knowledge of instruments and techniques/methodologies used in analytical chemistry.
Knowledge of laboratory health and safety procedures.

Competencies:
Planning and organizing
Teamwork
Problem Solving
Initiative

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

Ability to contribute to the preparation of research reports, manuscripts or posters.

Organizational Needs:
Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by Work Force Adjustment.

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability; Visible Minorities, Women.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid, class 5 British Columbia driver’s license, or other provincial/territorial equivalency.
Ability and willingness to travel occasionally.
Ability and willingness to work with chemicals, acids and bases and other hazardous materials requiring extra precautions.
Ability and willingness to perform repetitive tasks.
Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours when circumstances require and/or overtime, including evenings and weekends, if required.
Ability and willingness to stand and/or perform duties for long periods and under normal safety precautions in the work environment.
Ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork and travel to field sites across Canada.
Ability to lift equipment and samples (20 kg max), walk in rough terrain, and be exposed to environmental conditions (e.g., insects, sun, rain).
Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory, greenhouse, growth chamber, field conditions, and/or Pilot Plant environment.
Ability and willingness to undertake work-related training.
Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.

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

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.

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.