Greenhouse Supervisor

Update: UPDATE: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to November 28, 2022 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

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

The position is responsible for the operation, scheduling and plant care of two greenhouses encompassing over 1400 m2 of research space and 36 growth rooms/cabinets. This position requires an individual who has a solid knowledge of greenhouse operations, an understanding of common field crops and forages growing in the prairies and how to control greenhouse pests associated with those crops. The individual will be working with multiple workgroups and research scientists on a daily basis so must be able to relate well at multiple levels in order to organize and support multiple research activities with different environmental requirements and scheduling needs.

Being responsible for on-going operations of the greenhouse and growth chambers this individual will liaise with members of both scientific workgroups and facilities personnel for supporting ongoing greenhouse and growth room / chamber operations. Duties of the position include, but are not exclusive to:

1. Working with teams to meet specific experiment / growth requirements;
2. Managing greenhouse room environments through an automated management system;
3. General maintenance and upkeep of greenhouse, growth room / chambers and related equipment;
4. Pest management;
5. Plant care, including watering and fertilization;
6. Troubleshooting system faults and alarms.

Work environment

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

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

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:
A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives.

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 in the operation and maintenance of a research greenhouse.
Experience in pest management practices within research greenhouses and growth chambers.

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of greenhouse operations.
Knowledge of plant propagation and production in a greenhouse environment.
Knowledge of Integrated Pest Management practices.
Knowledge of plant nutrition, cultivation methods and the delivery of nutrients to greenhouse crops.

COMPETENCIES:
Initiative
Interactive Communication
Planning & Organizing
Problem Solving
Teamwork
Adaptability

ABILITIES:
Ability to identify plant health, biotic and abiotic stresses.
Ability to maintain and complete minor repairs on greenhouse-related equipment.
Ability to supervise employees.

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

EDUCATION:
Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in horticulture, greenhouse management, plant science, agriculture, or a field relevant to the position being staffed.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
Experience managing a greenhouse facility in an agricultural research environment.
Experience programming integrated greenhouse environmental controls.
Experience working with cereal crops.
Experience working with forage crops.
Experience in data collection and data entry related to greenhouse operations.
Experience supervising staff.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
Placement of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) employees affected by work force adjustment.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

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

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid, class 5 Saskatchewan driver’s license, or other provincial/ territorial equivalency.
Ability and willingness to obtain a Provincial Pesticide Applicator’s Certificate.
Ability and willingness to work overtime including evenings and weekends.
Ability and willingness to be on standby and available for call-ins.
Ability and willingness to handle agricultural chemical products.
Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and this must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Ability and willingness to work under harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust, and noise).
Ability and willingness to travel.

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

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

A random or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

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.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

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.