Laboratory Chemist III

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

You can apply for any or all streams advertised:

Stream 1: Laboratory Chemist III, Health Products Laboratories
Stream 2: Laboratory Chemist III, Drug Analysis Service, Clandestine Laboratory
Stream 3: Laboratory Chemist III, Cannabis Laboratory
Stream 4: Laboratory Chemist III, Food Laboratories
Stream 5: Laboratory Chemist III, Pesticide Laboratory
Stream 6: Laboratory Chemist III, Quality Assurance

EVERYONE IS WELCOME
Health Canada and the Public Health Agency are dedicated to building an inclusive workforce that comprises individuals who have an array of identities, abilities, background, culture, skills, perspectives, and experiences that are representative of Canada’s current and evolving population. We are passionate about fostering a workplace where all people feel welcome, can reach their full potential, and contribute their unique perspectives and experience to the success of the team.

BRING YOUR WHOLE SELF TO WORK
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex (including gender identity and/or expression), national origin, sexual orientation, civil union or relationship status, disability, age, parental status, military service, or other status protected under federal law.

Health Canada is committed to increasing representation of Black employees and other racialized groups, Indigenous People, women and persons with disabilities. Health Canada would like its workforce to be reflective of the population it serves. Therefore, we encourage candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a member of one of these groups.

Give yourself the best chance to succeed! As the objective of this process is to assess qualifications needed for the position(s) to be staffed, let us know if you have a functional limitation/ disability, which may affect your performance. For example, contact us if you need assistance in completing and submitting your application.

You may also review jobs open to the public through INFOTEL at 1-800-645-5605. The INFOTEL number for persons using a TTY/TDD is 1-800-532-9397.

Health Canada welcomes applications from Veterans. We recognize your contribution to Canadians and would like to offer you the opportunity to continue your career in an environment where multi-talented employees with diverse skills are appreciated and supported.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate with concrete examples IN THE TEXT QUESTIONS how they meet the education and experience factors listed in the essential qualifications and assets. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that the requirement is met or to provide a listing of current responsibilities, rather the candidate must provide concrete examples that illustrate how they meet the requirement. Lack of examples and details may result in your application being rejected as the Assessment Board will have insufficient information to determine whether or not you meet the
qualifications.

The CV will not be looked at for the pre-selection phase (only the screening answers), but may be consulted during the process.

Work environment

Are you interested in working at a cutting-edge organization that values both your physical and psychological health and wellness, provides rich career development opportunities and rewards innovation? Health Canada is among Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2021 in addition to being recognized as Top employer for Young People since 2015 and as Best Diversity Employer since 2010! Don’t miss your opportunity to not only enjoy the unparalleled benefits of the public service, but to get so much more on our award-winning team!

Intent of the process

Immediate need: 1 full-time indeterminate position.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar permanent or temporary positions with various linguistic requirements, security requirements, conditions of employment and work locations across Health Canada.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

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)

ALL STREAMS
EEd1 – Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in chemistry.*

*Note: The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization.

If you have not completed a chemistry degree program, a minimum of six (6) chemistry courses and/or laboratories in chemistry must have been successfully completed at a recognized post-secondary institution could be considered in determining whether you have a sufficient specialization in chemistry. All chemistry courses and laboratories must fall in either of these categories: general chemistry or the four traditional sub-disciplines of chemistry (Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry).

Degree equivalency

ALL STREAMS
EE1 – Significant** experience working in an analytical chemistry laboratory.
EE2 – Experience working in an accredited laboratory; such as ISO/IEC 17025, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), or a laboratory with an equivalent management quality system.

** Significant is defined as at the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of the duties for a period of approximately two (2) years.

ALL STREAMS
EK1 – Knowledge of theories, principles and practices of quality assurance and quality control, including statistical analysis.
EK2 – Knowledge of the methodologies and instrumentation related to analytical chemical analysis.

STREAMS 1,3,4,5
EK3 – Knowledge of theories, principles and practices of analytical chemical analyses.

STREAM 2
EK4 – Knowledge in organic chemistry.

STREAM 6
EK5 - Knowledge of internationally recognized management systems: ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and/or ISO 9000 requirements.

ALL STREAMS
EA1 – Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
EA2 – Ability to communicate effectively orally.
EA3 – Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines when assigned multiple tasks.

STREAMS 1,3,4,5,6
EA4 – Ability to evaluate laboratory data using statistical tools.

STREAM 6
EA5 – Ability to plan and coordinate the activities of a management system.

ALL STREAMS
PS1 – Judgement
PS2 – Initiative
PS3 – Effective interpersonal skills
PS4 – Respectful of diversity

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

ASSETS
ALL STREAMS
AED1. Postgraduate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in chemistry or a related discipline.

Degree equivalency

ASSETS
ALL STREAMS
AE1. Significant*** experience in the operation, maintenance and/or trouble-shooting of analytical chemistry instruments (such as, but not limited to: LC-MS, LC-MS/MS, HiRes-MS, GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-QToF, ICP-MS).
AE2. Significant*** experience in planning and executing laboratory-based projects and/or method development and validation.
AE3. Experience working in the Canadian Federal Government.
AE4. Recent**** experience working in an analytical chemistry laboratory.

STREAMS 1,3,4,5
AE5. Significant*** experience in analyzing at trace-level (parts per million – ppm – and lower).

STREAMS 4,5
AE6. Significant*** experience in the analysis of nutritional components and/or chemical contaminants (such as pesticides and/or persistent organic pollutants).

STREAM 2
AE7. Experience and/or successful training in the investigation and/or dismantling of clandestine laboratories.
AE8. Experience working in a forensic drug laboratory.

STREAM 3
AE9. Experience in cannabis product testing

STREAM 6
AE10. Significant*** experience with Quality Management Systems and their application to non-routine laboratory environments

*** Significant is defined as at the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of the duties for a period of approximately six (6) months.
**** Recent is defined as experience normally acquired within the last five (5) years.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential: Ottawa, ON, Scarborough,ON & Burnaby, BC
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB: Longeuil, QC & Ottawa, ON

Information on language requirements

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

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

Information on employment equity

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-declaring as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with disabilities, Members of visible minorities, and Women.

Conditions of employment

All streams:
Ability and willingness to travel occasionally;
Ability and willingness to work overtime and weekends as required;
Ability and willingness to be on call;
Exposure to chemical smells and/or other noxious odors;
Potential exposure to chemical and microbiological agents, dusts, pollens and moulds;
Possession of a valid driver’s license may be required for some positions.

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

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed. Meeting one or many of the asset qualifications may be a deciding factor in appointing a particular candidate amongst the qualified candidates. Please note that some or all of the asset qualifications could be used at the screening phase.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A written examination may be administered.

A security check will be administered and proof of citizenship and education will be required upon request.

Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

All candidates that apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and ensure that this address is functional at all times and that it accepts messages from unknown users. Failure to do so may result in important messages not being received. Communication for this process will be conducted via the e-mail address provided in your application. It is your responsibility to ensure that you check for messages regularly.

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.

In order to manage the number of applications in this selection process, management may use top-down or random selection at various steps in the process to determine the number of candidates who will continue in the process.

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.