Senior Lab Biologist

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

***VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is the responsibility of the candidate to clearly outline that they meet each of the screening criteria (i.e. Education and Experience Qualifications, both Essential and Assets) by RESPONDING TO THE SCREENING QUESTIONS IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION. 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.

All communication received from candidates throughout the staffing process may be used to assess qualifications on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) provides scientific expertise and laboratory capacity for infectious disease monitoring, detection, outbreak investigation and response to support national and international public health action. NML strives to be the employer of choice for Canadian and international scientific and non-scientific staff. Our employees contribute leadership, ingenuity, expertise and innovation to safeguard the health of Canadians and the global community.

The Special Pathogens Program works with zoonotic and other rare emerging pathogens. The Program performs a blend of reference diagnostic services as well as basic and applied research in high containment environments (CL3 and CL4). The Program is responsible for protecting the health of Canadians by providing critical diagnostics and cutting edge basic and applied research for high consequence pathogens such as Ebola and Marburg viruses, New and Old World arenaviruses, Nipah and Hendra virus, CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever virus, Rift Valley fever virus, Herpes B virus and Tick-borne Encephalitis (Flaviviruses). Additionally, the Program provides critical national diagnostics for agents found in North America, including orthohantaviruses (primarily Sin Nombre virus) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Duties

The BI-04 position will provide a leadership role in the Program’s diagnostic unit. Key activities of the applied diagnostician will include:

Day to Day Operations:

o Performing applied diagnostics with the goal of developing or evaluating new tests and improving existing diagnostic assays for agents of concern.
o Supervising and leading staff in assay (molecular, serological, sequencing) development, validation and verification.
o Communicating to the management team regarding assay progress by writing reports, scientific publications and delivering presentations.
o Will ensure that all aspects of the Quality system are met.
o Support research projects that require assay development (molecular and serological).
o Will provide recommendations to Chief/Medical Officer pertaining to research and development of diagnostic assays.
o Will manage human resources and budget to deliver on Program priorities.

Outbreak Response:

o Review performance of existing assays with clinical specimens. Coordinates a wholesome approach to the response by considering molecular detection and/or serological detection and/or sequencing.
o Will work closely with the diagnostic biologist and the Medical Officer to ensure timely communication, testing and reporting to external stakeholders.
o Provide recommendations and guidance on committees such as the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network.
o Lead diagnostic assay improvements as needed during the response.
o Coordinate distribution of validation packages, proficiency panels and control materials to external stakeholders.
o Provide recommendations to Chief/Medical Officer/Program Manager about the outbreak response.

Intent of the process

The result of this selection process will be to fill 1 indeterminate BI-04 position (Applied Diagnostician) within the Special Pathogens at the National Microbiology Laboratory Branch. It will also be used to establish a pool of qualified BI-04 candidates that may be used for future acting, specified period, deployment, assignment, secondment or indeterminate appointments within the National Microbiology Laboratory Branch in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in a biological science

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.

Degree equivalency

Essential Experience:
• Significant* experience in coordinating, leading, and supervising teams for diagnostic testing
• Significant* experience performing diagnostic assays (molecular and serological)
• Significant* experience in Quality Management
• Significant* experience writing technical, regulatory or scientific reports (SOPs, validation packages, reports, publications)
• Experience in providing recommendations to management on the development, delivery, or implementation of diagnostic testing
• Experience in communicating with a diverse group of stakeholders

*Significant is defined as performing activities for at least 2 years (consecutive) within the last 5 years.

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

Asset Education:

Graduation with a MSc, MD or PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position(s).

Fellow of the Canadian College of Microbiologists (FCCM) certification.

Degree equivalency

Asset Experience:
• Development of diagnostic assays
• Experience with virological techniques/methods (virus culture, quantification of live virus)
• Experience working with public health networks such as Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN)
• Experience managing human and/or financial resources
• Experience providing leadership within public health infectious disease response that includes coordination of multiple stakeholders
• Experience working in high containment laboratories (CL3 or CL4)

Operational Requirements (ONE OR MORE may be required depending on the position being staffed):

• Willing and able to work in CL3 or CL4
• Willing and able to wear Personal Protective Equipment, such as a positive pressure suit, as part of the mitigation measures indicated in Risk Assessments associated with containment level/s and Animal Use Documents
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime, often on short notice
• Willing and able to work outside of core hours to support outbreak and emergency laboratory response efforts
• Willing and able to travel nationally and internationally
• Willing to participate in mandatory training such as Respect in the Workplace, WHMIS, TDG, First Aid/ CPR/ AED and spill trainings

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

Various language requirements
English Essential

Information on language requirements

Essential Knowledge:
• Knowledge of molecular, serological and virological techniques.
• Knowledge of diagnostic techniques.

Essential Abilities:
• Ability to provide scientific or regulatory advice and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Key Leadership Competencies:
• Create Vision and Strategy
• Mobilize People
• Uphold Integrity and Respect
• Collaborate with Stakeholders and Partners
• Promote Innovation and Guide Change
• Achieve Results

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

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance
Medical 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

PHAC 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, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities or women (in non-traditional occupations) could be considered in priority.

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.

Please ensure that you read ALL points listed below, as this section contains important information about the application process. Failure to read these notes and follow these instructions could result in your application missing required information which may result in your application being eliminated from this selection process.

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.

We will only accept on-line applications received via the Public Service Jobs site. Persons with disabilities or residing in locations that prevent them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

For this selection process, we will communicate with you by email. You must provide a valid email address to which you wish to receive communication regarding this selection process. You must ensure that you check your email account including spam, promotion or other folders regularly as there may be a deadline for responses. If you respond past the deadline you risk being removed from the selection process.
Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Proof of education will be requested if you are considered for a position. 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/

Reference checks may be sought.
A written examination may be administered.
An interview may be administered.

Based on the hiring division's 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.

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

We may assess the essential and asset qualifications using interviews, written tests, reference or a combination of these methods.

Other sources of information (such as performance agreements, work samples, board member knowledge, etc.) may be used to assess the criteria identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

Are you ready to apply?

To apply for any position, you need to first create a profile in the Public Service
Resourcing System (PSRS), which should only take about 10 minutes. Then,
after ensuring you meet the position requirements, scroll to the bottom of the
poster and click on "Apply online."

Work your way through the list of requirements, completing each section and saving as you go. Before submitting your application, please ensure that there are green check marks on every single category before submitting your application.

If there are any red Xs on the categories, please click into that category and ensure that everything has been filled out. Screening questions have been built into the application process and occasionally an applicant may miss a field on the Screening Questions page. Please thoroughly review to ensure that you have responded to each question, including all the "Yes / No " questions.

PSRS will automatically disconnect candidates without warning after 60 minutes if there is no activity. You need to save or move to a new screen to maintain your connection. Typing information without saving does not prevent you from being disconnected. Applicants may find it helpful to first use a word processing software to complete their responses using concrete and detailed examples, then copy and paste the responses into PSRS afterwards."

If you have further questions on how to apply or experience technical difficulties with your application, please visit the following website:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/publicservice-jobs/contact-us.htmI.

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. Should you then proceed to the next assessment stage, such as an exam or interview, we will send you an e-mail with additional information on the assessment format so that you can determine if you may require an accommodation (such as a different test format, an adaptive technology, or additional time). Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so candidates with functional limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities. 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.

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.