Research Assistant – Climate Services - Research Affiliate Program

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

To be considered for Research Affiliate Program (RAP) work opportunities, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be recognized as a Master's or PhD student having full-time student status, for the entire period of the position, by the Canadian post-secondary academic institution at which you are currently enrolled (proof will be required).
- Be the minimum age to work in the province or territory where the job is located.

Salary:
Salary is based on the federal government’s published Student Rates of Pay, which is dependent on a number of factors, including the number of work terms completed and level of education. See Section 3 of the Student rates of pay – Effective May 1, 2022 web page for more information.
Rates of Pay for Post-secondary School Students:
Masters - $22.71 - $28.57
Doctorate - $26.72 - $34.59

Duties

Duties
The selected student will have the opportunity to be a member of an exciting organization within Environment and Climate Change Canada, which works to provide user-driven climate services and data, with the ultimate goal of helping Canadians to make climate-smart adaptation decisions leading to a more resilient Canada. Part of the CCCS work is dedicated to the dissemination of climate data and products, which is done via data portals, web applications, extraction tools and online tools for processing the data (see www.ClimateData.ca).
The selected student will also have the opportunity to support the CCCS in the development of the web portal ClimateData.ca. Possible tasks include:
(1) Reviewing and updating ClimateData.ca content, particularly dataset and climate variable descriptions, sector module and learning zone content.
(2) Working with the ClimateData.ca team to plan new/additional content and coordinate review processes.

Work environment

The CCCS is an exciting organization within Environment and Climate Change Canada that has been established by the federal government to provide climate information and innovative decision-support tools to help build resilience to climate change in Canada. As a whole-of-government initiative, the CCCS aims to provide user-driven climate services based on authoritative climate data, with the ultimate goal of allowing Canadians to make climate-smart adaptation decisions leading to a more resilient Canada.
The student will also have the unique opportunity to participate in a collaborative effort between multiple federal government departments, other levels of government, and regional climate expert organizations.

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)

Candidates must clearly explain in detail how they meet the essential and asset experience qualifications by indicating HOW (clearly explain your duties), WHEN and for HOW LONG (date and length of time in months or years), and WHERE (employer and geographic location) this experience was acquired. One approach is to write one or two paragraphs demonstrating, with clear and accurate details, how you meet the criteria. A person may be appointed to the position without meeting any or all of the asset qualifications; however, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

EDUCATION
The student must be currently enrolled in a Master’s or Doctorate program in a recognized post-secondary institution in atmospheric science, climate science, or other related discipline in a Canadian University.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
In the context of student recruitment in the Federal Public Service, experience can be acquired through studies, work experience or volunteer activities.
Experience in science writing, particularly explaining complex topics in plain language.
Experience analyzing climate or meteorological datasets.
Experience performing literature reviews

KNOWLEDGE
A thorough understanding of climate science basics, climate adaptation principles, climate change impacts in Canada, emission scenarios, and climate modeling.

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

English or French

Information on language requirements

ABILITY
Ability to communicate through reports, papers, and oral presentations to a wide range of audiences.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY
Team work
Initiative
Multitasking

Conditions of employment
Reliability Status security clearance – to be obtained following the job offer

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS
Experience working with Linux/Unix.
Experience with scientific programming (e.g. Python, R, or shell scripting, etc.).
Experience in statistical analysis of outputs of global or regional climate models (GCMs or RCMs).
Experience using climate projections to generate climate change impact information for stakeholders.

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

Information you must provide
1) Your résumé.

2) Contact information for 2 references.

3) A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year.

Qualifications may be evaluated by a wide range of tools and methods. Consequently, a written exam, an interview, reference checks or other evaluation methods may be sought in this process. Applicants need to make a reasonable effort to make themselves available for their evaluation at the appointed time. A passing grade will be established for all evaluated qualifications.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of screening results and invitations to written tests and interviews. To that end, candidates must include a valid email address in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is also the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

We thank all applicants for their interest in our position(s). For the purpose of this staffing process, only candidates selected for further assessment will be contacted.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

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.