Research Scientist

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

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. 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.

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.

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.

CANDIDATES MUST APPLY ONLINE.

Duties

The research scientist will design and conduct epidemiological studies on environmental chemicals in Canada in support of chemicals management, develop creative approaches to identify disproportionately impacted populations and analyze complex national survey data, engage with internal and external partners, and mentor junior staff and trainees.

Intent of the process

The intent is to hire an indeterminate research scientist (SE-RES) within the National Biomonitoring Section of the Population Studies Division. A pool of qualified candidates (fully assessed or partially assessed) will be established and may be used to staff similar positions at this group and level. This process may be used to staff various positions and tenures (including but not limited to Term and Indeterminate appointments, Internal assignments, Secondments, Deployments, Acting appointments) within Health 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 an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field of the natural sciences related to the duties of the position, such as epidemiology or biostatistics or the employer-approved alternative for the SE classification. (See *Note).

*Note:
The employer-approved alternative is an acceptable master's or bachelor's degree coupled with acceptable research, training and experience. The degree must be from a recognized post-secondary institution and in scientific fields and specialties related to the duties of the position. The training and experience must clearly demonstrate the ability to do personal research of doctoral degree calibre.

PRODUCTIVITY / RECOGNITION

Recognized achievement in the form of authorship of published reports, books, book chapters, papers, or other communications resulting from:
• research or study design; and/or,
• scientific analysis; and/or,
• planning, analysis and evaluation of Canadian and foreign programs in research and development.

Productivity or recognition includes developmental work leading to the issue of patents, copyrights, or the creation of improved varieties, functions, or designs, and/or recognition by the professional community of the research environment.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Significant experience** in the planning and execution of population-based research to study the effects of environmental chemicals on humans

Significant experience** in the presentation of research results at scientific conferences, symposia or meetings

Significant experience in the publication of scientific articles*** within the field of environmental epidemiology relevant to the duties of the position in reputable English peer-reviewed journals.


**Significant experience is defined as 4 or more years of experience.

***Significant experience in the publication of scientific articles is defined as 3 or more senior author papers.

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

EDUCATION

A master’s degree in epidemiology or biostatistics
A doctoral degree in epidemiology or biostatistics

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Experience in analyzing Canadian human epidemiological datasets
Experience in the complex statistical analysis of secondary data from multi-stage, nationally representative human datasets
Experience in analysing population-based datasets from complex surveys using R
Experience in analysing population-based datasets from complex surveys using SAS
Experience linking two or more administrative datasets
Experience in leading project teams

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of environmental epidemiology
Knowledge of human population-based study designs

ABILITIES

Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to identify knowledge gaps and propose new areas for analysis and research.
Ability to develop statistical approaches to analyse data from population-based studies.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY

Respectful of diversity
Judgement
Effective Interpersonal Relations
Initiative
Scientific Integrity

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

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of human exposure to and measurement of environmental chemicals
Knowledge of epidemiological analyses of human exposures to chemical mixtures

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

Reliability Status security 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

SE-RES classification and levels are determined through an incumbent-based approach: the researcher’s achievements will determine their level.

SE-RES-1: A research scientist who has made some expert-reviewed contributions and has sufficient experience to contribute to departmental goals.

SE-RES-2: A research scientist who is recognized by peers as knowledgeable in an area of specialty, either has worked in and led a small project team of scientific/technical personnel or carried out individual in-depth inquiries to support the delivery of the sectoral or departmental mandate.

SE-RES-3: A research scientist who is recognized by peers as a national expert in an area of specialty, and has led a team of scientific and technical personnel or carried out in-depth inquiries to successfully deliver on the immediate, or contribute to intermediate and long-term, outcomes of the sector/department.

SE-RES-4: A research scientist who is recognized as an authority in broad areas of specialty and who has strategically conceptualized the course of research activity within the sector/department leading to the achievement of the intermediate, and contributing to the long-term, outcomes of the sector/department.

SE-RES-5: A research scientist who is recognized as an authority and visionary in broad areas of specialty who has strategically integrated leading edge scientific and technical objectives into programs within the sector/department as required, having the desired long-term impact on organizational priorities and the future directions of research within and outside the department.

Screening questions will be used to assess writing skills.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

A situational exercise may be administered.

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/.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice.

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