Research Scientist – Physical oceanography numerical modeling

Important messages

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Assessment accommodation

Your curriculum vitae should include information about your academic degree(s), your professional experience and a scientific publications list.

Work environment

🚩 CHALLENGE
The Pelagic and Ecosystem Science Division of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Québec Region, seeks a research scientist in physical oceanography with specialization in ocean numerical modeling. The work consists of modeling the St. Lawrence system either with the aim of furthering the understanding of the physical processes that influence its maritime resources, or to model its past (30 years), current oceanographic conditions (advice on the state of the ocean) and/or future (seasonal predictions and/or climate change). This scientist will have to collaborate with the team of the Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (AZMP), with the other modellers of the department as well as with the scientists and stock assessment biologists who work on maritime resources present in the St. Lawrence system. The person will also collaborate with experts (physical oceanographers, chemists and marine resource researchers) from different DFO regions, other departments, regions of the country and elsewhere in the world as needed. The challenge will be to develop scientific analyses, new techniques or integrated approaches that will represent an original scientific advance in physical oceanography. The researcher will interact with clients to formulate questions that support decision-making and policy development, and communicate research findings. An ability to pursue, in parallel, operational oceanography programs on water levels and drift forecasts is considered an asset.

Research objectives:

- Understand and describe the short- and long-term processes that control oceanic changes in the St. Lawrence system, in collaboration with other scientists and transdisciplinary experts from the department.

- Link the variability and trends observed in the system to the various forcings and changes in the ecosystems.

The hiring level between SE-RES-01 and SE-RES-05 will be established by recommendation of the research scientist promotion committee(s) based on experience and record of publications before a letter of offer is issued.

Intent of the process

This process will be used to staff one position indeterminately in Mont-Joli, Québec. A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions with varying tenures, security profiles and language requirements within Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "A covering letter describing your relevant experience for this position and what you would bring to it (Maximum of 1,000 words)."

Contact information for 2 references.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

🎓 STUDIES
- Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree in a natural science from a recognized university in a field of study relevant to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

✅ EXPERIENCE
- At least one year of either post-doctoral training (at a recognized institution or a government department such as DFO) or as a research auxiliary (or equivalent or greater).
- Research experience in numerical modeling in three-dimensional physical oceanography (minimum of three years, doctoral studies included if applicable). This experience should not be limited to the simple use of model outputs, but should include interaction with the model (e.g. mixing parameterization, model calibration).
- Experience in presenting research findings at scientific workshops or meetings.
- Experience in authoring scientific publications in international peer reviewed journals (at least two publications as first or second author since 2018 inclusively).

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

EXPERIENCE
- Extensive experience in writing scientific publications in international peer reviewed journals (minimum of 9 articles during career, including at least 3 as first or second author).
- Experience with short-term operational modeling.
- Research experience in the St. Lawrence system (river, estuary, Gulf).
- Experience in leading research teams.
- Experience in developing proposals for funding of scientific projects.
- Experience in providing information and science-based advice to management or stakeholders.
- Experience in managing financial and human resources.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

✅ KNOWLEDGE
- Extensive knowledge** of numerical modeling including ocean modeling systems such as ROMS, NEMO, FVCOM, POM, MOM, etc.
- Extensive knowledge** in physical oceanography.

(** Extensive knowledge is defined as the depth and breadth of knowledge that would normally be associated with the requirements of a doctoral degree.)

✅ ABILITIES
- Ability to develop a research program focused on understanding and describing the processes that control oceanic changes in the St. Lawrence system, linking these changes to the various forcings and variability of ecosystems (state of the ocean and climate change), in collaboration with other scientists and transdisciplinary experts (e.g. from the Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program), and communicate its research results (e.g. conferences, primary publications, contribution to state of the ocean reports from the Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program).
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Ability to make recommendations and provide scientific advice.
- Ability to manage his/her own time.

✅ PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Working effectively with others.
- Initiative.

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

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Willingness and ability to work overtime.
- Willingness and ability to work flexible hours.
- Willingness and ability to undertake work travel outside the local area.
- Willingness and ability to work in the field for a period of up to six consecutive week per year and to travel for a period of up to 12 weeks per year, as required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Depending on the position to be filled:
- Valid Health Canada Medical (for indeterminate appointments or term positions longer than 12 months).
- Valid driver’s license, or be able to travel in the same way as a person who has one.

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

One of the HR strategies that we practice is shortlisting. We may not be contacting all candidates that meet the experience criteria, only those that best meet the criteria. Candidates who best meet the education and experience criteria will be invited to the next stage of assessment.

SE-RES classification and levels are determined through an incumbent-based approach: the researcher’s achievements will determine their level. For external recruitment, the context of the various experiences of candidates will be assessed as equivalent to the context of the federal government: "departmental" goals or mandate would be viewed as "industry" or "institution" goals or mandate in which candidates had experience."

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.

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.