Research Assistant

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

📌 We want you to succeed! Our objective is to identify qualified candidates by fairly assessing their abilities. Assessment accommodations are intended to remove obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that all candidates can showcase their capabilities.

📌 Please help us meet our commitment of providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment by letting us know if you require assessment accommodations, including assistance with the application process. Additional information on the assessment format(s) (for example: exam, interview) will be provided at each assessment stage.

As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace.

Work environment

This is an ON-SITE field and laboratory research position with emphasis on outdoor work duties supporting the Morden Research and Development Centre.

⏲️ Hours of Work: 8:00 to 4:00 Monday to Friday (compensated may overtime is required).

Intent of the process

Immediate need:
2 full-time permanent positions
2 anticipated temporary positions

A pool of qualified and/or partially qualified candidates may be established and used to fill similar positions on a temporary or permanent basis.

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

Positions to be filled: 2

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
🎓 Education:
◾ A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

📌If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

All Streams

Research experience in laboratory or field environment in one or more of the following areas:
- agronomy
- plant pathology
- molecular biology
- tissue culture
- toxicology

✔️ Experience with operating and maintaining research equipment used in a field or laboratory.

✔️ Experience assessing crops for agronomic quality and disease response.

✔️ Experience providing technical support in the field or laboratory.

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

All Streams
🎓 Education:
Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications, operational requirements or organizational needs, depending on the specific position being staffed.

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in plant science, plant pathology, plant breeding, biology, plant physiology, microbiology, toxicology, environmental science, natural resources, horticulture, soil science, food science, genetics, biochemistry, biology or a related discipline.

Degree equivalency

Experiences:

Stream 1: Agronomy
✔️ Experience operating field equipment such as tractors, GPS, seeders, sprayers, soil sampling or implements attached to a tractor in a research environment.
✔️ Pesticide applicator’s license.

Stream 2: Plant Pathology and Genomics
✔️ Experience with cross-pollinating and familiarity with common crop pathogens.

Stream 3: Plant Biotechnology
✔️ Experience with basic molecular biology techniques and nucleic acid or protein extraction from various plant tissue.
✔️ Experience with media preparation and sterilization techniques.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:

Stream 1: Agronomy
✔️ Knowledge of field research operations, sample (soil or plant) collection procedures and performing analysis.
✔️ Knowledge of field methodologies and principles.

Stream 2: Plant Pathology and Genomics
✔️ Knowledge of plant pathology techniques, including disease assessment, fungal isolation, culturing, genomics and inoculation procedures.
✔️ Knowledge of basic molecular biology techniques, including tissue collection, storage, DNA/RNA isolation, and gel analysis.

Stream 3: Plant Biotechnology
✔️ Knowledge of aseptic techniques and basic plant tissue culture, including the production of wheat doubled haploids.
✔️ Knowledge of donor plants maintenance in growth chambers and greenhouse conditions.

All Streams
Competencies:
◾ Teamwork
◾ Interactive communication
◾ Initiative
◾ Concern for safety

All Streams
Abilities:
✔️ Ability to make observations, collect, record, and compile data accurately, summarize and analyze results.
✔️ Ability to use basic computer programs, such as MS Excel and Word.

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

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

All Streams:
◾ Possession of a valid, class 5 Manitoba driver’s license or another provincial/territorial equivalent.
◾ Ability and willingness to work overtime, including evenings and weekends during peak periods.
◾ Ability and willingness to travel within province with the occasional overnight trips.
◾ Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory environment for extended periods of time while standing and under normal safety precautions.
◾ Ability and willingness to work with toxic chemicals and other hazardous material using proper personal protective equipment.
◾ Ability and willingness to perform repetitive actions such as pipetting.
◾ Known allergies must be controlled through personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge on the duties to be performed.
◾ With appropriate safety precautions in place, ability and willingness to work in laboratory, greenhouse and/or field environments for extended periods at a time.
◾ Ability and willingness to work outdoors under various weather conditions.
◾ Under normal safety precautions, ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials.
◾ Ability to perform physically demanding work activities, including moderate to heavy manual work such as moving objects up to 25 kg.

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

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.

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

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

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.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

⚠️APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION⚠️

🖥️ Please apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

Persons unable to apply on-line are asked to contact the email referenced below under "Contact Information".

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.

📧 Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

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.