Senior Epidemiologist / Senior Statistician

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.

You must clearly identify which stream(s) you are applying for in your application.
Note that you may apply for as many streams as you wish.

Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)

Duties

Senior epidemiologists and statisticians within the Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau plan, design, and conduct studies and analyses to understand exposures to, and health effects associated with, environmental contaminants in Canada. They formulate and recommend project plans, develop and apply sound statistical methods and approaches for analyzing complex data sets, lead engagement with partners, and mentor staff and trainees.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates (fully assessed or partially assessed) will be established and may be used to staff similar positions in this group and level. This process may be used for various positions and tenures (including but not limited to term and indeterminate appointments, internal assignments, secondments, deployments and acting appointments).

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Education

Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
Graduation with a Master's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Epidemiology or Biostatistics or in another field relevant to the duties of the position.

Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)
Graduation with a Master’s degree in Statistics from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience

Both streams
Experience in conducting statistical analysis and interpretation of results.
Experience in formulating and recommending data analysis plans.

Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
Experience in planning epidemiologic projects.
Experience using SAS and/or R to analyse epidemiologic data.
Experience leading epidemiological or statistical project teams.

Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)
Experience in planning epidemiologic or environmental or survey type projects.
Experience in programming and model fitting in SAS or R.
Experience in working with epidemiologic or complex survey data.
Experience in leading statistical project teams.
Experience in consulting and gathering information from internal and external experts (such as federal, local level government, academia and non-government organizations).

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

Asset Education

Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
MSc or PhD in Epidemiology
MSc or PhD in Biostatistics

Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)
MSc in Statistics

Degree equivalency

Asset Experience

Both streams
Experience analysing nationally-representative data.
Experience analysing data from large population cohorts (e.g., >1000 participants).
5 or more years of experience analysing human biomonitoring data (may be obtained through a combination of education and work experience).

Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
Experience publishing epidemiological results of exposure or health effects in humans related to environmental chemicals.
Experience in peer reviewing epidemiological scientific manuscripts.
Experience in analysing data from pregnancy and birth cohorts.
Experiences linking one or more administrative databases.
Experience conducting burden of disease analyses.
Experience in conducting analyses of chemical mixtures.
Experience in planning, designing and conducting human prospective epidemiological studies.

Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)
Experience in briefing senior management on complex planning and reporting matters (e.g. Management Accountability Framework, Expenditure Review, Program Activity Architecture, Performance Measurement Framework) and providing recommendations.

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

English essential
Both Streams

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
Knowledge of theories and principles of epidemiology and biostatistics.
Knowledge of environmental chemical exposures and potential health effects of chemicals.

Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)
Knowledge of statistical methodology and theory.

Abilities

Both streams
Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to design statistical approaches and models.
Ability to analyze a wide range of complex information / issues and provide recommendations.

Stream 1 (Senior Epidemiologist)
Ability to identify new areas for analysis and research.
Ability to provide strategic and operational leadership to multi-disciplinary project teams.

Stream 2 (Senior Statistician)
Ability to work under pressure.

Personal Suitability

Both Streams
Respectful of diversity
Effective Interpersonal Relations
Judgement
Integrity

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

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

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

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

A situational exercise may be administered.

An assignment, secondment, or acting appointment requires approval of your supervisor.

Please identify clearly for which position(s) you are submitting an application.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

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

Screening questions will be used to assess writing skills.

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.