Aquatic Science Technician

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

✷ SELF-DECLARATION: because you matter. ✷
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. By completing the Employment Equity section in your application, you help create a Public Service that is diverse, inclusive and representative of identities, cultures, perspectives and experiences that make up Canada.

❗ IMPORTANT NOTE
It is the responsibility of the candidate to clearly outline that they meet each of the screening criteria (i.e. essential education and experiences). It is also important to indicate how you meet the Assets for which you have experience as they may be considered in the specific selection of some positions. Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that the requirement is met or to provide a listing of current responsibilities, rather the candidate must provide concrete examples that illustrate how they meet the requirement. Failure to do so could result in the application being rejected from the process.

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to the conclusion of the process, may be used for evaluation purposes.

Duties

📧 The Pelagic and Ecosystem Science Directorate of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Quebec region, is seeking aquatic science technicians.The selected appointees will provide technical, logistical, and analytical support for studies and research on marine mammals conducted within DFO, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence Estuary, as well as Nunavik. Depending on the positions, appointees may work primarily in laboratory, with occasional fieldwork requirements, or predominantly in the field, with occasional lab work. Candidates may also be called upon to assist scientific teams by performing technical tasks in the laboratory or field, or tasks related to data processing as part of other priority research programs for DFO. Under the supervision of their manager, individuals will be engaged in tasks that vary widely depending on the positions available, including, but not limited to:

• Perform biochemical analyses to assess the feeding and physiological condition of marine mammal;
• Interpret aerial and/or satellite images, including georeferencing;
• Manage and query large databases, including imagery databases;
• Enter and validate data collected in the field;
• Use geomatics (e.g., QGIS or ARGIS) or programming (e.g., R) softwares for data entry and/or validation purposes;
• Contribute to the preparation and review of protocols and operating procedures;
• Participate in various field data collections for varying periods of time;
• Ensure the preparation, maintenance, and adequate storage of samples, data, or laboratory specimens to ensure their longevity;
• Interact with Indigenous communities.

Work environment

🐟 For Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec Region, it is fundamental:
• to give everyone equitable access to jobs and opportunities for advancement, regardless of sex, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation or ethnic origin.
• to adapt our practices so that our recruitment and workplace are culturally appropriate, safe and welcoming.
• to maintain respectful, dignified and equitable relationships with its staff and the Canadian public.
• to see to the well-being of its staff by involving them in the development of activities that meet their needs.

The working environment is French-speaking and is located at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute in Mont-Joli, Quebec.

🚩 HYBRID WORK MODE
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is following the direction of the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer regarding the introduction of a common hybrid work model across the federal public service. Hybrid work arrangements may be discussed depending on the position to be filled, but presence of employees on a weekly basis in the office is required.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and be used to fill similar positions with varying durations of engagement, security profiles, and linguistic requirements within Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "If you answered “yes” in the essential experiences, please provide a cover letter in which you will describe how to meet the essential experiences (A to G) that you identified in your response with concrete examples indicating DURATION, HOW and WHERE you acquired them, even if it's already mentioned in your resume. (maximum 2000 words, use of the short form is strongly encouraged)"

Contact information for 2 references.

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

📚 EDUCATION
ED1: A recognized post-secondary degree in the field of biology, geomatics, biochemistry, chemistry, laboratory technology, wildlife management or in another field of natural sciences related to the duties of the position, or an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

📝 EXPERIENCE
EX1: Experience in providing technical support for scientific projects in one or more of the following areas of expertise:

a. Recent* and relevant*** laboratory work experience;
b. Relevant*** experience in conducting quality controls of data derived from laboratory analyses;
c. Recent* and relevant*** experience in image analysis for animal detection;
d. Recent and extensive** experience in the use of georeferencing or mapping software;
e. Extensive** experience in programming software for data processing and/or graphical representation of results;
f. Experience in conducting technical scientific work aboard aircraft, helicopters, small boats, or ships;
g.Recent* and relevant*** experience in passive or active acoustics.

*Recent experience is defined as experience normally acquired within the last five (5) years.
**Extensive experience may be defined as the depth and extent of experience normally acquired by having worked continuously for 2 years or intermittently a total of 2 years accumulated within a maximum of 5 years. Experience gained during M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs may be considered, however experience acquired through regular college or undergraduate university programs academic activities is not considered as professional experience.
***Relevant experience can be defined as experience typically acquired by working continuously or intermittently for more than 6 months. Experience gained during master's and doctoral programs may be considered; however, experience gained during academic activities constituting the undergraduate college or university program is not considered as professional experience.

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

📚 EDUCATION (ASSETS)

AED1: Graduate degree from a technical program in wildlife management, laboratory technology, analytical chemistry, or in a natural or applied science field relevant to the functions of the position.
AED2: Graduate degree - B.Sc. - in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, genomics, biotechnology, genetics, geomatics or another specialty relevant to the position.
AED3: Graduate degree - M.Sc. - in biology, microbiology, molecular biology, virology, immunology, genomics, biotechnology, genetics, geomatics or another specialty relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

📝 EXPERIENCE (ASSETS)
Laboratory analytical experience
AEX1: Analytical experience with stable isotopes analyses (e.g., lyophilization, encapsulation, analyses (IRMS), data integration and analyses, etc.).
AEX2: Experience in hormones titration (e.g., progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, etc.) or immunological/serological analyses (e.g., ELISA, hemagglutination, RIA, etc.).
AEX3: Experience with genetic (e.g., DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, RFLP, cloning, etc.) or genomic analyses. (e.g., microarray, sequencing, etc.)
AEX4: Analytical experience with amino acids (e.g., sample preparation, , data analysis, etc.)
AEX5: Analytical experience with lipids, including fatty acids (e.g., extractions, analyses (FID, HPLC, GS-MS)).
AEX6: Analytical experience with lipidomic analyses (e.g., samples preparation, dosage (IC-MS), etc.)
AEX7: Analytical experience with other chemical compounds (contaminants, trace metals).

Data treatment and processing
AEX8: Experience in analysis or treatment of aerial/satellite photographic images for the identification of animal species.
AEX9: Experience using programming softwares (e.g., R, python, SQL) for statistical analyses and/or graphical presentation of data.
AEX10: Experience in database management.
AEX11: Experience using softwares for spatial data manipulation, such as ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.
AEX12: Experience in training artificial intelligence algorithms from image or in post-processing of photos.

Fieldwork and/or experience in remote or isolated environments
AEX13: Experience working with Indigenous communities.
AEX14: Experience working in isolated or confined environments (e.g., on a boat) for periods ranging from several weeks to several months, and/or within a small team.
AEX15: Experience in conducting technical scientific work aboard aircraft, helicopters, OR in coastal waters aboard small boats or ships.
AEX16: Experience in providing field technical support for projects related to marine mammals, seabirds, fish, or terrestrial vertebrates.

Experience in passive or active acoustics
AEX17: Experience in passive acoustics (e.g., holding a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) certification and/or Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system operator certification, conducting long-term audiovisual analysis of acoustic series, participating in instrument and data management during acoustic measurement campaigns at sea, performing tasks involving the processing of large volumes of acoustic data (>1 TB) using specialized software or algorithms).

Other experiences
AEX18: Experience in species identification of marine mammal species.
AEX19: Experience in species identification (taxonomy) of zooplankton or fishes.
AEX20: Working experience involving communicating verbally in English.

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

French essential

Information on language requirements

📌 ABILITIES
A1: Ability to follow standardized procedures for collecting scientific data.
A2: Ability to plan, organize, and establish priorities.
A3: Attention to detail when working in the field or laboratory.

🤝 PERSONNAL SUITABILITIES
PS1: Demonstrating integrity and respect.
PS2: Thinking things through.
PS3: Working effectively with others.
PS4: Showing initiative and being action-oriented.

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

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. This organizational need may be identified in the appointment decision. In such cases, qualified candidates who self-declare as members of visible minority groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, or women (in non-traditional professions) would be considered.

❗ OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Be able to adapt to a variable work schedule and work overtime.
• Be capable of working while standing or sitting, repeatedly and for extended periods.
• Be able and willing to work with and in the presence of chemicals.

Conditions of employment

🔒 Reliability Status security clearance
🔒Depending on the position, additional employment conditions may apply:

• Possess a valid driver's license or be able to travel similarly to someone who has one.
• Consent to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Accept and be able to work with and in the presence of chemicals.
• Be able and willing to travel for periods from a few days up to a few weeks per year (optional), and perform work outside of regular office hours, aboard various platforms (aircraft, boat, etc.).
• Be able and willing to work at sea and/or in the field for periods of up to 8 consecutive weeks, including in remote areas, and/or in rotation that can extend over several months
• Undergo periodic medical examinations.

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

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.

🚩Our intention is to communicate with candidates via email. Candidates who apply on this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and to make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide any changes to their personal information to the contact indicated on this job advertisement.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

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.