ANTICIPATORY - Forensic Technology Advisor

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

Persons who cannot apply online or persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to inform the contact persons responsible for this process prior to the closing date. You may also review jobs open to the public through INFOTEL at 1-800-645-5605. The INFOTEL number for persons using a TTY/TDD is 1-800-532-9397.

Duties

Conducts forensic examinations and analysis of evidential materials using validated methods and procedures, maintains established casework performance standards, assesses results, interprets experimental controls and standards, documents findings, updates databases, performs technical and administrative reviews of casework, writes forensic laboratory reports as required and provides expert testimony in court.

Applies quality control processes and maintains chain of evidence in accordance with established laboratory accreditation standards and FS&IS policies, methods and standard operating procedures.

Performs routine checks, calibration, re-calibration, preventive maintenance, repairs and troubleshooting of specialized forensic technology instruments and associated accessories/devices to minimize and/or mitigate “out of service” events or incidents and/or to enable re-introduction of “out of service” instruments into “active” service while ensuring that standards are upheld, the integrity of evidence is reliable, and accreditation is safeguarded.

Provides site oriented technical expertise in the installation and integration of specialized forensic technology instruments in a manner that respects established scientific, accreditation and policy standards, procedures and/or methods and provides advice on the acquisition of replacement instruments including associated service agreements and the specifications for the procurement process.

Provides technical expertise in identifying trends and examining what drives those trends, recommends potential improvements to work processes, standard operating practices, instrumentation and analytical methodologies, and makes recommendations on the best approach.

Delivers training and supports other technologists in the use and maintenance of instruments and methodologies, develops and recommends changes to associated guides and manuals, and formally recommends line command approval on technical assessments of individuals’ proficiency tests.

Liaises with subject matter expert with national oversight and/or manufacturer’s technical representatives to coordinate instrument servicing and/or repair as required.

Work environment

Work is normally conducted in a laboratory environment where there is exposure to a variety of occupational hazards (biological, chemical, physical), some of which are not readily identifiable and as such an awareness of these risks must be maintained and appropriate safety procedures observed. As part of the criminal investigation process, there is lack of control over the pace of work and there is no tolerance for error.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to create a pool for anticipated future vacancies on an indeterminate basis, with various linguistic profiles and a RCMP Enhanced Reliability status security clearance.

A pool of candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions within the RCMP in the National Capital Region, Edmonton, AB and Surrey, BC on an indeterminate or specified period (including term, acting, or assignment) basis, with various linguistic profiles and various RCMP security clearances.

Should a Civilian Member (CM) be found qualified and selected for appointment, the appointment will not result in a change of status to the Public Service (PS) category for the CM.

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:
Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution (university, college, or technical institute) with specialization in chemistry OR biochemistry OR related sciences OR an acceptable combination of education and training with recent* experience in a field related to the position.

*Recent experience is being defined as experience obtained within the last two to five years.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Significant** experience in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory conducting prescribed laboratory test protocols/procedures used for the analysis of drugs in complex matrices (i.e. biological samples, food, etc.) including extraction methods (i.e. liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction, etc.) and complex instrumental analysis techniques (i.e. GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, LC-QTOF, etc.).

**Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of the duties over a period of two (2) years.

Experience with regular maintenance procedures and troubleshooting of complex analytical instrumentation such as GC-MS, LC-MS/MS and/or LC-QTOF.

Experience analyzing scientific data.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential, Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

The appointed candidate must successfully complete the mandatory in-house training program as dictated in the applicable policy approved Learning Guide and/or Training Plan

Knowledge:
Knowledge of the scientific principles and practices of analytical toxicology (i.e. the detection, identification and measurement of drugs/xenobiotics in biological samples).
Knowledge of quality assurance practices and ISO 17025 standards.
Knowledge of safety practices in a laboratory.

Abilities/Skills:
Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to troubleshoot, analyse problems/situations and recommend appropriate solutions

Personal Suitability:
Flexibility
Planning and Organizing
Dependability
Effective interpersonal skills
Attention to detail

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

Experience in a forensic toxicology laboratory conducting analyses on biological samples (blood, urine, etc.) for the presence/concentration of drugs.

Experience with JusticeTrax LIMS-plus or similar Laboratory Information Management Software

Knowledge of chain of custody procedures and evidence handling procedures.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
(may change during the candidate’s term in section)
-Willingness and ability to travel for work related assignments.
-Must be willing and able to testify in a court of law anywhere in Canada.
-Willingness and ability to complete the mandatory in-house training program.
-Willingness and ability to work in a police environment, including exposure to unsettling and/or graphic material, on a daily basis.
-Willingness and ability to work shifts and overtime.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - All applicants for positions within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be subject to a thorough security clearance process which includes an interview wherein questions may include (but not limited to), reference checks, previous employment, on-line activities, credit checks, alcohol and/or drug use.

• Work with hazardous chemicals and equipment.
• Work with and be exposed to biological samples
• Wear appropriate protective clothing and/or equipment.
• Maintain standing and/or sitting positions for extended periods of time.
• Move and/or lift items (up to 20kg)
• Adhere to laboratory safety standards and procedures.
• Work in cold rooms for limited periods in order to retrieve samples.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to drive fleet vehicle.
• Obtain and maintain a valid medical clearance

Note: Candidates must meet the applicable Conditions of Employment at the time of appointment and must continue to meet these during the period of appointment.

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

A written exam may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

A simulation/situational exercise or role play may be administered.

Please note that asset qualifications, top-down and/or random selection may be used to identify which applications will be given further consideration.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

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

You must provide proof of education credentials. If you obtained your degree outside Canada, it is your responsibility to demonstrate its equivalence, please take a look at the following link for more information: https://www.cicic.ca.

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.

Please identify clearly your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application form.

If a qualified candidate has been selected and appointed on an indeterminate basis from the established pool, they will be removed from the pool. If a candidate is selected for a specified period (including term, acting, or assignment/secondment) appointment, they will remain in the pool for future offers.

Our means of communication with applicants is via e-mail. Please ensure to include a functional e-mail address, which will accept messages from unknown users (some e-mail systems block these types of e-mails). It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

HOW TO APPLY:
You will be required to answer screening questions to demonstrate how you meet the Essential Qualifications (Education and all Essential Experiences).

When answering the screening questions, it is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past responsibilities. Rather, you must provide concrete examples of tasks you have accomplished with significant details to explain the WHAT, WHEN, WHERE and HOW you acquired each qualification.

For each experience criteria, please provide the following information:

1- Name of the department or organization where the experience was acquired;
2- Title of the position occupied, group and level and the period(s) in which you performed the functions (M-Y to M-Y);
3- Specific details of tasks or projects demonstrating how the experience was acquired (Situation/Challenge, Tasks, Action and Result).

Should your responses to the screening questions contain insufficient details to demonstrate that you meet the screening criteria, your application will not be given further consideration in this process. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

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.