Research scientist – Marine acoustics

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

Duties

The Pelagic and Ecosystem Sciences Direction, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Quebec region, is looking for a research scientist in marine sciences with an expertise in marine acoustics.

📌 The selected person will lead research activities and will supervise a team of 3 to 10 professionals and technicians conducting work related to DFO’s mandate for the protection and conservation of marine mammals.
📌 In collaboration and/or complementarity with other scientists in the team, he(she) will develop and apply marine acoustic methods to detect, identify and track animals in their environments (PAM, passive acoustic monitoring).
📌 He(she) will study the impacts of noise on animals and consequence on populations, particularly those designated under the Canadian Species At Risk Act. This knowledge will inform managers for decisions on several of the following mandates : Species at risk management, industrial development impacts, fisheries interactions, marine conservation targets and spatial marine planning.
📌 The selected person will have to work in the laboratory and in the field with a large diversity of clients. Areas of study are mainly the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, as well as Nunavik.

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.

Intent of the process

📢 This process will be used to staff one indeterminate position in Mont-Joli, Quebec. Following this process a pool of qualified candidates will be established to staff similar positions with varying tenures and languages requirements within Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter "Describe clearly how you meet the studies and experience requirements posted for this position (Maximum of 2000 words)."

Contact information for 2 references.

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

📚 EDUCATION
ED1: Graduation with an acceptable doctoral degree from a recognized university in a field of study relevant to the duties of the position, such as oceanography, marine acoustic, signal processing, submarine systems engineering, physics, statistics and applied mathematics.

Degree equivalency

📝 EXPERIENCE
EX1: Experience in the development and use of underwater acoustic methods and systems for the acquisition, processing and analysis of datasets collected in environments used by marine mammals, for:
a) the detection of acoustic objects, such as sounds emitted by marine mammals, their classification and location using advanced data and signal processing techniques; and
b) the study of the underwater acoustic environment.
EX2: Experience supervising and managing professional staff in a structured organization.
EX3: Experience as first author in producing research reports and publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals on carried out research work.
EX4: Experience conducting independant research.
EX5: Experience presenting results during scientific meetings or workshops.
EX6: Experience working at sea.

⏳ KNOWLEDGE
KN1: Knowledge in underwater acoustics data acquisition methods.
KN2: Knowledge in underwater acoustics data processing methods.
KN3: Knowledge about programming languages or softwares for signal processing in underwater acoustics and statistical analyses of datasets.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB.
Language requirements will vary depending on the position to be filled.

Information on language requirements

💻 ABILITIES
AB1: Develop and carry out innovative research projects in underwater acoustics.
AB2: Lead research projects and teams.
AB3: Exploit professional relationships with a research network in areas related to the position.
AB4: Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

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

📝 EXPERIENCES (ASSETS)
AEX1: Experience in the design and planning of innovative research projects requiring the adaptation of new theories and techniques, their funding, budget management, and their realization to achieve valid scientific progress in an area of specialized knowledge.
AEX2: Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team and research network.
AEX3: Experience in internal processes of the Canadian federal public service.
AEX4: Experience evaluating scientific results.
AEX5: Experience in the communication of scientific issues, conclusions or information to non-specialists from the industry, first nation organizations, stakeholder groups and/or coordination committees.
AEX6: Experience writing funding proposals.

⏳ KNOWLEDGE (ASSETS)
AKN1: Knowledge of the features of the Canadian marine ecosystems used by marine mammals, particularly the St. Lawrence.
AKN2: Knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) methods for the automatization of detection algorithms.

🤝 KEY LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES
KLC1: Creating Vision and Strategy
KLC2: Mobilize People
KLC3: Uphold Integrity and Respect
KLC4: Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
KLC5: Promote Innovation and Guide Change
KLC6: Achieve Results

❗ OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Willingness and ability to travel in Canada and abroad.
• Willingness and ability to work in the field, on land or at sea, for periods up to 4 consecutive weeks and to travel for periods up to 12 weeks per year if required.
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work from small aircrafts, helicopters or small boats in remote areas.
• Willingness and ability to modify working hours depending on schedule and requirements of the program.

Conditions of employment

🔒 Reliability Status security clearance
🔒 Valid Health Canada Medical.
🔒 Valid driver’s license, or be able to travel in the same way as a person who has

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.

Make sure your résumé includes elements relevant to essential qualifications and other qualifications with precise dates, number of people in work team or supervised, and details allowing to quantify your experiences, knowledge or publications.

Instructions for covering letter: In their application, candidates must clearly demonstrate how they meet the studies and experience requirements posted in the essential and other qualifications. Candidates must demonstrate how they meet the requirements for studies, professional certificate and experiences. Provide detailed information to quantify essential qualifications, e.g. you can provide the number of years of experience, the number of people in supervised teams, the number of publications, project deliverables, your role in the teams, etc. The résumé could be used as a complementary source to validate information.

Candidate selection for the position to be filled will be done according to scores for each qualification. Qualifications are of two types : a) « Essential qualifications » are required for an application to be qualified; and b) « Other qualifications » are additional qualifications that are used to value an application.

We will communicate with candidates by email and/or through the candidate’s account in www.canada/jobs-government. Candidates participating to this process must provide a valid email address in their application, make sure that it is functional and should also make sure their system accepts messages from unknown senders (some systems may block the reception of this type of emails).

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

All application should be submitted using the website www.canada.ca/jobs-government. No application will be accepted by 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.