Epidemiologist / Biostatistician / Senior Epidemiologist

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

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

***VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is the responsibility of the candidate to clearly outline that they meet each of the screening criteria (i.e., Education and Experience) by RESPONDING TO THE SCREENING QUESTIONS IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION. 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. Lack of EXAMPLES and DETAILS may result in your application being rejected, as the Assessment Board will have insufficient information to determine whether or not you meet the qualifications.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

The Public Health Agency of Canada is 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.

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.

Duties

Duties will vary depending on the position. Some of the duties include, but are not limited to:

► Conducts, plans, designs epidemiological research, studies, surveillance through data collection, validation, analysis, monitoring and interpretation.
► Critically evaluates and assesses epidemiological/statistical and other scientific evidence, studies, targeted surveillance and research activities and methodologies to identify and evaluate risk factors to public health as well as to validate the integrity of the data and scientific methodology.
► Prepares and disseminates reports for use by stakeholders and prepares data/statistics and information for briefings, presentations, responses to ministerial enquiries, the media and the public.
► As a subject-matter expert, develops recommendations for consideration by PHAC senior management in making evidenced-based decisions on strategic planning and required areas of research.
► Participates in multi-disciplinary project teams to conduct epidemiological studies and analyses.
► May manage project teams or a unit conducting epidemiological and/or bio-statistical research, surveillance, risk assessment and investigations.

Work environment

At the Public Health Agency of Canada, we take pride in what we do.

We believe that the work we do is defined by more than just a position title. We encourage our employees to be creative, motivated, inspired and innovative, regardless of their level. We promote opportunities for growth because we support employee development.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is part of the Health Portfolio of the Government of Canada, committed to help protect the health and safety of all Canadians. Its activities focus on preventing chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease, preventing injuries and responding to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks.

The Public Health Agency of Canada provides its employees with an exceptional workplace, opportunities for professional development, access to continued learning throughout their careers and flexible work schedules. You will have the opportunity to work in a fast-paced organization with engaged individuals. You will also enjoy your salary, as well as benefits (dental and health care) for you and your family, an appealing pension plan and access to our Family and Employee Assistance Program.

You can learn more about the Public Health Agency of Canada by visiting: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html

Intent of the process

The intent of this inventory is to create a pool of interested and/or partially qualified candidates to refer to hiring managers for current and future temporary and/or permanent job opportunities in the the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Public Health Agency of Canada will periodically pull and review the applications received and contact applicants selected for further assessment.

🚩The first pull of applications may be as early as February 12, 2024. It is therefore important for candidates to apply online as soon as possible.

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)

✍📚 ESSENTIAL EDUCATION:

Graduation with a Master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in epidemiology or biostatistics/statistics.*

*Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. Education must include at a minimum 2 courses in Biostatistics/Statistics and 2 courses in Epidemiology.

Degree equivalency

📋🔑 ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE:

EC05 & EC06

• Significant* experience in epidemiology**

*Significant refers to the depth, breadth and complexity of experience NORMALLY acquired from performing the duties for the minimum number of years below.
• 2 years epidemiology experience (for EC-05)
• 4 years epidemiology experience (for EC-06)

** Epidemiology experience includes key activities such as the design, development, analysis, reporting and/or evaluation of public health surveillance data; outbreak investigations; risk assessments, etc. The experience can be obtained through employment in an academic program (i.e., co-ops, practicums and Federal Student Work Exchange Program placements), a clinical setting or a public health organization or government department/agency. Experience gained through graduate degree coursework is not acceptable.

• Experience in compiling, analysing, and interpreting health datasets, including population based surveys or health administrative data.
• Experience in the design, development, evaluation or management of public health surveillance activities or system(s).
• Experience writing scientific or technical documents, such as surveillance reports, manuscripts for peer reviewed journals, project proposals, or reports to funding agencies.

EC-06 only:
• Experience in the management and analyses of complex* data from health surveillance programs, large-scale epidemiological studies/research projects or epidemiological outbreak investigations.

*Examples of complex data could include multi-sourced data, large datasets, linkage of data with varying formats/structures, longitudinal or national datasets.

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

Organizational Need:
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.

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

Various language requirements
💬🗣️ OFFICIAL LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY:

English Essential; French Essential or Bilingual Imperative (Various Bilingual Profiles – BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC).

Information on language requirements

✅💡 COMPETENCIES:

EC-05 & EC-06:
• Demonstrating integrity and respect.
• Thinking things through using sound judgement.
• Working effectively with others.
• Showing initiative and being action-oriented.

🧩⚖️ ABILITIES:

EC05 & EC06
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to summarize results and provide recommendations to management.
• Ability to conduct literature reviews.
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure and with changing timelines.

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

Education EC-05 & EC-06:

Candidates MAY be required to meet the following education qualification, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification:

• Graduation with a PHD from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization in epidemiology, public health, behavioural sciences or specialization relevant to the position being staffed.
• Graduation with a Clinical degree (MD, DVM, RN) from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Degree equivalency

Experience EC-05 and EC-06:

Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following experience qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed as they may be deemed as either an Essential or Asset qualification:

• Experience working with external or internal stakeholders.
• Experience in the planning and use of modelling or advanced statistical methods.
• Experience in analysis related to vulnerable populations and/or determinants of health.
• Experience in conducting systematic reviews of published articles and synthesizing clinical research information.
• Experience developing public health guidelines following rigorous methodology (e.g., Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation; GRADE).
• Experience in infectious disease epidemiology or research.
• Experience in chronic disease epidemiology or research.
• Experience in mental health / mental illness or substance harms epidemiology or research.

Additional Experience EC06:
• Experience providing recommendations to senior management.
• Experience chairing or working in multidisciplinary committees.
• Experience supervising teams.
• Experience coordinating and managing outbreak investigations.

NOTE: Based on the hiring division’s needs, additional essential qualifications, asset qualifications, organizational needs, operational requirements and/or conditions of employment may be identified and applied during the assessment and/or selection of candidates.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Candidates MAY be required to meet ONE OR MORE of the following operational requirements depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

• Willingness and availability to travel domestically and/or internationally.
• Available to work overtime, often on short notice based on operational requirements.
• Willingness to work on-site or in a hybrid model (virtually and on-site) environment.

Conditions of employment

Various security profiles (Reliability; Secret)

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

📝 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Candidates are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Please note that any and all communication relating to this process, including screening question answers, your resume, and/or any other written correspondence, may be used to assess your proficiency in your first official language.

Your first official language is the official language (English or French) with which you have a primary personal identification (that is, the official language in which a person is generally more proficient).


💯 IMPROVE YOUR APPLICATION

• • ► Your responses in your application can impact your selection for the next stage of the process and for consideration to future potential job openings. We recommend that you start early and take the necessary time to review the requirements and thoroughly respond to the screening questions that have been built into the application process.

• • ► The information you provide in the questionnaire must be true. When answering the questions you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualification. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain WHERE, WHEN, and HOW you gained the experience.

• • ► We’ll only use your résumé as a secondary source of information. If you don’t clearly demonstrate you have the required experience, we won’t ask for additional information and you may be screened out. The breadth and depth of experience may be considered during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidates.

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

• • ► Please clearly identify your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume.

• • ► Based on the hiring division’s needs, additional essential qualifications, asset qualifications, organizational needs, operational requirements and/or conditions of employment maybe identified and applied during the assessment and/or selection of candidates.

Note: As this process is for EC-05 to EC-06 positions, depth and breadth of experience/response may be used during screening, assessment and/or selection of candidate.

⏰WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

How the application process works – in five steps:

1️⃣ APPLICATION: We will only accept online applications received via the jobs.gc.ca site. Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.
►Once you have successfully submitted your online application, your application status in GC Jobs will show as "Included in inventory". This means that your application has been retained, NOT that you have been found qualified.

2️⃣ SCREENING: Screening is the initial review of your application. Applications will be pulled for review on a regular basis, it is therefore important for candidates to apply online as soon as possible. During the screening step, we will review your responses for education and experiences. You MUST meet the essential education and essential experience in order to be considered for the next phase of the evaluation process.
NOTE: Depending on the number of applicants, operational needs and HR plans, we may be applying asset criteria and/or volume management strategies.

3️⃣ WRITTEN EXERCISE & INTERVIEW: Should you successfully meet the criteria assessed during the screening stage, you will be invited via email to complete a written exercise and interview. They will be completed through an online platform that allows candidates to complete a written component and record their interview responses.

4️⃣ DOCUMENT GATHERING: Should you successfully meet the criteria assessed in your interview, you will be invited to the document gathering step of the hiring process. In this step, you will be asked to submit the required documentation to support your application (i.e. proof of education, references, etc.).

5️⃣ PARTIALLY QUALIFIED TALENT POOL: Congratulations! You have made it to the partially qualified talent pool. The partially qualified talent pool will be used to refer candidates to several hiring managers for open positions across the Public Health Agency of Canada.


📢 COMMUNICATION WITH CANDIDATES

While we appreciate all candidates’ interest, only those being considered in the process will be contacted. Should your application be selected, you will be contacted for further assessment.

Acknowledgment of receipt for applications will not be sent. All future communication will be sent via email. It is your responsibility to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Your contact email must be accessible to you. You must ensure your system does not filter relevant emails to your junk mailbox or trash.

For any questions related to this selection process, you may contact the email address provided below. Please reference the selection process number in your correspondence as our team manages multiple hiring processes.

💎 OTHER INFORMATION

Proof of citizenship or Permanent Residence will be required.

Proof of education will be required which includes diploma(s) and transcript(s). Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca.

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.