Research 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

We want you to succeed! Our objective is to identify qualified candidates by fairly assessing their abilities. Assessment accommodations are intended to remove obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that all candidates can showcase their capabilities.

Please help us meet our commitment of providing an inclusive and barrier-free environment by letting us know if you require assessment accommodations, including assistance with the application process. Additional information on the assessment format(s) (for example: exam, interview) will be provided at each assessment stage.

As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace.

Duties

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the duties of the incumbent will be to:
• Carry out research under field/greenhouse and/or lab conditions, e.g. application of pesticides, evaluation of pesticide treatments, etc.
• Identify plant and seed using identification tools;
• Contribute and/or maintain plant and seed collections;
• Contribute to the understanding of the relationships between plant and soil, agronomy and ecology;
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge and technology in crop production;
• Collate data, update databases and contribute to data analysis; including operating various instruments, scheduling instrument use, maintaining analytical data archives, ensuring quality control;
• Participating in design and implementation of experiments by advising on effective use of all equipment and assisting in the interpretation of data;
• Contribute to the production of presentations, reports, publications; assign work and/or supervise staff.

Work environment

The Minor Use Pesticides team works with grower organizations and provinces to identify crop/pest priorities, and partners with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, the United States Department of Agriculture IR-4 Project, registrant companies, and researchers to develop data necessary to meet regulatory requirements for the registration of new minor uses of pesticides. We are recruiting for a technician position with the AAFC Pest Management Centre (PMC), Minor Use Pesticides Program (MUPP) to assist with field research trials, much of it conducted under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles, aimed at collecting, analyzing and submitting efficacy, crop tolerance and residue data to support registration of new minor uses of pesticides and bio-pesticides

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff positions in Scott, Saskatchewan and in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, they may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

Education:
A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Experience planning and conducting laboratory, greenhouse or field experiments.
Experience in the use of word processing and spreadsheet applications such as Word and Excel.

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

Education:
Diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a specialization related to the duties of the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Experience in the application of pesticide.
Experience in the operation of field equipment.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential - position in Scott, Saskatchewan
Bilingual Imperative (BBB/BBB) - position in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
Knowledge of experimental methodologies, tools, theories, practices and principles.
Knowledge in pest identification.
Knowledge of field crop production.
Knowledge of pesticide application.

Competencies:
Adaptability
Attention to detail
Interactive Communication
Teamwork
Planning and Organizing
Concern for Safety

Abilities:
Ability to make observations, collect and record data accurately.
Ability to work independently.

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

Knowledge:
Knowledge of greenhouse crop production.
Knowledge of research work under Good Laboratory Practices (GLP).
Knowledge of basic statistics.

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups, as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Possession of a valid driver’s license.
Ability and willingness to work overtime.
Possession or ability and willingness to obtain the permit for pesticide application.
Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
Able and willing to work in laboratory, greenhouse, and field environments for extended periods at a time;
Able and willing to work outdoors under various weather conditions.
Able and willing to work with hazardous materials under normal safety precautions.

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

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

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

A random or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
• Matching the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
• Matching the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
• Depth, breadth, and type of work-specific experience.
• Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your educational credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the email referenced below under "Contact Information."

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.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts emails from unknown users (some email systems block these types of emails).

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.