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.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is a separate employer and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act.
The CFIA considers applications from individuals who have legal status to work in Canada and does not give preference to Canadian citizens.
We will only accept applications received through the GC Jobs website, therefore you must submit your application by clicking on “Apply online” in this advertisement. Persons who are unable to apply online must use the “Contact information” below, prior to the closing date, to request specialized accommodation.
Seasonal Plant Health Insect Survey and Vessel Inspections for the Flighted Spongy Moth program.
Secondary duties may include import inspections, soil sampling or other duties as deemed appropriate.
These duties involve extensive walking and/or cycling, possibly more than 16 kilometers a day, in variable weather conditions, frequent bending at the knee and hip, craning of the neck, boarding vessels, and climbing of ladders (up to 2.4 m). This work typically begins late winter or early spring and ends late summer or mid fall depending on the specific work unit.
We offer a bilingual, science-based environment, with excellent benefits, flexible hours, opportunities for advancement, an emphasis on learning and development, and a high level of employee satisfaction. Join a workforce that’s as diverse as the people it serves. You can find some more great reasons to join us on our website: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/cfia-jobs/top-10-reasons-to-join-us/eng/1299859095075/1299859142835
A pool of qualified candidates will be established. This pool may be used to staff positions with similar qualifications, various conditions of employment and/or various tenures including term appointments, indeterminate appointments, acting appointments and/or assignments.
Positions to be filled: Number to be determined
Your résumé.
A covering letter "that clearly details how you meet the essential experience and education."
Candidates must use these factors as headers and then write one or two paragraphs demonstrating how they meet each factor using concrete examples. A Concrete example must include information pertaining to a particular time, place, situation and the outcome of the situation. Your cumulative response should be short and concise.
Use the STAR model: describe the Situation, Task, Action and Results. Choose examples where the complexity, impact and degree of difficulty are sufficient to adequately demonstrate the breadth and depth of the experience you have.
Make sure your examples focus on what you have done. When referring to team experience, clearly describe the role you played and how it differed from the role of the other team members. For example, it would be better to avoid using formulas like “We decided to…”, “We organized a…”, “We have the feeling that…” any reference to actions of others should only serve as context for your actions. Try to formulate your example in the first person (i.e.: “I did.., “I thought…”, and “I said…”).
Only candidates who submit a cover letter respecting the above requirements will be considered.
Contact information for two (2) references, including a current or a previous supervisor. Include name, telephone number and valid email.
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.
ESSENTIAL EDUCATION
EEd1: For individuals who are not current or former employees of CFIA:
• completion of post-secondary* education specializing in relevant technical sciences.
(CFIA Operations will apply a preference for: university graduation with specialization in a field related to the functions of the position)
For individuals who are currently employees of CFIA, or who have inspection experience with CFIA or its precursor departments:
• Completion of post-secondary* education OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.
*The definition for post-secondary education for this opportunity includes: certificates, diplomas and applied degrees in an area of study in relevant technical sciences as listed below.
Specializations can include (but are not limited to):
Plant Programs: Integrated Pest Management, Horticulture, Silviculture, Ecology, Forestry, Botany, Crop Production, Agriculture, Environment and General Biology. For General Biology degrees or other specializations you must state how your program (or components of) and/or specialization relates to Plant Health in the CFIA.
We encourage students in their final year who will complete their current education program of study by June 15, 2025, to apply. Your application will be assessed along with others and, if you are deemed otherwise qualified, you will be placed in a pool of candidates upon receipt of education credentials. Candidates must meet education requirements prior to appointment.
Applicants submitting education credentials from a non-Canadian institution are responsible for obtaining certification that these credentials are the equivalent of the Canadian education level required for the position.
Please refer to the link below for more information.
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE
EE1: Experience in data collection and data entry.
English essential
Information on language requirements
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES
EC1: Analytical Thinking
EC2: Planning and Organizing
EC3: Teamwork
EC4: Written Communication
EC5: Oral Communication
ASSET OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION
AC1: Clean Drivers abstract (2 years)
ASSET EXPERIENCE
AEx1: Experience using interviewing techniques to gather data.
AEx2: Experience providing service to clients.
AEx3: Experience in an agricultural environment.
AEx4: Experience conducting surveys for plant pests and diseases.
AEx5: Experience in working in a greenhouse and/or nursery.
AEx6: Experience working in Industrial Environments (Container terminals, freighter vessels, railyards, etc).
AEx7: Experience using a bicycle/ebike to commute in traffic, following the rules of the road.
ASSET KNOWLEDGE
AK1: Knowledge of Plant Identification.
AK2: Knowledge of Quarantine and Regulated Pests/Disease.
ASSET COMPETENCIES
AC1: Effective Interpersonal Relationships
Reliability Status security clearance - Applicants who have not lived in Canada for the past five (or ten, depending on security level) years may be required to submit a police certificate from each country in which they have lived for six months or more during this period, as well as other documentation required for the security screening process. Failure to submit this documentation if requested will eliminate the application from further consideration.
OTHER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The following conditions of employment are required for an appointment:
• Adherence to the CFIA Code of Conduct.
• Adherence to the CFIA Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Policy.
• Compliance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector.
• Legal status to accept employment for the entire period of employment.
Any of the following conditions of employment may be required for an appointment:
• Medical suitability: Pass a Pre-placement Health Evaluation and Periodic Health Evaluation.
• Willing and available to work overtime, as required.
• To have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• To assume responsibility for making transportation arrangements to get to diverse and distant work sites in a timely and efficient manner.
• To use in the prescribed circumstances and manner all prescribed safety materials, equipment, devices and clothing.
• Willing and able to be immunized as indicated by job risk, location, overseas travel and other identified risks.
• Willing and available to travel frequently, as required.
• Willing to work in various locations, including third-party premises.
• Willing and able to work in environmentally challenging or physically demanding conditions including at heights, on and over water, aboard vessels in adverse weather and varying light conditions.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency 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
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs/employment-equity.html
Personal information is obtained for the purpose of determining an individual’s competence and suitability for employment. If a staffing complaint questions this determination, please be advised that relevant personal information you will provide in the course of this staffing process may be disclosed to substantiate the staffing decision.
Please ensure that you read ALL points listed below, as this section contains important information about the application process. Failure to read these notes and follow these instructions could result in your application missing required information which may result in your application being eliminated from this staffing process.
You are entitled to participate in the staffing process in the official language of your choice.
For this staffing process, the CFIA will communicate with you by email. You must provide a valid email address to which you wish to receive communication regarding this staffing process. You must ensure that you check your email account including spam, promotion or other folders regularly as there may be a deadline for responses. If you respond past the deadline you risk being removed from the staffing process.
Applicants who are screened into this staffing process will be sent further information by email regarding what to expect during subsequent phases of this staffing process.
Depending on the number of applicants, CFIA's needs and CFIA HR plans, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates. Should a volume management strategy be used, communication regarding the application of the strategy will be provided to those candidates who are impacted.
During the application or assessment process both cheating and plagiarism are considered forms of misconduct and are not permitted. Any person found cheating, including those who help others to cheat, may be subject to removal from the staffing process.
A current copy of your resume may be used as another source to confirm the education and experience you will be asked to describe in the screening questions. It may also be reviewed by prospective hiring managers at the appointment stage.
For more information on how to apply to a CFIA staffing process, please visit: https://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/job-opportunities/how-to-apply/eng/1340676915348/1340679107182
You may be asked to provide proof of your education credentials later in the staffing process.
Various assessment tools may be used in this staffing process such as: standardized tests, reference checks, written tests, an interview, etc.
All written and verbal communication obtained throughout the staffing process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate the candidate.
We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.