Head, Science Laboratory Services

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

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is a separate employer and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act.

MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION
On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service.

As a separate employer, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has implemented the Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, that requires all CFIA employees to attest to their vaccination status and to be fully vaccinated, unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), assignment and student hiring to the CFIA. Should you reach the point in the staffing process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment, the hiring manager will contact you.

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.

Duties

Provides advice, interpretation and recommendations on issues directly related to the work of the Diagnostic Section at the Sidney Laboratory to Science Branch Directors; Operations and Policy & Programs Branches; private and regulatory laboratories. Manages the development and implementation of Section programs, services and resources.

Key Accountabilities:
• Responsible for the management of Section testing and method development programs, services, and resources within a laboratory.
• Provides authoritative advice, interpretation and recommendations on issues directly related to the work of the Section to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops collaborative and co-partnership science proposals and agreements with internal and external partners for the Section.
• Facilitates the knowledge transfer of technology to other Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laboratories, federal and provincial government laboratories, private accredited laboratories and to university laboratories.
• Verifies the Section’s operations are conducted in compliance with applicable International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Quality Control/Quality Assurance standards, the CFIA Environmental Management System (EMS), and all relevant/appropriate Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) guidelines.

Work environment

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

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates may be established. This pool may be used to staff positions with similar qualifications, with various language requirements, various conditions of employment and/or various tenures including term appointments, indeterminate appointments, acting appointments and/or assignments.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 3 references.

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

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

A bachelor’s degree in a natural, physical or applied science from a recognized post-secondary institution, with a specialization in plant health, microbiology, virology, molecular biology, or a related discipline.

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.

Degree equivalency

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

EE1: Experience managing or directing laboratory activities.

EE2: Experience in the interpretation of data including review of directives, procedures and regulations and the provision of scientific advice.

EE3: Experience managing financial resources.

EE4: Experience in the supervision of subordinate staff.

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

English essential
Official languages proficiency will not be assessed for entry to the pool. Candidates entered in the pool will have an opportunity for assessment of their official languages proficiency if and when they are considered for an appointment.

Information on language requirements

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

EC1: Oral Communication

EC2: Written Communication

EC3: Effective Interpersonal Relationships

EC4: Initiative

EC5: Leadership

EC6: Judgement

ESSENTIAL ABILITIES AND SKILLS

EA1: Ability to synthesize and evaluate technical and scientific information for the purposes of decision making and making recommendations to senior management.

EA2: Ability to plan and organize.

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

ASSET EDUCATION

AEd1: Post-graduate degree in a natural, physical or applied science from a recognized post-secondary institution, with a specialization in plant health, microbiology, virology, molecular biology, or a related discipline.

Degree equivalency

ASSET EXPERIENCE

AEx1: Experience working within a formal quality management system.

AEx2: Experience in the provision of scientific advice related to plant health.

Conditions of employment

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.

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:

• To use in the prescribed circumstances and manner all prescribed safety materials, equipment, devices and clothing.
• Willing and available to travel, as required.
• Willing and available to work overtime, as required.

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

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 in to 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 will be asked to provide proof of your education credentials later in the staffing process.

Your ability to communicate effectively in writing will be assessed via the application.

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.

Contact information