Director, Laboratory Network – National Centres for Animal Disease

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

CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) considers applications from all individuals who have legal status to work in Canada and does not give preference to Canadian citizens.

In your application, please identify the legal status which entitles you to work in Canada – Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or work permit. You will be asked to show proof of this status in order to complete the security screening required for employment. Failure to provide this information will eliminate your application from further consideration.

Individuals without Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or an open or CFIA-specific work permit to work in Canada will only be considered if all other applicants with legal status to work in Canada are determined to be not qualified.

Duties

The Director, Laboratory Network is accountable for providing scientific, strategic and operational leadership for the planning, management and delivery of the Agency’s science programs, laboratory facilities and services (testing and analysis, surveillance, methodology development, scientific research, emergency response, scientific advice, laboratory accreditation, etc.) within an assigned network of regional laboratories in various geographical locations.

The position of Director, Laboratory Network - National Centres for Animal Disease is responsible for two labs:

1) The National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD), located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The NCFAD is located within the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, a secure facility shared with the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory.

NCFAD provides state-of-the-art scientific expertise and technologies for the prevention, detection, control and reporting of foreign animal diseases zoonotic infections and emerging diseases.

2) The National Centre for Animal Diseases, located in Lethbridge, Alberta.

The Lethbridge laboratory contributes to the health and protection of animals through diagnostic testing and research. These services are vital in providing the tests required for the export of animals and animal products for trade as well as for domestic animal health programs of CFIA.

Work environment

As a key science-based regulator of food, animals and plants, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is committed to enhancing the safety of food produced, sold or imported into Canada, contributing to the health of animals and protecting the plant resource base. To meet these commitments, the Agency administers and/or enforces federal acts and their respective regulations.

Our mission: The CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy.

Our vision: To excel as a science-based regulator, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community.

The CFIA is a separate agency and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA). The Agency has its own values-based staffing regime and as such, uses a different staffing process and terminology. The CFIA also has its own Policy Framework for the HR Management of Executives.

Intent of the process

The immediate intent of the process is to staff one (1) position in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions across the country.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 3,000 words (maximum) "NOTE: The candidate MUST provide a cover letter. In this document, you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience requirements listed in the essential and asset qualifications sections. The screening board cannot make any assumptions about your experience. It is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current duties. One effective approach would be to use the wording of each experience criterion as a heading and then write one or two paragraphs demonstrating not only that you have the required experience, but how and when it was acquired and ensure that clear and accurate details are provided. The curriculum vitae may be a secondary source to confirm the experience described in the cover letter. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate that the candidate meets the screening criteria will not be given further consideration."

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

ESSENTIAL EDUCATION

Graduation with a degree from a recognized university in a scientific discipline related to CFIA’s mandate.

Degree equivalency

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

Significant* experience at the executive level, or equivalent, in managing scientific research, diagnostic testing and other laboratory functions.

Significant* experience in managing scientific capacity to ensure delivery of science outcomes.

Significant* experience in providing advice to senior management (Vice-President, Assistant Deputy Minister level or equivalent) on high visibility and/or time-sensitive issues.

Experience in developing strategic alliances through formal partnerships with governments and/or universities and/or industry.

Significant* and recent** experience in managing financial resources and scientific professionals

Definitions:
* Significant experience is understood to mean the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of complex activities related to this task, which are normally acquired over a period of at least two (2) years.

** Recent is defined at within the last five (5) years.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential – National Centres for Animal Disease (Winnipeg)

Information on language requirements

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of the mandate of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and how it relates to government priorities;

Knowledge of scientific trends and developments in animal health;

Knowledge relating to the application of science in a regulatory environment.

ESSENTIAL CFIA EXECUTIVE COMPETENCIES*

AGENCY-WIDE COMPETENCIES
Strategic Thinking
Decisiveness
Stakeholder Relationship Building
People Development and Management
Organizational Awareness
Change Leadership

DELIVERY EXPERTISE COMPETENCIES
Operational Effectiveness
Holding People Accountable

*The CFIA has its own set of executive competencies. The CFIA Leadership Competency Dictionary can be found on the CFIA website at the following link: http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/cfia-jobs/hr-information/cfia-leadership-competency-dictionary/eng/1430513429452/1430514157284.

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

ASSET EDUCATION

Postgraduate degree from a recognized university in a scientific discipline related to CFIA’s mandate (preferably in microbiology, virology, pathology, immunology or related field).

Undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine from a recognized university.

Degree equivalency

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

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

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Please ensure that you read ALL points listed below, as this section contains important information in the application process. Failure to read the notes and follow instructions as specified could result in your application missing required information which may result in your application being eliminated from this selection process.

1. All applications must be submitted online at www.canada.ca/government-jobs through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). Do not email, fax or mail in applications as these will not be accepted.

2. The information collected on the Asset Education may be considered when making an appointment. Applicants do not need to meet the asset education for consideration; however, possessing it may increase the likelihood of being considered for an appointment.

3. Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, etc.

4. All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, will be used to evaluate the candidates.

5. Depending on the number of applicants, the CFIA's needs and/or the CFIA Human Resources plans, volume management strategies such as random selection, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, may be used for the purpose of managing applications. Please note that although you may attain the established pass mark on any of the assessments used in this staffing process, management may decide to use a higher cut off score.

6. For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail. This includes: information requests, invitations, provision of assessment results, etc. Applicants must include in their application a valid e-mail address that is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. Some e-mail systems block these types of e-mails. Ensure to check/view your spam folder regularly. Applicants must check their e-mail accounts frequently as there may be a deadline for responses. Responses provided after the indicated deadline will not be accepted.

7. Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice (English or French). Candidates are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application profile.

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

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information