Senior Veterinary Science Specialist *Closing Date Extended*

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.

CITIZENSHIP INFORMATION
The CFIA considers applications from 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 will only be considered if all other applicants with legal status to work in Canada are determined to be not qualified.

Duties

• Provides veterinary scientific or epidemiological analysis, advice, interpretations, and recommendations to senior science and program managers.
• Acquires, modifies and develops techniques and approaches in risk analysis.
• Reviews, evaluates, prioritizes, organizes and writes veterinary scientific or technical information documents related to animal health.
• Plans, develops and conducts disease status and veterinary infrastructure evaluations of foreign countries/ regions/zones, including missions to these countries to assist in import decision making of the CFIA.

We offer a bilingual, science-based environment, with excellent benefits, flexible hours, opportunities for advancement, and 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 qualified pool of candidates will be established. This pool of candidates 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 appointment, acting appointments and/or assignments.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 4,000 words (maximum) "which can be used to introduce yourself, and highlight your education, experience and other qualifications. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO SPECIFIC FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE COVERING LETTER IT WILL BE USED TO ASSESS YOUR WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS. Instructions for all Essential and Asset Experience: In your cover letter, for each experience you are required to provide a clear, concrete and detailed example which demonstrates HOW you meet the experience requirement. When describing your examples, make sure that you: • Choose examples where the complexity, impact and difficulty sufficiently enable you to properly convey the breadth and depth of the experience you possess. • Concentrate mainly on what you have done. When referring to experience acquired in the context of a team, clearly describe your role and how it differed from the roles of the other team members. For example, it might be best to avoid such expressions as, “We decided to . . .”, “We organized a . . .”, or “We felt that . . .”. Any mention of others’ actions should serve solely as context for your actions. Try to phrase your example in the first person (I did, I thought, I said . . .). • Consider the definition when responding to questions in which details of significant experience are requested. • The examples you provide for each question are your only opportunity to demonstrate your attainment of the Essential and Asset Education and Essential and Asset Experience to the Assessment Board. Therefore, it is vital that the information you provide is complete. • Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in your application. Failure to provide this information in the requested format may result in your application being rejected. Important note: Applicants who indicate as their covering letter “see resumé” or “see applications” may be removed from further consideration. Your valid email address (see note 3 in the “Other information” section). 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."

Contact information for 2 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

• Graduation with either a Masters or Ph.D. in veterinary epidemiology, or related field

AND

• Graduation from a recognized school of Veterinary Medicine, defined as: graduation from a veterinary school accredited or approved by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA); or graduation from another veterinary school and holding a Certificate of Qualification granted by the National Examining Board of the CVMA.

Degree equivalency: 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

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION:

Eligibility for membership in a Canadian veterinary association, defined as:
• current members of a Canadian veterinary association with a license recognized by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association; and
• non-members of Canadian veterinary associations holding a Certificate of Qualification granted by the National Examining Board (NEB) of the CVMA.

This means possession of or eligibility for an unconditional general license that constitutes acceptable evidence of occupational competence and that is granted by an organization legally established by federal, provincial or territorial law as a certifying or licensing body.

Eligibility means that an individual has met all academic and occupational requirements with respect to degrees, examinations etc., without having to have obtained or maintained actual registration, certification or membership.

Eligibility for an unconditional general license as a Veterinarian also includes the mandatory requirement of successful completion of the National Examination Board (NEB) examinations (Parts A & B, as well as Part C for foreign-trained individuals).
For those applying for positions within the CFIA, a copy of their degree, as well as proof of successful completion of the NEB examinations (Parts A & B, and Part C for foreign-trained individuals), is required. In circumstances where an individual does not have proof of completion of the NEB examinations, the CFIA will require certification from the appropriate provincial licensing body that the individual is eligible for licensing by the association.

Continuously employed employees in the VM Group who have previously been deemed to meet the occupational certification requirement, are still deemed to meet the minimum requirement (grandparent-protected).

Individuals who were formerly appointed to the VM Group, then retired or resigned, and who are rehired, and who have previously been deemed to meet the occupational certification requirement, are still deemed to meet this minimum requirement when rehired (grandparent-protected).

Employees in the VM Group who meet the occupational certification requirement by virtue of a public service license are exceptions to the VM Group Selection Standard and are only protected for the position they currently occupy.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

EE1: Significant* experience in researching, analyzing and synthesizing animal health data.

* Significant experience is defined as five years combined study and working in the field of veterinary epidemiology

EE2: Demonstrate how you have experience in one of the following (select one):

1. Experience in the use of statistical software for the production of scientific reports related to disease trends, or network analysis in the field of veterinary epidemiology;

2. Conducting complex and timely risk assessments which contribute to the development of policies in animal health and welfare, surveillance or disease control programs;

3. Developing disease surveillance approaches and providing advice in relation to disease;

4. Evaluation of the veterinary infrastructure of countries and zoosanitary status within the context of risk analysis;

5. Developing risk assessment strategies at the intersection of public, animal and ecosystem health.

EE3: Experience in liaising and establishing linkages with government or non-governmental officials (academia, industry) demonstrated through strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

EC1: Analytical thinking
EC2: Problem solving skills
EC3: Planning and organizing
EC4: Decision-making / Judgement
EC5: Written communication
EC6: Oral communication
EC7: Effective interpersonal relationship

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE

EK1: Extensive knowledge of epidemiological principles and methods, including patterns of disease, data management, surveillance, diagnostic testing, environmental scanning and risk management.
EK2: Knowledge of international animal health organizations and standards related to surveillance, country evaluation, risk analysis and One Health.

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

ASSET KNOWLEDGE

AK1: Knowledge of the roles, mandate and the regulatory framework for animal health within the CFIA, its Branches and its regulatory partners.
AK2: Knowledge of Emerging animal health issues, trends and challenges facing the CFIA

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Applicants who have not lived in Canada for the past five 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 from the pool:
• 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 from the pool:
• Willing and available to work irregular hours (e.g., nights, weekends, statutory holidays).
• Willing and available to travel.
• Willing and available to work overtime.

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

a) You are entitled to participate in the staffing process in the official language of your choice.

b) You must submit your application online through GC Jobs (https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/opportunities/government.html).

c) 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.

d) 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.

e) 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.

f) 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.

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

h) The cover letter you provide will serve to evaluate your written skills.

i) 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