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.
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Process Details
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The assessment of candidates will be conducted in multiple phases.
Phase 1 - APPLICATION / TEXT QUESTIONS:
When submitting your application, you must answer two types of questions for the screening/assessment phase.
1. Questions related to Education
2. Text questions related to the following competencies:
EC3: Decision Making / Judgement
EC4: Planning / Organizing
EC5: Teamwork
EC1: Written Communication will be assessed using your responses to the text questions.
Phase 2 - ASSESSMENT
The following competencies may be assessed through an interview and/or reference checks:
EC2: Oral communication
EC3: Decision making / Judgement
EC4: Planning / Organizing
EC5: Teamwork
EC6: Initiative
EC7: Adaptability / Flexibility
Inspectors at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspect and certify facilities and products, focusing on key areas of specialization including fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, meat, plant protection and fish.
Key activities will vary depending on the positions being staffed. They can include:
• Conducting surveys to monitor for invasive plants and plant pests.
• Collecting samples for laboratory analysis.
• Export certification of food and food products.
• Assessing Preventive Control Programs.
• Conducting ante mortem and postmortem inspection of animals at slaughterhouses.
• Inspection of imported and domestic food, plant, and animal products.
• Export certification of plant and plant products.
• Export certification of animals and animal byproducts.
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
We currently have vacant positions in the PEI Region that will be staffed from this process and a pool of qualified candidates will also be established for future vacancies.
Positions to be filled: Number to be determined
Your résumé.
A response to a text question addressing the following:
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. Please note that applicants who are scheduled to receive their post-secondary school diploma during the 2024-2025 academic year may submit their application.
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 specializing in relevant technical sciences OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.
Please be prepared to provide proof of your education (copy of degree/diploma) at any time during the hiring process.
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.
English essential
Click on the link below to get more information on language requirements, including self-assessment tests.
Information on language requirements
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES
EC1: Written communication
EC2: Oral communication
EC3: Decision making / Judgement
EC4: Planning / Organizing
EC5: Teamwork
EC6: Initiative
EC7: Adaptability / Flexibility
ASSET EXPERIENCE
AEx1: Experience working in the food, plant, or animal industries or in a related agriculture industry (experience gained in your program of study could also be accepted).
AEx2: Experience working with poultry or red meat.
AEx3: Experience interpreting and applying policies, procedures, regulations, or legislation.
AEx4: Experience in plant health, including any of the following: horticulture, fertilizer, forestry, grain, seed, crop, or pest programs.
AEx5: Experience in inspection at the CFIA.
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:
• Medical suitability: Pass a Pre-placement Health Evaluation and Periodic Health Evaluation.
• Willing and available to travel, as required.
• Willing and available to work shifts.
• Willing and available to work irregular hours (e.g., days, nights, weekends, statutory holidays).
• Willing and available to work overtime, as required.
• 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 travel in small boats and/or small planes.
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.
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 will 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.