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.
At the CFIA this commitment goes beyond the hiring process. We are committed to ensuring that all employees have equal, barrier-free access to opportunities; that they can work to the best of their abilities and fully participate in work events. Recognizing where situations require accommodations, we have established several supports and services in the workplace which help to ensure a fair, timely and consistent approach to access.
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 as follows:
Phase 1 – APPLICATION:
When submitting your application, you must answer the screening questions related to Education and
Essential Experiences.
Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach on text questions may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates.
Phase 2- ASSESSMENT
The following competencies will be assessed through an interview:
EC1: Adaptability / Flexibility
EC2: Analytical Thinking / Judgment
EC3: Planning, Prioritizing and Organizing
EC4: Oral Communication
Duties include (but are not limited to):
• Receive, ship, log, prepare and organize marine samples for analysis.
• Performs established analytical procedures.
• Follows the Quality Assurance (QA) system of the work unit.
• Washes/ sterilizes glassware and instruments and performs general housekeeping duties throughout the laboratory work unit.
• Media preparation for microbiological analyses (Burnaby location only).
• Assists in maintaining large reference collections/standards used in the preparation of controls for diagnostic tests, proficiency panels, and other simple analytical activities.
• Work in environmentally challenging or physically demanding conditions in laboratory environments that may contain pathogens and biocontainment procedures or with potential allergens (extensive periods of standing, lifting heavy samples, shucking of bivalve shellfish; exposure to allergens such as shellfish, crustaceans, nuts, eggs, milk, etc.).
A pool of qualified candidates will be established. This pool may be used to staff positions with similar qualifications, various conditions of employment for as required term employment (As required*). (*) Means the hours of work are sporadic and irregular. The appointee will be called in to work as required.
Positions to be filled: Number to be determined
Your résumé.
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: Completion of a secondary school diploma from a recognized institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience in a laboratory environment.
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 working independently.
EE2: Experience working as part of a team.
EE3: Experience following and completing prescribed work procedures and safe work practices.
EE4: Experience remaining focused and attentive to detail during repetitive work.
English essential
Information on language requirements
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES
EC1: Adaptability / Flexibility
EC2: Analytical Thinking / Judgement
EC3: Planning, Prioritizing and Organizing
EC4: Oral Communication
ASSET EDUCATION
AEd1: Post-secondary diploma in a natural or applied science from a recognized institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience in a laboratory environment.
ASSET EXPERIENCE
AEx1: Experience working in a laboratory.
AEx2: Experience working within a quality management system (ISO, etc.)
AEx3: Experience using spreadsheets and database computer software programs such as Microsoft Office suite.
AEx4: Experience working in a production line workflow environment with tight deadlines.
ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
A representative workforce is a core priority for the CFIA. First consideration for an appointment may be given to qualified candidates who, at the time of application, indicate they belong to one of the following Employment Equity (EE) groups (self-declaration): Indigenous Peoples, Women, Members of Visible Minorities and Persons with Disabilities.
Note that the CFIA has chosen to adopt the Accessible Canada Act definition of Disability for self-declaration, which includes any physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment – or a functional limitation – whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person's full and equal participation in society. Please apply this definition when completing the Self-Declaration Form for Members of Employment Equity Groups as part of your application.
Information on employment equity
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:
• Willing and available to travel, as required.
• Willing and available to work irregular hours (e.g., days, nights, weekends, statutory holidays).
• Willing and available to work overtime, as required.
• To use in the prescribed circumstances and manner all prescribed safety materials, equipment, devices and clothing.
• Willing and able to work in environmentally challenging or physically demanding conditions and with pathogens in high security laboratory biocontainment or with potential allergens.
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 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.
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.
We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.