About the position
Duties1. Operate various crop/field equipment or irrigation systems for the land stewardship of the Morden Research and Development Centre such as:
a. Performs field, forage/hay operations, such as preparing soil, seeding, fertilizing, spraying and harvesting a variety of plant material.
b. Operates, cleans, adjusts and generally makes minor repairs to a variety of tools and equipment.
c. Performs care and maintenance of such things as irrigation/drainage systems, fences, experimental plots and production fields.
d. Recognizes any abnormalities and reports to program to determine the appropriate course of action within program parameters.
2. Keeps records and field notes for agronomic activities on the fields such as
a. Observes, inspects, measures and collects data covering a wide range of fact/attributes, including plant disease, growth, insects, etc. from seeding to harvest
b. Input information into a database, update activities on the whiteboard, providing reports and verbal updates.
3. Provide technical support and services to researchers on seasonal assignments such as:
a. Preparing soil, seed and plants for laboratory analysis and experimentation (e.g. cleaning, weighing, grinding).
b. Participates in setting up trials in accordance with research protocols and instructions,
c. Seeding, planting, propagating, fertilizing, maintaining and harvesting a variety of plant material.
Intent of the process
Immediate need:
• 1 full time permanent (indeterminate) position
• 1 full-time temporary (term) position (September 2026 to December 2027)
A pool of qualified and/or partially qualified candidates may be established and used to fill similar positions on a temporary or permanent basis.
In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, they may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.
Positions to be filled
2
Important messages
As one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives. We are dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of all Canadians regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socio-economic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace. We also have various employee diversity networks dedicated to ensuring that our department continues to grow as an inclusive employer.
Conditions of employment
Reliability Status security clearance
Learn more about security screening process.
• Possession of a valid class 5 Manitoba driver’s license, or other provincial/territorial equivalency.
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Pesticide Applicators License issued by Manitoba Agriculture within one year of appointment.
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Forklift Operator’s License issued by a provincially certified agency within one year of appointment
• Ability and willingness to control allergies, through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge on tasks to be performed.
• Ability and willingness to work in harsh environments (outdoors, cold, hot, dust and noise).
• Ability and willingness to work overtime including evening, weekends and statutory holidays.
• Ability and willingness to work with chemicals and pesticides.
• Ability and willingness to perform physically demanding work including moderate to heavy manual labour requiring bending and lifting heavy objects (up to 25kg)
You need (essential for the job)
Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following
• Successful completion of secondary school diploma OR acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.
Learn more about degree equivalency.
• Experience operating and maintaining common farm machinery such as tractors, cultivation equipment, seeders, sprayers and harvesters.
• Experience in grain crop operations.
Applied / assessed at a later date
• Knowledge of farming methods, practices and principles.
• Knowledge of crop pests.
• Concern for Safety
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Planning and Organizing
• Ability to identify major prairie crop species.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
You may need (asset qualifications)
May be applied / assessed at a later date
• Pesticide Applicator’s License issued by Manitoba Agriculture for agriculture ground application.
• Forklift Operator’s License issued by a provincially certified agency.
• Experience in working in an agricultural research environment.
• Experience operating irrigation equipment such as irrigation pumps, reel carts, and overhead irrigation systems.
• Knowledge of fertilizers and pest control products including preparation and application.
• Ability to perform dosage and dilution calculations for preparing pesticide solutions.
• Ability to record information for the purposes of record keeping – accurately and legibly.
Organizational Needs:
Supporting employment continuity by prioritizing employees impacted by workforce adjustment for job opportunities.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.
Learn more about diversity and inclusion in the public service.
Agriculture and Agri-food Canada recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian Society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups, as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.
Learn more about employment equity.