Plant Health - District Program Officer

Department Name: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Locations: Lethbridge, Calgary
Classification: AG - 02
Salary: $52,008 to $69,435 (per annum)
Closing Date: November 17, 2006 - 23:59, Pacific Time Useful Information
Reference Number: ICA06J-007655-000119
Selection Process Number: 06-ICA-WEST-OE-ALBS-230
Employment Tenure: These are anticipatory positions to staff one full-time permanent position and one full-time term position. A pool of qualified candidates may be established and used to staff similar term and/or permanent positions in various locations.
Vacancies: 2

Website: For further information on the department, please visit Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Who Can Apply:

Useful Information

• Persons residing or employed in Calgary, Alberta, and within a 1300 km radius of Calgary Alberta, within Canadian territory, extending to, amongst others, Victoria, BC, Yellowknife, NT, Winnipeg, MB.
  
  The distance between your residence or your employment location and the position location will be determined using data provided by the Natural Resources Canada, Geomatics Canada's website. For information on how to use this website please click here: http://www.jobs-emplois.gc.ca/menu/radius_e.htm

Citizenship

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Preference will be given to Canadian citizens. Please indicate in your application the reason for which you are entitled to work in Canada: Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or work permit.

Language Proficiency

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Applicants must demonstrate in their application that they meet the following merit criteria to be retained for further consideration.

English essential

Education

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Graduation with a degree from a recognized University with a degree in science with a specialization in one of the following: plant pathology, entomology, crop science, horticulture or plant science. Must be eligible for acceptance in a provincial Institute of Agrologists in Canada.

Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the educational requirements.

Experience

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Experience is required in EACH of the following areas:
. Experience in audits, projects and/or surveys within the Plant Industry.
. Experience working with any of the following: representatives of industry, government agencies or stakeholders involved in plant health or plant production.

Other Merit Criteria and Conditions of Employment

• CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
  • Willingness to undergo and successfully pass a reliability security clearance.
  • Current successful medical assessment.
  • Willingness and ability to work irregular or extended hours in exceptional or emergency situations.
  • Possession of a valid driver's license.
  • Compliance with the CFIA’s Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code.

Statement of Merit Criteria

Applicants who meet the above criteria will also be assessed against the Statement of Merit Criteria for this position.

Work Environment

As a key science-based federal regulator of food, animals and plants, the 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 13 federal acts and their respective regulations.

Challenge

Coordinates work with others as part of a team to meet Agency business work plans, values and service standards; Assists and/or conducts audits, inspections, investigations. Approves production facilities; regional monitoring of inspection programs, projects, surveys. Collaborates in the design and development of national, area and regional projects for developing related policies, procedures and methods. Provides guidance to Agency staff and clients to ensure consistent, effective application and compliance with Plant Protection, Seeds, and Fertilizer Acts & Regulations. Is a primary contact for other levels of government and industry. Assists in the preparation of briefs for use by the Department of Justice; responds to issues on the domestic and international movement of plants and plant products.

Additional Requirements / Comments

• Screening will be based on review of a complete application demonstrating how the applicant’s qualifications meet the requirements of the position. Please ensure that your cover letter and current resume specifically and in detail address each of the screening criteria (i.e. language, education, citizenship and experience). Applicants will not be contacted for additional information.
• Statement of Merit Criteria and job description available on request to Heather Lynge, Human Resource Services, phone (403) 292-4036 or e-mail lyngeh@inspection.gc.ca. All applications must be submitted by the closing date. Written/simulation examinations may be administered.

Information to be provided:

When you apply, you must provide the following information or your application will be rejected:

• Your resumé.
• A covering letter in 1,000 words (maximum)
• You must ensure that you select at least one employment type when submitting your application: Employment Tenure

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS / COMMENTS

Only online applications are accepted.

If you do not have Internet access in your home or through friends, relatives or neighbours, here are some suggested alternate locations: campus career centres, libraries, community centres, Internet cafés, Canada/Student Employment Centres, and Public Service Commission (PSC) regional offices. You may also call 1-800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or TTY/TDD 1-800-926-9105, for information on the nearest public internet access location.

If after trying these options you still cannot access the Internet, please call the toll-free number 1-888-780-4444; or toll-free TTY/TDD 1-800-465-7735 (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired and speech impaired persons); or the nearest PSC office.

CFIA is committed to having a skilled, diversified workforce reflective of Canadian society, and to the equitable representation of women (especially in non-traditional occupational groups), aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability and members of a visible minority group. We encourage members of these designated groups to self-identify. If you have special needs, please ensure that this is communicated to the appropriate person within human resources.

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 selection process may be disclosed to substantiate the staffing decision.

CFIA is a separate employer and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act.

Important Messages

Interested persons must meet each essential qualification to be appointed to the position. A person may be appointed to the position even though he/she does not meet any or all of the asset qualifications, operational requirements or organizational needs. However, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

Your resume must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements.

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

Questions regarding travel and relocation.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.