Animal Health Technician

Animal Health Technician - AMENDMENT

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.

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

*Please be advised that CFIA has suspended its Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination. Accordingly, this poster has been amended to remove references to MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION in the Important messages and Conditions of employment sections.

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.

Duties

The duties of the position include :
-Animal husbandry (feeding, cleaning, etc.)
-Animal health care and monitoring
-Administration and monitoring of anesthesia and medical treatments to animals as required
-Associated record keeping of all observations
-Performing any required experimental procedures with animals including taking swab and blood samples
-Assistance with planning and execution of research projects on behalf of scientists/scientific staff
-Maintaining all required safety training as directed by laboratory policy and procedures
-Ensuring adherence to all quality assurance requirements
Technicians in animal care positions are required to be familiar with Canadian Council on Animal Care policies and guidelines as well as research and laboratory protocols. Technicians in animal care positions are required to use their training and experience to monitor, recognize and respond to animal health issues and emergencies. The duties of animal husbandry, care and sampling will occur in high containment facilities (CL-3, CL-3Ag, CL-4) and technicians will need to be familiar with and able to work in these areas with animals of various species and ages.

Work environment

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 thats as diverse as the people it serves. You can find some more great reasons to join us on our website:

Intent of the process

The intent is to have an inventory of candidates to draw from when vacancies arise for current and future needs at the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease laboratory in Winnipeg, MB.

Employees must be present in the laboratory; remote work is not a possibility.

As we anticipate a large number of applications, we may be applying volume management strategies throughout the selection process such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores and/or random selection.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis as long as the poster is active.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 3 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.

EEd1: A degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field relevant to the functions of the position. These might include (but not exclusively): Veterinary Technician diploma, Bachelor of Science (Agriculture, Animal Science/Systems), etc.

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.

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

English essential

EC1: Planning and organizing
EC2: Decision making
EC3: Interactive Communication
EC4: Effective Interpersonal Relationships
EC5: Detail oriented

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

AEd1: Canadian Association of Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS) Certification of any Level

AEx1: Experience working with laboratory animals in a University Lab Animal Facility or Government Research Lab or other biological or pharmaceutical company.

AEx2: Experience working in biocontainment facilities and animal handling in biocontainment.

AEx3: Experience with clinical test equipment, anesthesia and surgery in a veterinary clinical setting.

AC1: Flexibility

Conditions of employment

Secret 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 irregular hours days, nights, weekends, statutory holidays)
Willing and available to work overtime, as required
To have and maintain a valid driver`s license
To use in the prescribed circumstances and manner all prescribed safety materials, equipment, devices and clothing
Willing and able to be immunized as indicated by job risk, location, overseas travel and other identified risks
To use prescribed and provided respiratory equipment that meets the respiratory program requirements; to undergo fit testing may need to be clean-shaven, depending on the respirator design)
Willingness to abide by strict biosecurity protocols which may require showering several times a day or abiding by certain restrictions on contact with livestock outside of the workplace
Willing and able to work in environmentally challenging or physically demanding conditions and with pathogens in high security laboratory biocontainment or with potential allergens
Willing and able to work with samples potentially infected with SARS-CoV-2
Willing and able to carry and wear 20 kg of protective equipment while performing duties
Security clearance under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) may be required for certain laboratory positions

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.

Personal information is obtained for the purpose of determining an individuals 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.

Your ability to communicate effectively in writing will be assessed via the application.

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.

Contact information