Primary Inspectors – 2016

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) offers full-time summer employment from approximately April 2016 to the end of October 2016, at various locations across Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB) in the two following streams:

Stream A - Plant Programs:

Successful candidates will work with plant health staff to verify compliance with federal acts and regulations.

Duties may include inspecting pedigreed seed crops for varietal purity; soil sampling to detect pale cyst nematode; sampling fertilizers; conducting plant pest surveys; and interacting with producers. These duties involve extensive walking, possibly up to 16 kilometres a day in variable weather conditions.

Stream B - Meat Hygiene/Food Safety Programs:

Successful candidates will work with inspection staff to verify the safety of meat, poultry and/or other food products intended for Canadian and export markets. Duties may include inspection of live animal, carcass, and viscera; inspection of processing and slaughter plants; and inspection of post-slaughter operations and products to verify compliance with federal acts and regulations.

These positions are intended to respond to short-term, seasonal, or critical inspection issues where the focus is on delivery of a single or limited number of program aspects requiring basic knowledge or training.

Rates of pay: $21.61 to $27.35 per hour (EG-01)

Actual rate of pay and classification level are dependent upon duties.

Deadline for applications: February 12, 2016

Screening Criteria

  • Applicants must identify in their application the legal status that entitles them to work in Canada (Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or work permit) and be prepared to show proof of this status upon request. Failure to do so may eliminate the application from further consideration.
  • Applicants must demonstrate one of the following:

a)completion of post-secondary education specializing in technical sciences related to the job duties (for example: agriculture, forestry, biology, horticultural, animal, veterinary or food sciences), OR

b)an acceptable combination of education, training and experience (for example: experience working in the food safety industry, or crop production/agriculture in an applied position, conducting surveys for plant pests and diseases or crop farming), OR

c)registration as a post-secondary student, returning to studies at the end of the term appointment, in a field of study in technical sciences relevant to the job duties (see “a)” above).

Language Profile: English Essential

Conditions of Employment

  • reliability security clearance
  • successful medical clearance
  • valid driver’s licence
  • willingness and availability to work various shifts, including evenings, weekends and statutory holidays
  • compliance with the CFIA Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code.
  • willingness to travel extensively may be required for some positions
  • able to work in environmentally challenging/physically demanding conditions
  • willingness to work overtime
  • mandatory use of all prescribed safety materials, equipment, devices and clothing

Competencies to be assessed Note: All qualifications listed below are mandatory/must pass.

  • oral communication
  • ability to work independently
  • effective interpersonal relationships
  • dependability
  • judgment
  • teamwork

For certain positions, additional qualifications MAY be assessed prior to placement, such as:

  • knowledge of agronomy, the agriculture industry, plant pest identification and/or agricultural production
  • initiative
  • analyze and evaluate
  • plan and organize
  • written communication

Notes:

  • Interviews will tentatively be held February to March, 2016. Applicants from outside the federal public service will be required to pay for their own travel and relocation expenses, both for assessment and for appointment.
  • Pools of qualified candidates will be created. These pools will NOT be used to staff positions on a permanent basis. Most terms are expected to last 2 to 6 months.
  • Two work-related references will be required in order to complete the assessment process for each candidate. If references cannot be contacted, the assessment process will not continue and the candidate will be deemed not qualified.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency 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 clearly on your application.

To apply

Send us your cover letter and résumé, including an indication of your preferred work location(s), by town/city and province, within Western Canada and a detailed description of how you meet the above-noted screening criteria. Please include the names and contact information of two references, as described above. Please email these documents, referencing the competition number 16-ICA-WEST-SPEC-TERM-OPS-015and stream in which you are interested, to