Phytochemistry Research Technician

Employment and Social Development Canada; Summerland; Hybrid; CAD 72,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Science and Technology Branch is seeking a capable laboratory technician in Summerland, BC. The role focuses on leading analytical projects, supervising summer staff, and supporting phytochemistry research in fruit and beverage quality.

You will perform chemical analyses, manage field trials, and contribute to reports and presentations, under the direction of a research scientist in a phytochemistry program.

Qualifications

• Graduation with a science degree; specialization in chemistry/biochemistry or related field.
• Experience providing technical support and organizing day-to-day lab operations.
• Experience extracting and analyzing compounds from plant and beverage matrices.
• Knowledge of basic statistical analysis and record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical support for laboratory-based projects.
• Supervise students and technical staff; manage workloads.
• Maintain lab equipment and ensure health and safety standards.
• Collect and analyze samples from plants, fruits, beverages; monitor fermentation processes.
• Prepare research reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Coordinate research with internal/external collaborators.

Skills

Laboratory leadership

Data collection

Supervision

Safety compliance

Analytical thinking

Education

Science degree (chemistry/biochemistry etc.)

Tools

UHPLC/HPLC

LC‑MS

GC‑FID

GC‑MS

FTIR

Job description

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada- Science and Technology Branch

Selection process number
26-AGR-BCAB-EA-STB-68733

Location
Summerland(British Columbia)

Salary
$71,741 to $90,184-Salary under review

Level
EG-04

Who can apply
Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

Duties
Under the direction of a research scientist, the technician will:

• Provide leadership and technical support for laboratory-based projects.
• Provide leadership in a plant/fruit chemistry research environment; supervise and assign duties to students and other technical staff as required.
• Supervise activities in a phytochemistry laboratory, maintain supplies and equipment, and ensure operations meet Health and Safety Standards.
• Collect data as per protocols by conducting chemical, physiological, biological, and physical determinations on plant, fruit, beverages and other organic samples as required.
• Maintain equipment, trouble-shoot and conduct measurements of plant, fruit, beverage and other organic samples collected using various techniques, or methods.
• Make wine and cider in a small lot winery and monitor chemical parameters throughout fermentation.
• Assist with sensory evaluations of beverages according to established protocols.
• Establish field trials, maintain them, take measurements and harvest the crop following established experimental design and research protocols.
• Develop Standard Operational Procedures as required, use relevant methodologies and ensure equipment operation and maintenance.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records of experiments performed and results obtained.
• Contribute to the preparation of research reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Co‑ordinate research efforts with internal and external collaborators, graduate students and others.

Work environment
The Science and Technology Branch (STB) undertakes agricultural research, development and knowledge transfer activities to support and contribute to the agriculture, agri‑food and agri‑based products sector. We work with industry, academia, Provincial governments and other partners to generate new knowledge, foster innovation and increase adoption and commercialization of agricultural, agri‑food, and agri‑based products, process and practices. Together, we will work to support a resilient and innovative agriculture sector. The Science and Technology Branch (STB) of Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC) conducts mission‑driven research in support of a sustainable, innovative, and competitive agriculture and agri‑food sector. Research and development efforts are focused on four strategic science missions: climate change mitigation and adaptation, agro‑ecosystem resilience, digital transformation, and the circular economy. The STB is organized into three agriculture regions, each with unique ecological environments to tailor delivery of national priorities to regional needs: Coastal Region; Prairie Region; and Ontario‑Québec Region. In addition, there is a Partnerships and Planning Directorate. Our science and technology transfer capacity is distributed across the country in an extensive network of Research Centres, farms, labs, and offices. The incumbent will provide technical support for analytical work at the Summerland Research and Development Centre. The position will involve the supervision of summer students and short‑term technical support staff. Further, the incumbent will work in a research laboratory and possibly in greenhouse, growth chamber, field conditions and/or Pilot Plant environment as required supporting research activities under the direction of a research scientist with a phytochemistry research program focused on the improvement of fruit and beverage quality. They will obtain samples (plant and food materials, including but not limited to, samples derived from tree fruits and grape vines and growing environments) to process and analyze. The incumbent will make wine and cider, bottle and store for further evaluation.

Intent of the process
The immediate need is to staff one full‑time permanent position located in Summerland, British Columbia. A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures. In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, they may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled
1

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.

Additional qualifications
Possession of a valid, class 5 British Columbia driver’s license, or other provincial/territorial equivalency.
Ability and willingness to travel occasionally.
Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours when circumstances require and/or overtime, including evenings and weekends, if required.
Ability and willingness to undertake work‑related training.
Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.

Operational Requirements

• Ability and willingness to work with chemicals, acids and bases and other hazardous materials requiring extra safety precautions.
• Ability and willingness to perform repetitive tasks.
• Ability and willingness to stand and/or perform duties for long periods and under normal safety precautions in the work environment.
• Ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork and travel to field sites.
• Ability to lift equipment and samples (20 kg max), walk in rough terrain, and be exposed to environmental conditions (e.g., insects, sun, rain).
• Ability and willingness to work in a laboratory, greenhouse, growth chamber, field conditions, and/or Pilot Plant environment.

You need (essential for the job)

Education:

• Graduation with a degree in science from a recognized post‑secondary institution with specialization in chemistry (for example: analytical, environmental, natural products, organic), biochemistry, biology, food science, soil science OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience related to the duties of the position. At a later stage in the selection process, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your educational credentials. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Click on the link below to contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials(CICIC): https://www.cicic.ca/2/home.canada

Experience:

• Experience providing technical support and organizing and conducting day‑to‑day laboratory operations.
• Experience in the operation, routine maintenance, and troubleshooting of instrumentation related to analytical chemistry and chemical analyses including collecting, compiling, and analyzing experimental data.
• Experience in extracting and analyzing compounds from various matrices (for example: plants, insects, microbial or fungal organic materials), using chemical and/or biochemical methods.
• Experience in adapting and developing methodologies and/or tools for processing and analyzing materials.
• Experience in basic statistical analysis, evaluating experimental results, writing protocols, methods and reports.
• Experience in using one or more of the following instruments: Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)/Higher Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Liquid Chromatography‑Mass Spectrometry (LC‑MS), Gas Chromatography‑Flame Ionization Detector (GC‑FID), Gas Chromatography‑Mass Spectrometry (GC‑MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).

Applied / assessed at a later date

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of chemistry and biochemistry.
• Knowledge of record keeping, data management and basic statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of chemical analyses of organic and inorganic compounds.
• Knowledge of instruments and techniques and/or methodologies used in analytical chemistry.
• Knowledge of laboratory health and safety procedures.

Language requirements (essential for the job)

English essential - You are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of your choice.

May be applied / assessed at a later date

Experience:

• Experience in conducting colorimetric assays for sugars, phenolics and enzyme activity assays using UV‑Vis spectroscopy.
• Experience in fruit quality assessment.
• Experience in flavor and aroma analysis including instrumental or sensory.
• Experience making wine or other fermented beverages.
• Experience in supervising staff and allocating tasks and training others.

Abilities:

• Ability to contribute to the preparation of research reports, manuscripts and posters.

Organizational Needs:

• In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self‑identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability; Visible Minorities, Women. Supporting employment continuity by prioritizing AAFC employees impacted by workforce adjustment for job opportunities.

Our commitment

We’re 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 contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

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.

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.

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

We’d like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.