Specialist, Greenhouse Jobs

Job Type:

Employee

Duration in Months (for fixed-term jobs):

N/A

Job Family:

Laboratory Support

# of Open Positions:

1

Faculty/Service - Department:

Biology Undergraduate Lab

Campus:

Main Campus

Union Affiliation:

SSUO

Date Posted:

July 20, 2023

Closing Date:

July 31, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above

Hours per week:

35

Salary Grade:

SSUO Grade 09

Salary Range:

$67,783.00 - $85,623.00

About the Faculty of Science:

Welcome to the Faculty of Science, a great place to learn, to explore, to question, to discover — opening your mind and pushing boundaries. It’s an exciting time to be part of a rewarding career in life sciences, natural sciences and mathematics. You will have access to world-class facilities, including our Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Complex, our extensive Biosciences Complex and our cutting-edge Advanced Research Complex, that are the envy of many universities. We have strong links with a multitude of government and private research centres, providing countless opportunities and experiences.

We have become a true centre of excellence, earning recognition across Canada and abroad for our prowess in teaching and in our laboratories, where our researchers are addressing some of the most important and relevant scientific questions of our time. Our past is a testimonial to our passion, so will be our future. Will you be part of it?

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Manager, Laboratory Support, the incumbent will manage the teaching and research greenhouses as well as a modern growth chamber facility in three different locations. Coordinate teaching and research functions within the three facilities. Ensure that conditions are optimal for varied plant types and development by monitoring and evaluating plant growth. Provide expertise and technical assistance to students, graduate students and researchers in plant research techniques and in experimental preparation and development in the undergraduate plant physiology program. Participates actively in experiment preparation in the undergraduate program.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Establish optimum environmental conditions within the greenhouses, as well as in the growth chambers individual growing zones using a sophisticated computerized system for environmental control. Program all parameters for these facilities and ensure that all mechanical equipment functions in the right sequence. Respond to alarms to ensure all compartments are functioning at peak efficiency.
• Coordinate the daily operations to ensure the proper functioning of the equipment, to avoid loss of plants, delay in growth and to ensure optimal development. Perform daily visual monitoring and maintenance of infrastructure including equipment and controls to ensure optimal plant growing conditions.
• Act as the curator of the living plant library to ensure the health and propagation of a large collection of mature exotic plants to maintain a high level of teaching opportunities and a showcase for public enjoyment. Organize visits of the research and teaching greenhouses to prospective researchers, students and external groups on demand and during promotional and recruiting events.
• Act as the resource person for the contractors and facilities staff in case of major renovations projects or improvements of the greenhouse and growth chambers equipment and software.
• Communicate, consult and liaise with research and teaching teams on various upcoming research projects and student laboratory experiments to ensure availability of the plants and the planting material at all times. Collect and identify a diversity of plants, from different habitats in the Ottawa region, for use in plant courses. Make suggestions on protocols and growing conditions to ensure optimal results.

What you will bring:

• Knowledge and training in the safe handling and use of pesticides, fungicides and growth regulator chemicals. WHMIS and safety lab training.
• Commitment to ensuring a safe working environment through ongoing inspections, users training and review of safety standards.
• Ability to prioritize tasks to ensure continuity of services affecting research and teaching activities.
• Experience using computer systems and various software used to monitor and program greenhouse parameters and growth chambers, as well as Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet.
• Commitment to client service through excellence in interpersonal and communication skills and service delivery.
• Knowledge of experimental design. Must be able to understand the needs and demands of the different clients.
• University Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, preferably with a specialization in plant science or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Advanced knowledge of plant research practices, plant taxonomy, insects and diseases affecting plants obtained through a university or college degree with three years on-the-job training.
• Minimum three (3) years of demonstrated experience in a similar role.
• Excellent communication skills in both official languages.

Key Competencies at uOttawa:

Here are the required competencies for all or our employees at uOttawa:

Planning: Organize in time a series of actions or events in order to realize an objective or a project. Plan and organize own work and priorities in regular daily activities.

Initiative: Demonstrate creativity and initiative to suggest improvements and encourage positive results. Is proactive and self-starting. Show availability and willingness to go above and beyond whenever it is possible.

Client Service Orientation: Help or serve others to meet their needs. This implies anticipating and identifying the needs of internal and external clients and finding solutions on how to meet them.

Teamwork and Cooperation: Cooperate and work well with other members of the team to reach common goal(s). Accept and give constructive feedback. Able to adjust own behaviour to reach the goals of the team.

The University of Ottawa embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research and teaching excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The University is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes. Applicants with disabilities may contact [email protected] to communicate the accommodation need. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Note: if this is a union position: The hiring process will be governed by the current collective agreement related to the union affiliation noted above; you can click here to find out more.

If this is a front-line position with responsibilities to interact with students, selected candidates must be rated at the Low Advanced proficiency level or higher for both oral comprehension and reading comprehension in their second official language. The rating is determined by a proficiency test designed by the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.