Apply your expertise and passion for innovation to this rewarding career opportunity

The Plant and Animal Health Branch supports the sustainability of plant and animal agriculture, while serving to protect the well-being of the people of the province of British Columbia through surveillance, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and the development of strategies to address identified risks. The Plant and Animal Health Branch consists of the Animal Health Centre and the Plant Health Unit.

The Plant Pathologist is part of the Plant Health Unit which is responsible for protecting B.C.’s agricultural resource from the adverse impacts of plant pests through the delivery of the Plant Health Strategy. This position provides professional and technical support and advisory services to agri-food industries in the B.C. Interior on plant disease issues, including facilitating training, research and extension initiatives that foster effective and safe plant disease control methods for sustainable agri-food systems.

Job Requirements:
Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in plant pathology from a recognized university.
• Registered as a Professional Agrologist, or immediately eligible* for registration as a Professional Agrologist, with the British Columbia Institute of Agrologists.
• * Note: immediately eligible is defined as being registered as a professional Agrologist in another Canadian jurisdiction and able to transfer that membership to the BCIA. It is the responsibility of the applicant to have the BCIA review their qualifications to ensure they have the necessary requirements for registration.
• Two years of postgraduate experience in plant pathology or working as a plant pathologist for industry, government or university.
• Experience in epidemiology and management of fungal, viral or bacterial diseases of horticultural crops.
• Experience in project management.

Preference may be give to applicants with any of the following:

• Experience in agricultural extension work.
• Training in mycology or virology.

Provisos/Willingness Statements:

• Valid BC drivers license or equivalent.
• Overnight travel may be required to attend industry meetings.

For questions regarding this position, please contact Shauna-Lee.Chai@gov.bc.ca

About this Position:

Flexible work options are available; this position may be able to work up to 2 days at home per week subject to an approved telework agreement.
Applicants who do not fully meet the required qualifications may be considered for this position, but at a lower classification.
An eligibility list may be established to fill future temporary and permanent vacancies.
Kelowna is known for its spectacular selection of wineries, and it is set on the shores of Okanagan Lake, providing water activities like swimming, paddling, windsurfing and fishing. Big White, the ski mountain in Kelowna, allows for skiing and snowboarding.
Employees of the BC Public Service must be located in BC at the time of employment.

Working for the BC Public Service:
The BC Public Service is committed to creating a diverse workplace to represent the population we serve and to better meet the needs of our citizens. Consider joining our team and being part of an innovative, inclusive and rewarding workplace.

The Indigenous Applicant Advisory Service is available to applicants that self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, status or non-status, Métis, or Inuit) seeking work or already employed in the BC Public Service. For guidance on applying and interviewing, please contact IndigenousApplicants@gov.bc.ca or 778-405-3452.

In addition to this exciting opportunity, the BC Public Service is an award-winning employer in British Columbia, including such accolades as being one of BC's Top Employers for 2017, one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2017 and one of Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers in 2017. The BC Public Service offers a healthy work/life balance, excellent benefits, including one of the best pension plans available, and a variety of opportunities for career learning and development. To find out more, explore What the BC Public Service offers You

How to Apply:
Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the job requirements listed above.

Professional Designation: YES - Please include your registration number in your application. You must be registered (or immediately eligible for registration) as a Professional Agrologist with the BC Institute of Agrologists. Note: immediately eligible for registration is defined as being able to transfer a current membership from an applicable jurisdiction. Applicants must confirm their eligibility with the BCIA. Confirmation of registration/eligibility will be required before an offer of employment can be made.

Resume: YES - A resume is required as part of your application, however, it may not be used for initial shortlisting purposes.

Questionnaire: YES - You will need to complete a comprehensive questionnaire to demonstrate how you meet the job requirements. Include all relevant information about your educational accomplishments and employment history including job titles, start and end dates (month and year) of your employment, and how you obtained your relevant experience. The questionnaire will take approximately 60 minutes to complete.

Helpful tips, videos and more regarding the application process can be found on the Your Job Application page of MyHR. If you are experiencing technical difficulty applying, e-mail BCPSA.Hiring.Centre@gov.bc.ca, before the stated closing time, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Additional Information:
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be required.

Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be assessed on the Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies as outlined in the attached Job Profile located at the bottom of the posting.

Applications will be accepted until 11:00 pm Pacific Standard Time on the closing date of the competition.