Role Responsibilities

The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy (TSE) Technician is a seasonal, up to 6-month, wage opportunity providing specialized technical laboratory support to detect the pathogenic agent of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Alberta wildlife as part of Alberta’s Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance program.

The major responsibilities for the successful candidate will include:
•    Receiving, processing and storing tissue samples for TSE testing; 
•    Performing precise collection of animal tissues for TSE testing; 
•    Ensuring sample accuracy within the quality system limits as specified by the ISO17025 accreditation requirements and national standards; 
•    Operating laboratory equipment as required; and 
•    Reporting of laboratory results.

The successful candidates will work independently and as a team member. These positions are in the TSE laboratory of the Food Safety Branch of Alberta Agriculture & Irrigation in Edmonton.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies: https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Building Collaborative Environments – Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively to achieve outcomes.

Agility – Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.

Drive For Results – Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.

Creative Problem Solving – Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Systems Thinking – The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and inter related environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems Thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements: 
•    Two-year technical diploma in a related field
•    Two year of related analytical lab experience

Equivalency: Directly related education or experience considered on the basis of:
1 year of education for 1 year of experience; or
1 year of experience for 1 year of education.

Additional Requirements:
Successful Candidates must meet national TSE certification standards under direction from the TSE lab supervisor (certification training provided on-site)

Assets: 
•    Experience in handling infectious and/or biological materials
•    Experience working in a biosafety laboratory 
•    Experience in high throughput lab systems
•    Experience with Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) and Materials Safety Data System (MSDS) principles

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification.

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday
4 positions are available

Please Note: These positions are based in Edmonton working closely with Alberta Agriculture laboratory staff and overseen by the Wildlife Disease Specialist of Fish and Wildlife Stewardship.

This position has a term of employment from October 15, 2025, up to March 31, 2026, pending operational needs.

In addition to regular wages, regular Wage employees receive 11.2% in lieu of benefits and vacation leave:
•    5.2 percent of regular wage earnings instead of paid holidays 
•    6 percent of regular wage earnings instead of annual vacation pay

In addition to the regular wages and the additional pay in lieu of benefits and vacation, regular wage employees are entitled to shift premium pay:
•    $3.25 per hour for weekends and holidays
•    $2.75 per hour for evenings

About Your Application
•    Terms of employment in your resume are to be identified in months and years, highlighting applicable duties or achievements at the respective role.  
•    Those selected for an interview are requested to bring three (3) work-related references.
•    Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.
•    Working for the Alberta Public Service – https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx 
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool - https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance

Resources for applicants:
•    https://www.alberta.ca/apply-for-jobs-with-the-alberta-public-service.aspx
•    https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-hiring-process.aspx
•    https://alis.alberta.ca/look-for-work/