Role Responsibilities

The Postmortem Room Technician is a seasonal, up to 6 month, wage opportunity providing support to collect biological samples as part of Alberta’s Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance program. These positions collect specific tissues from hunter-harvested deer, elk, and moose heads and submit them to the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Lab testing.

The major responsibilities for the successful candidate will include:
•    Receiving, processing and storing deer heads submitted for testing;
•    Collection of biological tissue samples from dead animals;
•    Operating and maintaining laboratory equipment as required (e.g., electric hoist, incinerator); 
•    Maintaining detailed/organized data records; and 
•    Reporting/logging laboratory activities. 
•    Understanding and following biosecurity operating procedures.

Staff will also be utilized, at times, to assist in additional duties of the wildlife disease unit when needed.

The successful candidates will be required to work independently and as a team member and should not have allergies to blood or animals. Successful candidates should also be comfortable with working with dead animals.

There are six positions available, two each in Lethbridge, Airdrie and 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: 
•    Completed High school diploma 
•    One year of hands-on experience in a biological laboratory.

Preference will be given to candidates with directly related work experience or one year of biological laboratory experience via technical college or university.

Assets: 
•    Ability to lift to 50lbs continuously.
•    Previous experience in handling and processing animals (i.e. hunting, agricultural).

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.

Please note: There are 2 positions available in each of the following locations: Edmonton, Airdrie, and Lethbridge, Alberta.

This position has a term of employment from October 20, 2025, to March 31, 2026.

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/