Student – Agriculture Jobs

Are you a student or recent graduate looking for an opportunity to build your career over the summer? Are you passionate about making a difference? The Summer Employment Opportunities program provides opportunities to obtain valuable work experience, gain transferable skills, and build professional networks.

Submit an application today for these summer employment opportunities:

• Agricultural Field Information Assistant
• Agricultural Geomatics Assistant

Note: When submitting an application for this posting, please indicate on the application form which job type(s) you are applying to. You can apply to multiple opportunities.

Information to assist you with the application process is available on the Summer Employment Opportunities website.

This job posting represents multiple positions within different ministries and at various locations across Ontario. Certain cities may be located in distant or remote areas in Ontario and may not be accessible by public transit. Carefully review locations through Google Maps and select ONLY those locations that you are able to travel to and work in. You can select up to 10 locations.

Notes:

• Relocation expenses and/or accommodations are not covered by ministries.
  
• The number of positions to be filled is approximate and subject to change.
  
• Please use your legal name when applying to the job ad.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace. We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

This job type offers opportunities for professional development in the area of agriculture, environmental science and geomatics. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) is the official custodian of many diverse provincial-scale Geographic Information System (GIS) data layers – all with an agricultural focus. These include the soil classification, Canada Land Inventory (CLI), field tile drainage, constructed drain, agricultural resource inventory (AgRI), and other layers.

Agricultural Field Information Assistant Work Description:
As an Agricultural Field Information Assistant, you may have the opportunity to work on some or all of the following activities:
• Assist staff with data collection and entry to enhance provincial geomatics databases by making observations for a) soil classification, health, and erosion observations, and/or b) agricultural cropping and tillage systems.
• Access and enhance diverse provincial-scale GIS data layers – all with an agricultural focus. These include the soil classification, Canada Land Inventory (CLI), field tile drainage, constructed drain, agricultural resource inventory (AgRI), and many other layers.
• Use geomatics technology and field equipment techniques in conducting field projects. These techniques may include GIS software, Global Positioning System (GPS) with ArcPad, remote sensing spectral radiometer technology, high-resolution digital photography with digital SLR and high definition digital video cameras, and field soil sampling equipment.
• Actively participate in field work, which will include technical investigations, inspections, and site visits, as well as reconnaissance “windshield” survey mapping, and will require spending significant time in ministry vehicles.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and manage daily assigned work.

Agricultural Geomatics Assistant Work Description:
As an Agricultural Geomatics Assistant, you may have the opportunity to work on some or all of the following activities:
• Perform GIS tasks, including developing maps for clients and providing data quality assurance.
• Develop remote sensing and/or environmental/agricultural landscape modelling.
• Access and enhance diverse provincial-scale GIS data layers – all with an agricultural focus. These include the soil classification, Canada Land Inventory (CLI), field tile drainage, constructed drain, agricultural resource inventory (AgRI), and many other layers.
• May assist staff with data collection/entry, trend analysis, and map preparation for a wide range of Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and other agricultural and non-agricultural database information using GIS software.
• May assist staff with remote sensing imagery analyses, cloud cover masking, applying a range of classification techniques, raster map result presentation and attribution to GIS databases using Remote Sensing software products (some positions only).
• May assist staff with LiDAR data cloud post-processing efforts leading to high-resolution agricultural landscape information products (e.g. Digital Elevation Models, soil maps, etc. – some positions only).
• Provide customer service assistance by responding to database inquiries from internal clients or from the public.
• Work may also include graphic design for image presentation products, reorganization/optimization, and printing support (some positions only).
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and manage daily assigned work.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

You must meet all eligibility criteria by the first day of employment (contracts begin between May and July):

1. Student Status: You must be enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution (currently or for the fall semester) OR you must have graduated within the past six months (for example, if you graduated in December, you can apply for and start a summer student position up until June of the following year).
   
2. Age: You must be a minimum of 15 years of age. There is no maximum age limit.
   
3. Residency: You must be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment.
   
4. Work Status: You must be legally entitled to work in Canada. You are also required to have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) upon being hired.
   
5. Application: Applications are only accepted online by clicking the "Apply Online" button. Your application should describe how you meet the knowledge and skill requirements outlined on this ad.

Job Requirements for Agricultural Field Information Assistant:

Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• You apply your written communication skills to prepare a variety of documents (e.g. reports, document findings, record data, presentations, meeting minutes, training materials, visual aids, etc.)
• You apply your customer service skills and your verbal, written, and active listening communication skills to respond to phone, email, and in-person inquiries, and provide information to internal clients and/or the public.
• You apply your initiative and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team

Technical Skills and Knowledge
• You apply your knowledge of Ontario agricultural landscapes – their soils, cropping, tillage and land drainage systems – to detailed field information development projects. (some positions focus on soil mapping; others on crop and tillage system mapping)
• You apply your knowledge of field work applications of Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Remote Sensing (RS) software and equipment
• You apply your experience using the Microsoft Office product suite, such as word processing (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), databases; email and Internet to conduct research and prepare a variety of documents

Analytical and Organizational Skills
• You apply your planning and organizational skills to collect, organize, review and verify information/data through review of field maps, files, reports, and other means
• You work independently and as part of a team; you plan, organize and prioritize your time to meet competing deadlines

Other Requirements
• You have a valid G2 (or higher) Driver's Licence or equivalent.

Job Requirements for Agricultural Geomatics Assistant:

Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• You apply your customer service skills and your verbal, written, and active listening communication skills to respond to phone, email, and in-person inquiries, and provide information to internal clients and/or the public.
• You apply your written communication skills to document findings, record data, and prepare a variety of documents (e.g. reports, presentations, meeting minutes, training materials, visual aids, etc.).
• You apply your initiative and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.

Technical Skills and Knowledge
• You apply your knowledge and experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS – e.g. ESRI ArcGIS suite), Remote Sensing software, and/or environmental modelling software to help to build, access, analyze, and produce map products from a wide range of agricultural and other geo-databases.
• You apply your advanced mathematical and computing skills to modelling projects with agricultural landscape information (e.g. predictive soil classification mapping, soil erosion mapping, precision agriculture, crop yield mapping, etc.) – (some positions only).
• You apply your experience using Microsoft Office applications, such as Word (word processing) and Excel (spreadsheets), as well as databases, email, and the internet to conduct research and prepare a variety of documents.
• You have knowledge and experience with graphic design for image presentation, product reorganization/optimization, and printing support (some positions only).

Analytical and Organizational Skills
• You apply your planning and organizational skills to collect, organize, review, and verify information/data through review of field maps, files, reports, and other means.
• You work independently or as part of a team; you plan, organize, and prioritize your work to meet competing deadlines.

Other Summer Opportunities

We offer a variety of job types in diverse career fields. See what other summer opportunities are currently available! Also, check out all the other student and new professional opportunities offered within the Ontario Public Service.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Saturday, February 10, 2024 11:59 pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.