Student - Agricultural Field Information Assistant

Are you a student looking for an opportunity to build your career over the summer? Are you passionate about making a difference?

The Summer Employment Opportunities program provides students with opportunities to obtain valuable work experience, gain transferable skills, and build professional networks.

• LEARN: Jump start your career, whether you want to learn business skills, use your French language skills, help out in a lab, or work outdoors. Put the knowledge you’ve acquired at school into action.


• GROW: Enhance your skills and expand your network by working on projects, leading initiatives and sharing your ideas. Transfer the skills you learn to your future school and work experiences.


• CONTRIBUTE: In addition to advancing your professional and personal skills, you will also give back to your community. Spend your summer working to support the interests of Ontarians!

Information to assist you with the application process, including the Application Guide is available at Summer Employment Opportunities. Within your application, you will have the opportunity to identify the skills, work preferences and qualifications you have that make you a suitable candidate for this position.

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 cities that you are able to travel to and work in.

Note: Relocation expenses and/or accommodations are not covered by ministries.

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 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.

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.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

You must meet all eligibility criteria on the first day of employment to be eligible for these positions.

1. Student Status: All summer jobs require a “student” status. A student is defined as someone enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution (currently or for the fall semester) or has graduated within the past six months. If you graduated in January, you could apply for and start a summer student position in the Ontario Public Service up until June of that year.


2. Age: You must be a minimum of 15 years of age. Due to program eligibility requirements, certain opportunities require students to be up to 24 years of age (or up to 29 years of age for a person with a disability). Certain positions require you to be a minimum of 18 years of age. You must meet all age requirements for the position by May 1, 2017.


3. Residency: You must be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment.


4. Work Status – Ability to Work in Canada: You much be legally entitled to work in Canada. You are also required to have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) upon being hired.

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 verbal, written, listening communication skills and customer service skills to respond to phone, email, and in-person inquiries and provide information to internal clients and/or 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 Ontario G2 Driver's license or equivalent (or higher)