Crop Statistician

Job Information
Job Title: Crop Statistician 
Job Requisition ID: 64384
Ministry: Agriculture and Irrigation
Location: Edmonton
Full or Part-Time: Full Time
Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week
Permanent/Temporary: Temporary (approx. 1 year)
Scope: Open Competition
Closing Date: November 14, 2024
Classification: Agrologist Level 2
Salary: ​$2,672.68 to $3,665.11 bi-weekly ($69,756 - $95,659/year)

The Government of Alberta is committed to a diverse and inclusive public service that reflects the population we serve to best meet the needs of Albertans. Consider joining a team where diversity, inclusion and innovation are valued and supported. For more information on diversity and inclusion, please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/diversity-inclusion-policy.aspx.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is responsible for the policies, legislation, regulations, programs, and services that enable Alberta’s agriculture and food sectors to flourish and contribute to Alberta’s economic recovery and growth. The ministry’s role is diverse, ranging from food safety and industry growth and diversification to increasing investment and supporting growth in rural Alberta. The ministry also supports foundational programs like irrigation and agricultural societies that help create strong rural communities and resilient agriculture sectors. For more information about the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation please visit our website at: https://www.alberta.ca/agriculture-and-irrigation.aspx.

Trade, Investment and Food Safety Division (TIFS) expands and diversifies Alberta’s food and bio-product manufacturing sector in local and global markets while also providing effective food safety assurance systems.

Statistics & Data Development - The Statistics and Data Development (SADD) Section of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) provides timely, unbiased data, information, analysis and statistical expertise in support of evidence-based policy development and informed business decision-making by our Ministry, partners and other clients, in growing Alberta’s agri-food industry.

Role Responsibilities

Are you passionate about numbers, have a strong analytical mind, a keen eye for detail and an interest in the agriculture and agri-food industry?

Do you enjoy showcasing your unique abilities to transform complex information into innovative tools and unique visuals that tell compelling stories?

If so, the Statistics and Data Development Section within the Trade, Economics and Data Analytics Branch of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation needs a crop statistician who is highly motivated, responsible, organized, articulate and comfortable with communicating crop data and information to clients.

Reporting to the Director, this is an advanced professional position involving the planning, coordination, and managing of a provincial program responsible for research, development and analysis of statistical data and information on crop and crop related products, with an Alberta focus (e.g. Alberta Crop Report).

The Crop Statistician is the provincial specialist who provides all sectors of the agriculture industry with up-to-date crop and crop products statistics and information, including crop reports, inventory estimates, small area estimates, production and markets information for Alberta and Canada. The position is responsible as part of the Federal/Provincial Agreement on Agricultural Statistics, for providing expertise to Statistics Canada in gathering and developing statistical data for crop and crop products in Alberta.

Using advanced skills in survey design, statistical analysis and methodology development, he or she designs and undertakes farm level research to measure production at both the provincial and sub-provincial levels. As the provincial specialist, the incumbent provides expertise, analysis and interpretation to department staff, other government departments and industry. Familiarity with Government of Alberta (GOA) information management protocols and confidential Acts and provisions, including Freedom of Information and Privacy (FOIP), is a must.

Your exceptional communication and interpersonal skills will assist you as you build strong working relationships with colleagues and clients. Your demonstrated professionalism, flexibility and commitment to working in a team environment will ensure your success in this key position.

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.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies:

Systems Thinking: You must have the ability to see the bigger picture and keep the broader impacts and connections in mind to maximize value when producing data to meet clients’ needs.

Agility: You must be able to readily adapt to changing data needs and priorities in the Section/Branch/Ministry. 

Drive for Results: You will provide leadership and manage the development and refining of statistics for the crop sector and must ensure that work done in the Section aligns with ministry objectives and clients’ data needs.

Build Collaborative Environments: working closely with other GOA ministries and Statistics Canada, you will act as an expert resource, build, and maintain trusting relationships to ensure the production of timely and quality statistics for the crop sector.

Develop Networks: You must have the ability to work with diverse stakeholder groups such as Statistics Canada, other GOA Ministries and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), in partnering, leveraging and acquiring appropriate data for the crop sector.

Creative Problem Solving: These abilities will allow you to identify and create innovative solutions to address data needs and challenges for Alberta such as filling data gaps, replacing traditional data sources, etc.

Qualifications

Education:
•    A University Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Science in Agriculture, preferably a major in agricultural economics or a related degree.
•    three (3) years of related experience.

Additional requirements include:
•    Eligibility for Alberta Institute of Agrologists (AIA) membership is required.

Equivalency: 
•    Related Master’s degree considered in lieu of part of the three years of related experience on a one-for-one basis.

Assets:
•    An excellent understanding/knowledge of statistical theory and techniques, which may include survey design, sampling techniques, interpretation of statistical parameters, assessment of quality/reliability of statistical indicators and making recommendations for provincial/national programs/publications.
•    A strong knowledge of statistical analysis, regression/correlation analysis and econometric modeling. 
•    A good understanding of Statistics Canada's national survey operation and information/data collection system.
•    A good knowledge of agricultural industry in Alberta and Canada, particularly structure and stakeholders in agricultural production, marketing, handling/transportation, consulting, research and information services.
•    Familiar with agricultural programs and policy in Alberta, Canada and the United States. 
•    A good knowledge of agronomy/crop science, particularly in areas of crop growth/development, tillage, crop rotation, weeds/pests management, development/control of crop diseases and seasonality of pasture growth.
•    A sound knowledge of primary agriculture practices for both dryland and irrigation production.
•    Effective coordination, leadership and supervisory skills. 
•    A strong background in computing and familiarity with software, database management, spreadsheets, data visualization and econometric modeling (e.g. M365, Power BI, R, Python, etc.).
•    Good public relations and media skills.

Candidates with lesser qualifications may be considered as an underfill.

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

Position Information: 
•    Office is located in Edmonton.
•    Hours of Work: 36.25 hours per week.
•    Monday to Friday (8:15 to 4:30 pm).
•    Flexible start/end times may be considered.
•    Temporary full time position for approximately one year.

Additional Applicant Information:
•    A cover letter is required. 
•    Final candidates may be required to undergo a test demonstrating their skills and abilities after interviews.
•    Final candidates may be required to undergo a security screening.
•    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. 

Instructions for your Resume:
For Employment Experience:
•    Please indicate duration of employment (month, year) in words.
•    Please specify employment status (i.e. casual, part-time or full-time).
•    Ex: Youth Worker, Jan 2006 - June 2009, Part-time (three, 8 hour shifts per week).

What we offer:
•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.

How To Apply
Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies.

Candidates are required to apply for a job online. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/job-application-resources#before for more information. Please visit Recruitment Principles, for more information.

It is recommended applicants who have completed post-secondary studies from outside of Canada obtain an evaluation of their credentials from the International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)(https://www.alberta.ca/international-qualifications-assessment.aspx) or from a recognized Canadian Credential Evaluator; please visit the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada for more information (https://canalliance.org/en/default.html).

It is recommended that applicants include the assessment certificate from IQAS or any other educational assessment service as part of their application.

Closing Statement
This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' qualifications most closely match the advertised requirements. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

If you require any further information on this job posting or require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Jane McEwen, TAS Administrator via email at Jane.Mcewen@gov.ab.ca.