Technical Internship Program

Effective January 1st, 2024 the salary range for this position is $1,125.58 to $1,350.08 per week in compliance with OPSEU Unified Bargaining Unit collective agreement provisions. The new rates, effective retroactive to January 1, 2024, were recently confirmed and dates for implementation of the new salary rates are still to be determined. Why join the OMAFRA Technical Internship Program? The OMAFRA Technical Internship Program is a 12-month paid internship program designed to provide a venue where technically trained recent post-secondary graduates can bring their knowledge, experiences, values, and perspectives; and through participating in work of the ministry, influence government policy and programs. The internship provides recent post-secondary graduates with a valuable government work experience, building transferable skills and gaining professional-level employment within OMAFRA and the OPS. About OMAFRA's Environmental Management Branch Are you interested in building your agricultural soil knowledge and mapping skills while contributing to an organization that provides opportunities for personal growth, continuous learning and work-life balance? If so, then consider this paid internship opportunity with our team in the Environmental Management Branch at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This position will focus on the development of agricultural soil resource inventory maps and information products, assessment of land suitability for agriculture and support soil health initiatives.
Join the Environmental Management Branch and work with a diversity of partners to support the sustainable management of land and resources within the agri-food sector and learn first-hand about the coordination, operation, and delivery of agri-environmental programs. This internship will provide the unique opportunity to work with internal and external partners to achieve the branch's mission of building credible information and collaborative partnerships to shape policy, design innovative solutions and implement programs that balance sector growth, public good and environmental health. You'll have the opportunity to support evidence-based program design, critical research, and educational initiatives to help to encourage behaviour change across Ontario's diverse farm communities.

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?

As part of the Resource Information and Business Services team in the Environmental Management Branch, you will: • Provide descriptions and interpretations of agricultural soil and landscapes to generate soil resource inventory map and information products.
• Plan, design and conduct an independent agricultural soil mapping project.
• Support land resource specialist staff in the identification, development and application of new agricultural soil investigation technologies/methodologies to Ontario conditions.
• Assist in the establishment of soil research priorities or activities.
• Provide oversight and direction of soil mapping and sampling activities being carried out by summer students.
• Contribute to the sustainable management and health of Ontario's agricultural soil resources by participating in soil demonstration days and soil education and outreach events.
• Learn the skills needed to successfully lead, manage and complete agricultural soil mapping and related projects.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory :

OMAFRA Technical Internship Program Eligibility Criteria: • Recent graduates, within the past 3 years, who have graduated, or will complete the requirements to graduate, prior to their employment start date, from a recognized or legally authorized college** or university** with:
o A degree***
o A diploma***
o A post-graduate certificate** which requires a previous degree or diploma
• For under-represented groups (persons with disabilities; indigenous; black; racialized; francophone; 2SLGBTQIA+), recent graduates, within the past 5 years, who have graduated, or will complete the requirements to graduate, prior to their employment start date, from a recognized or legally authorized college** or university** with:
o A degree***
o A diploma***
o A post-graduate certificate** which requires a previous degree or diploma.
• You must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• You must be a resident of Ontario during the term of employment.
• You are not currently a permanent OPS employee.
**A list of recognized schools and programs in Canada can be found on the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website. If your eligibility is based on a credential obtained outside of Canada, you will need to provide an assessment of that credential showing that it is the equivalent of an eligible Canadian credential. If you require an assessment of your credential, the OMAFRA Technical Internship Program will accept credential assessments from any member of the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada (ACESC). It is the applicant's responsibility to provide this assessment.
***In order to be eligible for the OMAFRA Technical Internship Program, educational credential must be obtained from a recognized or legally authorized post-secondary institution and meet the definitions listed below. If you are unsure if your credential qualifies, please contact your educational institution to determine the type of credential assigned to your program.
Degrees include:
• Bachelor's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree: Honors
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree
Diplomas include:
• Ontario College Diploma or the equivalent credential from another jurisdiction
• Ontario College Advanced Diploma or the equivalent credential from another jurisdiction
Post-Graduate Certificates include:
• Ontario College Graduate Certificate or the equivalent credential from another jurisdiction Position Specific Eligibility Criteria: • You must be able to travel to locations throughout Ontario to collect field data and information and provide logistical support for soil mapping projects and initiatives, attend meetings, trade shows or technical sessions with colleagues, collaborators and clients.
• You must have a valid Ontario driver's licence.

Analytical and problem-solving skills:

• You can interpret digital imagery (satellite, aerial photography) to ensure accurate location of field observations and map construction.

Specialized knowledge:

• You have knowledge of soil science and relevant disciplines that are applicable to the study of agricultural soil e.g., pedology, soil health.
• You have knowledge of one or more related disciplines such as geomorphology, surficial geology, physical geography and land resource management.
• You have general knowledge of Ontario's agricultural industry, production practices and the economic importance of the sector.
• You have knowledge of regional soil mapping techniques and practices to make primary field-based observations.
• You have knowledge of Geographic Information System products (e.g., ARCGIS), statistical software (e.g., R) database systems (e.g. Excel), in order to collect, manipulate, analyze and store data and information.
• You have Knowledge of Global Positioning System (GPS) tools and data.
• You are knowledgeable in using and interpreting digital imagery (satellite, aerial photography) for map construction and to ensure accurate location of field observations.

Communication and interpersonal skills:

• You have interpersonal skills to build and maintain effective working relationships and work cooperatively.
• You have communication skills and demonstrated experience delivering land-resource technical information products to a variety of audiences.

Other important skills:

• You have planning, organizational and problem-solving skills to develop, implement and complete soil related projects accurately and on time.
• You can create documents using database, spreadsheet and word processing software.