Grain Inspector Developmental Program - Grain Inspector Trainee

About the position

Duties
The Grain Inspector Development Program (GIDP) is a unique program, developed and delivered by the CGC that trains individuals to qualify as a working level Grain Inspector. Over the years, Grain Inspector Trainees will work a modular curriculum of class work and practical, hands-on working practicum at busy Canadian ports.

Grain Inspector Trainees will learn to
• perform preliminary inspection and analysis of grain samples
• grade grain samples
• draw representative grain samples
• determine the protein content of wheat
• maintain records of inspection data
• inspect equipment
• perform other related duties as assignedGrain Inspector Trainees will be expected to develop the required technical and behavioral competencies within the program as they progress from Trainee (PI-CGC-01) to full working-level Grain Inspector (PI-CGC-03).Trainees will receive constant monitoring and feedback so individuals may be promoted to the next level as they successfully demonstrate the program’s competency standards and expectations. Trainee progress and success will be dependent on the individual’s own effort and capacity to learn the required competencies rather than a pre-determined schedule.Trainees will be on probation for the duration of the development program and may be released at any time for failure to meet program expectations and demonstrate the required technical/behavioral competencies. Successful completion of all GIDP components will be a condition of employment for all participants upon acceptance of a Grain Inspector trainee position.The Grain Inspector Development Program can be the first step towards are warding career in the public service. Though many choose to spend their careers as grain inspectors, there may be opportunities to become an inspection specialist, inspection trainer, supervisor, or manager. There are many ways for graduates to apply their skills and grow well beyond the completion of the program.

Work environment
Grain Inspector Trainees will work in a heavy industrial environment with exposure to moving railcars, automated equipment, dust, noise, bird excrement, heights and rodents. Employees must use personal protective equipment (supplied) as required for safety purposes. Any known allergies must be controlled through the use of masks and/or medication and must not impinge on the trainee’s ability to perform the job.

Winter Work Conditions (Hamilton and Thunder Bay, Ontario):
In regions where winter conditions result in a freeze period of the waterways preventing navigation through locks, operational requirements may be reduced or temporarily adjusted. As a result, work availability may vary, and there may be periods during which employees are placed in an off-pay status for all or part of the freeze period, in accordance with operational needs.These arrangements are temporary and may be modified, reduced, or discontinued based on annual operational requirements.Employees will be notified in advance, where possible, and are responsible for understanding the available options and any associated requirements during these periods.

Intent of the process
Please note that an initial pull of applications will be conducted in Fall 2026 for positions located in Québec city, Montréal and Thunder Bay.

An Inventory of fully or partially qualified candidates may be established through this process and may be used to staff identical or similar positions with various tenures, security requirements, work locations and/or language requirements within the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).*Partially qualified means that candidates will be assessed as qualified except for the language and security requirements, which may be evaluated at a later date should the candidate be considered for appointment, depending on the requirements of the position being staffed.Positions to be filled: Number to be determined.

Important messages
When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is committed to conducting inclusive and barrier-free staffing processes, if you have a functional limitation or a disability that may impact your performance at any steps of the process, such as when submitting your application online, completing an exam or a written exercise and/or participating in an interview, you may request an accommodation. Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed, and to allow candidates to fully demonstrate their abilities.

Should you be invited to participate in an exam, a written exercise, or an interview, you will receive an e-mail including additional information on the assessment format so that you can determine if you may require an accommodation. All in formation received will be kept confidential.If you require accommodation, support in completing and submitting your application, or if you are unable to apply online, please make your request as soon as possible to the address listed below under "Hiring organization contact" prior to the closing date of this employment opportunity.Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). Candidates are strongly encouraged to check their email on a regular basis.Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team;
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed;
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience;
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.Candidates from outside the federal public service may be required to pay for their own travel.Receipts of applications will not be sent; only candidates successful in the screening process will be contacted. Depending on the requirements of the position being staffed from this process, for current or future vacancies, any or all of the asset qualifications, operational requirements, and organizational needs may be applied at the time of screening.In order to manage the number of applications in the selection process, management may use top- down consideration of scores at various steps in the process, to determine the number of candidates who will be further considered in the process.As the screening board cannot make assumptions about your experience, it is important that you clearly demonstrate to what degree you meet the above experience elements giving detailed examples of each element. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or(possibly) missing information. Failure todo so may result in your application being rejected.The use of AI is prohibited.
You must complete the assessment independently without external help, including unauthorized internet resources or Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT, or any other form of AI). You may be asked to explain or elaborate on your answers in a follow-up interview. Any violation may be investigated and result in serious consequences, including the rejection of your application.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Learn more about security screening process.

OTHER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
• Successful completion of the development program to the full working level of Grain Inspector (PI-CGC- 03) within the probationary period.
• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain, in good standing, the appropriate security level clearance for access to any work-related site.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability and willingness to lift grain samples (up to 20 kg), to climb ladders and work at heights.
• Ability and willingness to be exposed to grain dust / soil, and to outdoor conditions in an industrial environment. Known allergies must be controlled through the use of personal protective equipment and/or medication, and must not impinge upon the duties to be performed.
• Ability and willingness to work overtime FREQUENTLY, as required, including on short notice.
• Ability and willingness to travel, FREQUENTLY as required, including on short notice.
• Ability and willingness to work on shifts, as required.
• Ability and willingness to work in and around moving equipment in an indoor/outdoor industrial environment.
• Ability and willingness to adhere to CGC and industry safety standards and procedures.

Candidates must meet all of the applicable Conditions of Employment at the time of appointment and throughout their period of employment.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

EDUCATION:
• Secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Learn more about degree equivalency.

Applied / assessed at a later date

COMPETENCIES:
• Demonstrating integrity and respect.
• Working effectively with others.
• Showing initiative and being action-oriented.
• Thinking things through.

ABILITIES:
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Reasoning.
• Judgement.
• Ability to distinguish colors*

* The Grain Inspector position requires the ability to identify certain visual characteristics of grains, including color differences. If you have a functional limitation related to color vision that may affect your ability to perform these tasks, we encourage you to contact us at the email address below. If necessary, a professional assessment may be requested, and the details will be provided at that time.

Language requirements (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date

Various language requirements - Hamilton and Thunder Bay: English Essential
Montreal Island and Quebec City: Bilingual - Imperative BBB/BBB
Baie-Comeau: Bilingual - Imperative BAA/---

Learn more about language requirements.

You may need (asset qualifications)

May be applied / assessed at a later date

EXPERIENCE:
• Experience working in the grain industry.
• Experience with grading grain.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Learn more about assessment accommodation.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

Learn more about diversity and inclusion in the public service.

Appointment decisions may be based on organizational needs. We therefore encourage candidates to self-declare their membership to any of the following employment equity groups: visible minority, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, or women, should the organizational need be invoked during the appointment process.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

Learn more about preference to veterans.

How to apply

Learn more about applying for Government of Canada jobs.

Information you must provide

• Your résumé

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Additional links

Passionate about the grain industry and looking to grow your skills? Don’t miss this unique career opportunity in the Grain Inspector Development Program at the Canadian Grain Commission! Learn more in our video – watch it now!

Hiring organization contact

Name: CGC Staffing Team
Email address: [email protected]

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