Expert Advisor

Important messages

On-line applications are strongly encouraged in order to take advantage of the many benefits of using the electronic recruitment system. Some of the benefits for applicants are as follows:
- modify your application at any time BEFORE the closing date;
- when applicable, answer screening questions highlighting the expected qualifications to the hiring manager;
- verify the status of your application and notifications, at any time; and
- obtain information through electronic notification of your assessment details and results.

If you require accommodation for any reason, you must contact the HR Advisor listed below before the closing date.

If you do not clearly demonstrate how you meet all screening criteria, your application will be rejected. Your application may also be rejected if it has incomplete information. We will not contact you to request information that is missing from your application.

Duties

The Treasury Board Secretariat is now in search of an expert pension advisor who will play a key leadership role in ensuring that the public sector pension plans remain viable, financially sustainable and affordable for many generations to come. The public sector pension plans combined are the largest public sector pension plans in the Canada with assets of more than $100 billion. Sponsored by the Government of Canada, the public sector pension plans are defined benefit pension plans that provide pension coverage to over 800,000 members whether as an active member, a retiree or survivor.

As the ideal candidate, you are a dynamic “hands on” senior analyst with demonstrated experience in a public sector or private sector pension environment. You are a strong leader with balanced strategic and analytical decision making skills and project/priority management skills, proficient in meeting tight deadlines and producing tangible results. You have the ability to engage and collaborate effectively with all stakeholders and inspire confidence. You have a university education with a focus on economics, sociology, statistics or another relevant area, and a working knowledge of public and private sector pension plan design, broad pension industry trends, best practices and legislative or governance frameworks.

The Expert Pension Advisor, Pensions and Benefits Sector, Officer of the Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board Secretariat, is responsible for files relating to the management and delivery of the public sector pension plans. This involves assessing pension program policy, analyzing the role of the plan sponsor and pension plan governance, preparing Treasury Board Submissions, preparing reports and correspondence, as well as providing support to various pension-related projects.

If you’re interested in playing a key role as an expert pension advisor of the Pension Policy and Programs Directorate within the Treasury Board Secretariat, please submit your application online and contact the HR Advisor listed below if you have any questions.

Work environment

The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) is a central agency located in the National Capital Region. Working at TBS offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the work of a central federal agency, and to be part of cultivating the federal public service as a model workplace. With high-performing teams and innovative practices, TBS professionals in various fields serve Canadians by collaborating on government-wide initiatives, driving excellence in people management and taking initiative while effectively managing risks.

By 2018, employees of OCHRO will be moving to a newly renovated building in the downtown core that will meet the government’s new Workplace 2.0 concept and have Wi-Fi throughout. Employees will have access to amenities such as showers, change rooms and secure bicycle storage, allowing them to commute using Ottawa’s bike path system.

If you are a leader, a motivator and a strategic thinker who wants to work for one of Canada’s Top Employers, consider joining the TBS team.

Intent of the process

The initial intent of this process is to offer one indeterminate position.

A pool of qualified persons resulting from this process MAY be created and MAY be used to fill similar positions with linguistic profiles (bilingual imperative BBB/BBB, bilingual non-imperative BBB/BBB, bilingual imperative CBC/CBC, bilingual non imperative CBC/CBC) as well as tenures (indeterminate, deployment, acting, assignment, secondment, specified period) which may vary according to the position being staffed.

This pool may be used to staff similar positions in other organizations within the core public administration (http://www.psc-cfp.gc.ca/plcy-pltq/rfli-lirf/index-eng.htm).

By applying to this process, you consent to your personal application-related information being shared with other government departments interested in staffing similar positions.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Economics, Sociology or Statistics.

Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

-Significant experience* working as a senior analyst in a private or public sector pension environment***;
-Significant* experience managing or leading work on pension policy, pension plan design, management, pension plan administration, or governance of pension arrangements in a multi-stakeholder environment;
-Significant * experience establishing, maintaining, and working collaboratively with stakeholders, including other government departments (federal or provincial), and others (such as non-governmental associations), on pension policy, pension program management, pension plan administration or governance;
-Significant* experience at a senior level in providing strategic advice, and recommendations to senior officials (at the minimum Assistant Deputy Minister or equivalent) on complex** pension policy, pension plan management, pension plan administration, pension plan governance or regulatory issues.

*Significant is understood to mean the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed a broad range of complex pension related activities which are normally acquired over a period of at least seven (7) years within the last ten (10) years.

**Complex issues are defined as: issues or proposals that are highly visible involving multiple stakeholders, critical timelines, a high degree of risk and have significant policy implications.

*** Working in a private / public sector pension environment means that you are a dynamic “hands on” senior analyst with demonstrated experience in research and analysis of changes to pension related legislation and regulatory oversight; providing advice, developing recommendations on pension plan design, funding, and governance.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB
Bilingual non-imperative BBB/BBB
Bilingual imperative CBC/CBC
Bilingual non-imperative CBC/CBC

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:

-Knowledge of Government of Canada priorities;
-Knowledge of Treasury Board Secretariat roles, strategic objectives, and initiatives; and, the roles and objectives of other central agencies;
-Knowledge of private and public sector pension program designs;
-Knowledge of broad pension industry trends, best practices;
-Knowledge of governance best practices and frameworks.

ABILITIES:

-Ability to identify, synthesize and prepare briefing material (including strategic options) for senior officials (at the minimum Assistant Deputy Minister, or equivalent) on complex** policy issues related to pension arrangements;
-Ability to proactively identify sources of risk that could have impacts on pension plans, and recommend mitigation stratégies;
-Ability to work within tight schedules and to adapt to shifting priorities;
-Ability to communicate effectively orally;
-Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

**Complex issues are defined as: issues or proposals that are highly visible involving multiple stakeholders, critical timelines, a high degree of risk and have significant policy implications.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:

-Analytical thinking;
-Relationship building;
-Reliability;
-Results oriented;
-Adaptability and flexibility;
-Proactive Risk Management;
-Judgement.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET EDUCATION:

Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization in law, finance, accounting, actuarial science or public administration.

Degree equivalency

ASSET EXPERIENCE:

-Experience managing, leading and implementing legislative interpretation or regulatory analysis;
-Experience in operational strategic planning, including defining broad objectives and directions, managing long-term and short-term business plans, and linking priorities to resource base allocations;
-Experience managing financial resources, budgeting cycles, and provision of input into public sector accountability mechanisms;
-Experience in the preparation or review of products to communicate complex pension-related concepts to non-technical stakeholders, such as pension plan members;
-Experience in labour relations or managing engagements with bargaining agents;
-Experience in managing a team;
-Experience in one or more of the following:
- analysing the governance and oversight structures of pension plans OR;
- funding frameworks for pension plans OR;
- pension investment performance OR;
- pension accounting OR;
- pension program designs OR;- pension risk frameworks.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

-In support of achieving a diverse workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and women.

-Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat employees affected by workforce adjustment may be appointed before persons employed by other government organizations.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Must be willing to work overtime occasionally.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Other information

We will communicate with you about this process by email. As a result, you must update your Public Service Resourcing System profile if it changes. Applicants should use an email address that accepts messages from unknown senders (some email systems block such messages).

If you do not respond to our communications, we will interpret this as your withdrawal from the process.

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

Indeterminate employees at the same group and level or equivalent will be considered for deployment. If no deployment is made, applicants from other groups and levels will be considered in the advertised appointment process.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

You must indicate on your application if you require a technical aid for testing or an alternative method of assessment.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.
The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.
The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.