Human Rights Officer

Important messages

In order to have your application considered, all screening questions must be answered. You must provide concrete examples, which illustrate how you meet each qualification including where and how you obtained the experience, as well as the period(s) in which you performed the functions of the position(s) (M-Y to M-Y). Your application must adhere to the stipulated format stated in the Job Opportunity Advertisement. FAILURE TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE IN THE SCREENING QUESTIONS HOW YOU MEET THE SCREENING CRITERIA (Education and Experience, both Essential and Asset) WILL RESULT IN THE REJECTION OF YOUR APPLICATION.

Duties

General description of the position: Human Rights Officers are responsible for assessing whether there is evidence to support that a violation of the Canadian Human Rights Act has occurred. These key positions within the Canadian Human Rights Commission play an important role in the organization, carrying out fact-findings and analysis that determine whether a complaint should be referred to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The role of a Human Rights Officer is challenging and requires good interpersonal skills, judgment, writing and analytical skills. It also involves frequent interactions with the public. Human Rights Officers are faced with difficult situations daily. While challenging, the position is one that can be extremely fulfilling, where an Officer's daily work contributes tangibly to the advancement of human rights in Canada.

List of specific duties:
-Reviews and analyses complaints against individuals, employers and service providers involving allegations of discrimination filed pursuant to the Canadian Human Rights Act.

-Assesses complaint files, defines the issues and positions of parties in dispute.

-Advises and provides information to the parties of a complaint regarding legislation and relevant policies, and on the complaint process; educates clients/stakeholders on possible outcomes resulting from complaints.

-Plans and manages assigned assessments, investigations, and/or s.41 analyses on human rights complaints. Establishes the proposed investigative or analytical approach and develops plans and strategies that ensure that due process is followed in dealing with complaints and involved parties.

-Collects information and evidence through different data gathering processes (e.g. written statements; interviews; analysis of documentation; on-site visits; etc).

-Reviews and analyses a wide array of information gathered from multiple sources; identifies points of law and constraints relative to the application of several Acts or Regulations; identifies and assesses relevant case issues and factors against case law, human rights legislative provisions as well as Commission policies; defines instances of discriminatory practices and establishes findings for inclusion in reports.

-Writes assessment, investigation and/or s.41 reports for Commission review outlining the information and evidence collected relating to particular complaints and making recommendations on whether or not the Commission should deal with the complaint; or, whether or not further inquiry by a Human Rights Tribunal is warranted.

-Participates in special working groups and policy discussion teams to develop and/or update policy interpretations, guides, manuals, training modules and presentations.

-Maintains an ongoing awareness of the evolving environment of human rights issues, including court decisions.

Intent of the process

This staffing process may be used for Human Rights Officer positions within the Resolution Services Division and Investigations Division. A pool of partially qualified candidates will be created and used to fill similar PM-05 positions with various tenures (indeterminate, determinate, secondment or acting appointment) and various language profiles (English Essential & Bilingual Imperative) at the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

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:

Degree from a recognized university with acceptable specialization in a field relevant to the position or an acceptable combination of experience and training*.

*Acceptable combination of experience and training being at least one (1) year of work experience as an investigator or in fact-finding capacities and two courses in a related field.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

-Significant* experience in investigation or other fact-finding functions (must include reviewing documents, interviewing witnesses, analysing evidence and writing reports on findings).
-Experience in applying and interpreting legislative requirements.
-Experience providing written analysis to support decision-making.
-Experience organizing, summarizing and analyzing information from different sources.

*Significant experience means a depth and breadth of experience normally acquired in the course of approximately one (1) or more years.

KNOWLEDGE:

-Knowledge of human rights law, including the Canadian Human Rights Act and related jurisprudence.
-Knowledge of investigation methods and/or fact-finding techniques.

ABILITIES:

-Ability to analyse complex issues and provide recommendations.
-Ability to communicate effectively orally.
-Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
-Ability to provide advice to clients

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:

-Initiative
-Teamwork
-Client Service Orientation
-Judgement
-Dependability

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

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

ASSET EDUCATION:

A Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B., J.D, LL.L. or equivalent)

Degree equivalency

ASSET EXPERIENCE:

-Experience working in a human rights field.
-Experience in providing legal advice*.
-Experience in policy analysis.
-Experience in working with Indigenous organizations.

*In order to provide legal advice, an individual must have a law degree and be a member of a provincial bar association.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

In order to continue to gain from a Public Service of Canada that is representative of Canada's diversity, and in order to better achieve its mission, the Canadian Human Rights Commission actively seeks to be a leader in the public service in terms of representation of Employment Equity designated groups.

To achieve this goal, the organization may choose to consider only candidates identifying themselves as members of the following designated groups: aboriginal peoples and/or visible minorities.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Willingness to travel and to work overtime occasionally.

Other information

Reference checks may be sought.

An interview may be administered.

A test may be administered.

An assignment, secondment, or acting appointment requires approval of your supervisor.

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.

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.