Policy Analyst

Work environment

ABOUT HEALTH CANADA

Health Canada is the Federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, while respecting individual choices and circumstances.

Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) supports the delivery of public health and health promotion services on-reserve and in Inuit communities as well as providing drug, dental and ancillary health services to First Nations and Inuit people regardless of residence. FNIHB also provides primary care services on-reserve in remote and isolated areas, where there are no provincial services readily available.

DUTIES

The policy analyst position, based out of Edmonton, is a key member of the Executive Secretariat team, providing advice and analysis to regional executives. Working within the region and across the branch, this position researches and prepares discussion papers, briefing notes, correspondence and/or presentations for senior officials in the region. The successful candidate will respond to high profile requests and brief quickly on a wide range of emerging issues related to FNIHB’s programs or First Nations health in Alberta.

We are looking for high performers who are comfortable switching gears quickly and frequently without sacrificing work quality, while balancing competing priorities and multiple partners or stakeholders.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar positions on a temporary and/or permanent basis in Edmonton, Alberta.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 1,000 words (maximum)

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, or another related field.

* NOTE TO APPLICANTS: Candidates must always have a university degree. The courses for the specialization do not necessarily have to be part of 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:
Experience in developing formal written products, discussion papers, briefing notes, correspondence and/or presentations for senior managers.

Experience liaising and collaborating with stakeholders.

Experience in monitoring, researching, and analyzing information to develop recommendations and/or reports related to programs or policy.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

EDUCATION:
A Master’s Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in sociology, economics, statistics or another related field.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
Experience in providing advice to senior management.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of First Nations political structure in Alberta.

Knowledge of First Nations and Inuit Health Branch programs in Health Canada.

COMPETENCIES:
Communication (Oral)
Communication (Written)
Dependability
Respectful of Diversity
Adaptability (Judgement)
Analytical Thinking
Discretion/Tact (Judgement)
Initiative
Planning/Organizing/Monitoring
Teamwork/Cooperation
Aboriginal Cultural Competency*

* Aboriginal Cultural Competency refers to the ability to work effectively with Aboriginal peoples from different cultural backgrounds, or in settings where several cultures coexist. It includes the ability to communicate and understand the culture, and behaviours of other individuals and groups, and to make appropriate recommendations.

ABILITIES:
The ability to work effectively with First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis.

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

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of the existing health policy and legislative frameworks.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
Health Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples Employment Program (APEP) supports increasing Aboriginal representation in the Branch. Selection may be limited to candidates self-identifying as belonging to Aboriginal peoples. Aboriginal candidates must use the Affirmation of Aboriginal Affiliation Form (AAAF).

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Willingness and ability to travel
May be required to work overtime on weekdays or weekends

Other information

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Candidates must ensure that they are available for any testing or interviews required.

The screening board cannot make assumptions about your experience. It is important that candidates clearly demonstrate to what degree they meet the above experience elements, giving detailed examples for EACH element.

***VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: It is the responsibility of the candidate to submit a cover letter, which clearly outlines that they meet each of the screening criteria (i.e. Education and Experience Qualifications, both Essential and Assets). Please note that it is not sufficient to only state that the requirement is met or to provide a listing of current responsibilities, rather the candidate must provide concrete examples that illustrate how they meet the requirement. One suitable approach is to use each screening criterion as a heading, and provide a description outlining how that criterion is met. Failure to provide an appropriate cover letter could result in the application being rejected from the process.

A written examination will be administered.

An interview will be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

You must provide original proof of your education credentials.

Notifications will be communicated through PSRS.

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.