Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs) - ADM(PA)

Important messages

Are you interested in joining one of the most important national institutions and professionally rewarding organizations in Canada?

The Department of National Defence (DND) is looking for a new Senior Executive to join the Defence Team, and is excited to solicit interest for the position of Assistant Deputy Minister (Public Affairs) - ADM(PA).

Together, DND and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) create the largest, most complex and diverse organization in Canada. DND's role is to provide services and support to the CAF in their operations and missions at home and abroad. DND and the CAF work side-by-side to fulfill the Government of Canada’s mission to defend Canada and Canadians and contribute to international peace, security and stability efforts.

As the ADM(PA), you will be an essential part of the Defence Team by leading Defence strategic communications, in a dynamic 24/7 environment, through innovation, teamwork, and excellence. Your leadership will contribute to the overall mission by delivering public affairs and communications advice, guidance, services, and products in support of Government of Canada and Defence priorities.

Do you have the ability to drive change and develop innovative ways to communicate with Canadians through new technology? Do you have the skills to integrate social media into business strategy? Are you an executive who has experience in providing strategic and proactive communication advice on complex issues? If you are a seasoned leader looking for an opportunity to be part of a cadre of executives contributing to Canada’s Defence Team, we look forward to receiving your candidacy.

Duties

The ADM(PA) is accountable to the Deputy Minister (DM) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) for providing professional leadership, strategic planning and expert advice in the management of DND/CAF’s Public Affairs and serves as the Department’s primary focal point to lead the development and implementation of the strategies, plans and programs to inform all Canadians and the Defence Team of policies, programs, services, operations, issues and initiatives both internally and externally as well as domestically and in support of CAF operations.

The major functions of the management positions reporting to the ADM(PA) are:
- Chief of Staff and Public Affairs Branch Advisor: corporate functions within ADM(PA) such as finance, military administration, business planning, change initiatives, etc.
- Director General Public Affairs (DGPA): engagement of the media and the Canadian public and analysis of the impact of efforts in the Canadian and international media.
- Director General Public Affairs and Strategic Planning (DGPASP): strategic communications planning and advice for Defence matters.
- Director General Marketing and E-Communications (DGMEC): Defence strategic marketing, e-communications, and internal communications.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to staff the position of ADM(PA) on an permanent full time basis. Should a pool of qualified candidates be established, it could also be used to staff similar positions within DND as well as other government departments within the core administration with the approval of the delegated manager and in consultation with Executive Services.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 7,000 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.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

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We ask that you submit a cover letter (3 pages or less) and resume highlighting your education and experience and outlining why you are interested in this position and are the ideal executive.

THE IDEAL EXECUTIVE HAS:

• A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

• Experience in the development and implementation of innovative and highly effective communications strategies that engage the public, including social media and branding.

• Experience in providing strategic communications advice and recommendations to senior executives (equivalent to a Deputy Minister/President/CEO level) or above, in a complex environment.

• Experience in building effective relationships with the media, and collaborating and maintaining partnerships with organizations, such as government, private-sector and/or non-profit.

• Experience in providing proactive communications services in a dynamic 24/7 environment.

• Experience managing complex organizations, including significant financial and human resources.

• Proven key leadership competencies that includes: creating vision and strategy, mobilizing people, upholding integrity and respect, collaborating with partners and stakeholders, promoting innovation and guide change, achieving results.

HELPFUL NOTES:

**The depth and breadth of experience will be a consideration in selecting executives for further consideration. Only the top ranking executives may be invited to the next phase.**

(1) Significant Financial management is exercising financial authorities at the executive level, including direct accountability for a budget. You must indicate the size of the budget.

(2) Complex Human resources matters include leading and being accountable for a broad range of activities related to human resources management. You must indicate the number of subordinate managers and staff.

(3) Definitions of the key leadership competencies can be found at the following link: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/professional-development/key-leadership-competency-profile/examples-effective-ineffective-behaviours.html.

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

OTHER DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in managing the development, implementation and monitoring of corporate, high profile organization/department wide communications strategies and plans.

• Experience in working in a large decentralized organization or in a highly dispersed communications environment.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT:

Willingness to travel.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

DND is committed to maintaining diversity and inclusion. Candidates who declare as members of one or more employment equity groups (visible minority, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and/or women) may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.

Conditions of employment

Top Secret security clearance - or Secret with the ability to obtain Top Secret.

Other information

Candidates should be aware that the evaluation process will be conducted under tight deadlines shortly after the closing date of the poster. Candidates are expected to be available when scheduled for their assessment. Failure to attend without official authorization could lead to their candidacy not being considered further. Rescheduling of assessments will be on an exceptional basis only.

If you require accommodations for any reason, please contact the Executive Services Team () before the closing date.

Candidates may be required to meet the desirable experience, operational requirements and/or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

Should you be an employee of the public service, please clearly identify your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application form. In addition, please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) or Service Number is included in your resume and/or application form.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Candidates are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

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.