Communications Officer

Important messages

Headquartered in Calgary, the National Energy Board is an independent federal regulator established in 1959 to promote safety and security, environmental protection and economic efficiency in the Canadian public interest within the mandate set by Parliament for the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade. The Board reports to Parliament through the Minister of Natural Resources.

The National Energy Board is recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. This is an annual competition that recognizes the country's best places to work by Mediacorp Canada.

Duties

Reporting to either the Director of Media Relations and/or the Director of Internal Communications Services, the NEB 8 Communications Officer:

- Analyzes the requirements of clients and provides advice and support in the development, implementation and evaluation of communications strategies, programs and procedures.
- Develops communications products including: strategies; media lines; social media plans; internal communications messages; and, related internal and external communications materials.
- Provides communications advice and support to NEB leaders and staff.
- Plan, organize, and promote special events such as tours, conferences, workshops, and open houses.
- Participates in project working groups to provide communications expertise
- Identifies communications issues and recommends solutions.
- Supports internal change initiatives by identifying and implementing communications strategies and activities to inform and engage staff.
- Provides media analysis through tracking conventional and social media and stakeholder opinion, scanning media clips and printed material and extracts and interprets the data.
- Understands and stays current on emerging social media technologies and other communications innovations.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of communications initiatives and tools and recommends improvements.
- Ensures compliance with federal government legislation, policies and standards.

Intent of the process

A pool of candidates may be created. Qualified candidates may be used to staff other similar positions at an equivalent or lower level on a term, indeterminate or acting basis. Appointment of qualified candidates will be based on the assessment results of the essential or essential and asset qualifications and with regard to breadth and depth of experience.

Positions to be filled: 3

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)

An undergraduate degree (from a recognized university) in journalism, communications, public relations, or a related discipline.

Degree equivalency

E1 Recent* and progressive** experience in writing and editing communications materials such as news releases, factsheets and articles for submission to media.

E2 Recent* and progressive** experience assisting or leading the development of communications products for both internal and external audiences such as brochures or web content and social media.

E3 Recent* experience developing and implementing communications strategies and plans.

*Recent: is defined as in the last approximate 1-2 years.
**Progressive for the purpose of this process means more complex responsibilities

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

Various language requirements
Various - English Essential or Bilingual Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Organization-wide and Business Competencies:

OC1 Leadership and Teamwork:
NEB 08 (Apply/Guide) – Establishes effective working relationships within and across teams.

OC2 Accountability & Results Orientation:
NEB 08 (Apply/Guide) – Makes timely and accurate decisions on routine issues without guidance. Pro-actively identifies potential problems and vulnerabilities and considers risks in decision making and actions.

OC3 Initiative & Adaptability to Change:
NEB 08 (Apply) – Assesses communications process performance and suggests improvements. Documents processes and best practices.

OC4 Oral Communication:
NEB-08– Apply/Guide - Communicates clearly, concisely, and effectively with co-workers and clients verbally.

OC4 Written Communication:
NEB-08– Apply/Guide - Communicates clearly, concisely, and effectively with co-workers and clients in writing.

Technical Competencies:

TC1 Public Relations:
NEB 08 (Apply) –Demonstrates knowledge of the internal and external environment in the development of media strategies, media lines, media advisories, news releases and related public information materials.

TC2 Strategic Communication Planning
NEB 08 (Apply/Guide) – Proactively identifies, monitors and evaluates communications initiatives against planned objectives and integrates results into future planning.

Competency Level Definitions

Apply is defined as demonstrating sound understanding of the competency and ability to apply and contribute.
Guide is defined as thorough knowledge and capability of the competency. Able to influence and guide others in its application.

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

AQ1 Recent* experience with media relations.
AQ2 Recent* experience in planning, organizing, and promoting special events such as tours, conferences, workshops and open houses.

Conditions of employment

1) Willingness to undergo, successfully pass and maintain a Reliability Status Check
2) Compliance with the National Energy Board’s Code of Conduct is required. Note: It is strongly recommended that potential applicants read and consider the NEB’s Code of Conduct prior to applying. This document is available on the NEB Website http://www.neb-one.gc.ca/code-of-conduct .
3) Must be willing and able to travel and to work overtime when required.
4) Must be willing to move within and between business units and teams, based on operational requirements and/or as individual development needs are identified.

Other information

1. The National Energy Board has a classification system that differs from the greater public service. This NEB-8 position is similar to an IS-04 in terms of salary range only. The benefits offered, including relocation assistance, may be significantly different than those offered in the greater public service. This position is subject to NEB’s Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada Collective Agreement.

2. Application Requirements: Applicants must submit, by the closing date, a resume and cover letter clearly demonstrating how they meet the essential qualifications of education and experience. Applicants are strongly encouraged to demonstrate how they also meet the asset qualifications. Failure to provide sufficient information will result in applicants being screened out.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. Our intention is to communicate with applicants by e mail for assessment purposes including sending invitations for written tests, interviews and issuing selection process results.

3. Assessment: You may be assessed using one or more of the following tools: written examination, oral presentation, interview(s), performance appraisals, reference checks and interactions with internal staff during the process and personal knowledge. Top down selection may be used during any stage of the selection process.

4. Appointment Requirements: Candidates must meet each essential qualification and the conditions of employment to be appointed to the position. A person may be appointed to the position even though he/she does not meet any or all of the asset qualifications, organizational needs or operational requirements; however, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing right fit for appointment.

5. Salary: Effective 1 November 2013 NEB-8, $65,938 to $80,223 (under review)

The National Energy Board has the following forms of additional compensation that are separate from base salary, the eligibility for which is determined, in accordance with the provisions in the collective agreement or terms and conditions of employment for the duration period specified:
• a Calgary Allowance in the amount of 4.95% of base salary, paid on a bi-weekly payroll basis
• annual performance pay which includes elements of individual performance (60% of payout) and corporate performance (40% of payout)
• The Collective Agreement between the NEB and PIPSC expired on 1 November 2014. Please note that in the absence of a new Collective Agreement, all provisions – including the allowances remain in place until a new agreement has been signed.

6. Terms of Employment: These positions have been allocated and apply to the bargaining unit represented by the NEB Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.

7. Proof of Education: Proof of education is required prior to appointment. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. Please contact the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) for more information www.cicic.ca.
Equivalencies granted by the Canadian provincial authorities with respect to Applied (Bachelor's) Degrees by colleges and technical institutes (i.e. in Ontario, British-Columbia, Alberta & Manitoba) must always be accepted as equivalent to Bachelor Degrees granted by universities in the provinces concerned.

8. Career Ladder: These positions are part of a career ladder and future promotion may occur upon successful completion of the training and development requirements and provided they meet the merit criteria and conditions of employment for each level of the career ladder without an advertised staffing process.

9. Organization Future Needs: The National Energy Board is committed to having a skilled and diversified workforce representative of the population we serve. In support of our strategy to achieve our employment equity goals, selection may be limited to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Women, Aboriginal Persons, Visible Minorities and Persons with Disability.

10. Head Office Location – Calgary, AB: 210, 517 10th Avenue SW.

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.