ANTICIPATORY: Senior Regional Communications Advisor

Update: Please note that the closing date for this job opportunity has been extended. Consequently, the evaluation timelines noted below may be pushed back by a couple of weeks.

Important messages

PLEASE APPLY ONLINE. Only applications submitted through jobs.gc.ca will be accepted; persons requiring accommodation who are unable to apply on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

Please note that assessments are planned for September and are planned to be completed near the end of October in order to establish a pool by November.

Duties

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is the engine that powers the Government of Canada. We support the daily operations of roughly 106 federal departments and agencies. With a strong focus on quality customer service, we provide innovative common services such as real estate and building management, purchasing, banking, pay and pensions, auditing and translation to other government departments, agencies and boards. By focusing on what we do best - providing innovative common services to the government - we help departments focus on what they do best: serving Canadians.

The Corporate Services, Strategic Management and Communications Directorate serves the organization and its employees in the Québec Region. The communications sector advises, manages and informs the public about PSPC's programs and services in the region. The unit's specialists plan communications activities, provide advice on the best ways to respond to the media, plan and co-ordinate ministerial visits and offer communications products.

Work environment

A wide range of opportunities exist for individuals seeking new challenges in a highly dynamic work environment. We offer a full spectrum of professional training and job opportunities to promote career progression with meaningful employment at all levels. As a public servant, individuals are also offered pension and benefit plans including health, dental, disability and life insurance plans. We are seeking new people who are ready to learn and take on new challenges.

As an organization, PSPC strives to give all its employees opportunities to achieve organizational, professional and personal goals in a respectful and inclusive workplace, mobilized and supported by leadership at all levels. For more information on PSPC's People Management Philosophy and Our Commitments please see the following link: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/apropos-about/pe-pc-eng.html

Intent of the process

This is an anticipatory staffing process. As such, a pool of partially qualified candidates may be established; the pool may be used to staff identical or similar positions within the Government of Canada whose duration, linguistic profile, and/or security requirements could vary depending on the position to be staffed.

If a pool is created, a determinate (term) appointment of approximately one year may be made with the possibility of indeterminate (permanent) appointment at a later date.

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 :
A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

NOTES:
1. Based on their education, training and/or experience, indeterminate incumbents of positions in the IS classification are deemed to meet the minimum education standard whenever a bachelor's degree without specialization is called for in a position classified as IS.
2. At the manager's discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience, may serve as an alternative to the minimum education standard.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
1) Recent* and meaningful experience in managing issues and formulating strategic advice to senior management.
2) Recent* and meaningful experience in developing and implementing communications strategies.
3) Recent* and meaningful experience in drafting and publishing communications products such as press releases, media lines, questions and answers, speeches, etc.
4) Recent* and meaningful experience in planning and organizing public relations activities and special events, such as press conferences.
5) Recent* basic experience in direct interaction with the media, in particular in coordinating interviews with the media and providing information to journalists.

*Recent: at least 6 months over the past 3 years

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

EXPERIENCE:
Experience in working with counterparts in the communications services of other organizations.
Experience in liaising with an executive office.
Experience in working files related to Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)

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

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity as well as the Directive on the Management of Communications (http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/topic-sujet-eng.aspx?ta=6).
Knowledge of communications tools, including new media.
Knowledge of the Government of Canada’s priorities.

COMPETENCIES :
Client Service: Level 1 (https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/sc-cs/csc-eng.html)

KEY LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES* (https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/professional-development/key-leadership-competency-profile/examples-effective-ineffective-behaviours.html):
Create Vision and Strategy.
Mobilize People.
Uphold Integrity and Respect.
Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders.
Promote Innovation and Guide Change.
Achieve Results.

*The manager level will be evaluated.

ABILITIES:
Ability to communicate effectively verbally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to manage a heavy work load.
Ability to work under pressure, meet shifting priorities and set priorities.
Ability to identify issues and approaches that best position the Government of Canada and to deliver strategic advice to management.

PERSONAL QUALITIES:
Team spirit.
Excellent interpersonal relations.
Rigour.

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

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Willing and able to work occasional overtime at short notice and be on standby as required, including weekends.
Willing and able to occasionally travel.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Other information

Reference checks may be sought.

You will be asked to provide proof of your education credentials.

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

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.