Psychologist - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

Give yourself the best chance to succeed!

If you have a limitation that may impact your performance during an assessment, such as a test or interview, you may require an accommodation. Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so candidates with limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities.

To request an assessment accommodation or if you have questions, including the physical environment of the exam room, please contact us as soon as possible at

Each request will be individually reviewed. You will be asked to provide information regarding your limitations. If needed, professional documentation could be requested to determine the appropriate accommodation measures. For more information about assessment accommodation, please visit our website at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/graduates/post-secondary-recruitment/exams-and-assessment-accommodation.html

Duties

What are the functions of Psychologists at the Personnel Psychology Centre?

Research & Development (R&D) psychologists develop a range of standardized assessment instruments and processes for use in the selection and development of employees of the federal public service. They apply professional testing standards in psychology and analytic techniques in creating innovative approaches to employee assessment and test development. R&D psychologists also conduct applied research and develop competency-based assessment instruments.

Assessment and Counselling Services (ACS) psychologists evaluate candidates for selection and promotion using a range of assessment methods including assessment centres and psychological assessments. They also deliver confidential development and career counselling services to prepare employees for selection based on assessments of their competencies, personality, interests and values.

Consultation and Test Services (CTS) psychologists, through consultation and outreach activities, promote the use of sound, professional assessment tools and practices for selection and leadership development within the federal public service. They exercise quality control over test scoring and establish and manage a certification program for reliable test administration. They also make recommendations on assessment for people requiring accommodations.

Work environment

Psychologists at the Personnel Psychology Centre (PPC) provide assessment services to federal government organizations, hiring managers and employees. This process may be used to fill approximately 5 positions within the following divisions: Research and Development (R&D), Assessment and Counselling Services (ACS), or Consultation and Test Services (CTS).

Collaboration amongst PPC divisions also permits participation in a broader range of career assessment activities or other industrial psychology activities in general.

Intent of the process

Please note that indeterminate appointments may be made into the Personnel Psychology Centre's Psychologist Training Program (PS PTP). The Program provides employees appointed to the PS-02 group and level with the opportunity to gain skills required for promotion to the next level (PS-03) within a period of two (2) years, which corresponds to the probationary period required by the Employer (Treasury Board Secretariat) http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/hrh/prob-eng.asp. In order to be promoted to the PS-03 group and level, employees will need to demonstrate that they have the required competencies and skills. Persons initially appointed to a term position could also be considered for indeterminate appointments within the PS PTP.

The results of the assessment may be used to staff positions indeterminately or for a term period (with different lengths) within the Personnel Psychology Centre (PPC) in Gatineau, (National Capital Region). Term appointments may be extended or may lead to indeterminate appointments.

Positions to be filled: 5

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:

Master's or Doctorate degree in Psychology from a recognized post-secondary institution, obtained by June 2018.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:

Experience* in a field of Psychology that is relevant to the personnel assessment activities** conducted by the Personnel Psychology Centre (PPC).

*Experience can often be demonstrated through COOP, internship, other student employment and/or scholastic activity or achievement. Therefore candidates are encouraged to indicate on their résumé, activities or experience related to their field that they believe may be pertinent to the types of employment they are seeking.

**see the activities listed under section "Duties".

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

EDUCATION:

Master's or Doctorate degree in Psychology from a recognized post-secondary institution in one of the following specializations: Measurement and Evaluation; Statistics; Psychometrics or Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Degree equivalency

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your reading and writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

Second Language Evaluation - Information for Candidates (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/second-language-testing-public-service.html)

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 a range of personnel psychology assessment methods and instruments, their development and use.
- Knowledge of measurement principles and psychometric properties of assessment instruments.

ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

-Critical Thinking
-Judgment
-Service Orientation
-Collaborative working relations
-Ability to communicate effectively orally
-Ability to communicate effectively in writing

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

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION:

Member or eligibility to become a member of a provincial regulatory body for the practice of Psychology.

EXPERIENCES:

-Experience in providing consultation services on standardized tests.
-Experience in test development.
-Experience in psychometric research.
-Experience in the development of test accommodations for assessing persons with disabilities.
-Experience in providing assessment or career development services for adults in the workplace.

Experience listed above (various criteria) can be demonstrated through COOP, internship, other student employment and/or scholastic activity or achievement. Therefore candidates are encouraged to indicate on their résumé, activities or experience related to their field that they believe may be pertinent to the types of employment they are seeking.

ABILITIES AND SKILLS:

-Action Management
-Behavioural Flexibility

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS :

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women.

Information on employment equity

Candidates must be able to travel occasionally outside the National Capital Region.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Other information

You will be required to provide proof of your education credentials at the time of assessment. Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency.

Communication for this process will be sent via email and/or your GC Jobs applicant profile.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection 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.