Communications Manager ***ANTICIPATORY***

Work environment

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, AAFC is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives.

Intent of the process

A pool of partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions for the location indicated for this process, at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, and there is a temporary need, he/she may be considered for acting or assignment/secondment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 5,000 words (maximum)

Contact information for 2 references.

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)

NOTE: Candidates must clearly demonstrate IN THEIR COVER LETTER how they meet the education and experience factors listed in the essential and asset qualifications. Candidates must use the criteria as a header and then write one or two paragraphs with concrete examples to demonstrate how they meet the experience criteria required, including the duration of the experience, using 400 words or less per essential and asset criteria. Resumes will be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the cover letter. Failure to provide this information in the requested format may result in your application being rejected.

The cover letter and a writing test may be used to assess writing skills.

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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.

IF YOU HAVE FOREIGN CREDENTIALS, please follow the link below for information on how to obtain a degree equivalency. You must obtain an equivalency, at your own expense, in order to be considered for appointment into the public service.

Degree equivalency

Extensive* experience in providing internal or external strategic communications advice, support and briefings to senior executives and clients on a variety of complex** and/or sensitive issues.

Extensive* experience in writing, developing, designing, implementing and evaluating communications strategies and products including digital communications (e.g., marketing plans, decks, web plans, social media plans/strategies, speeches, news releases, web content) on key organizational issues and priorities.

Extensive* experience in the analysis and management of internal or external communications issues.

Extensive* experience leading complex** communications initiatives on behalf of an organization requiring horizontal coordination with internal and external partners and/or stakeholders.

Experience in the management of human and financial resources.

*Extensive experience means experience that was a core part of the candidate's employment for a period of time that would provide the depth and experience normally obtained in two years.

** Complex and or sensitive issues, files, projects or initiatives include characteristics such as the following: multidimensional, sensitive, confidential, impacting several partners or stakeholders or that could yield potential for significant media or employee interest.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of current issues facing the agriculture sector.

Knowledge of Government of Canada priorities and programs related to agriculture and agri-food.

Knowledge of emerging trends in government communications, particularly increased use of digital and social media.

Knowledge of the Government of Canada Communications Policy,

Client Focus
Values and Ethics
Judgement
Initiative
Leadership
Strategic Thinking
Writing skills
Interactive Communication

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

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in Journalism or Communications.

Degree equivalency

Experience leading or managing working groups or project teams.

Experience in representing organizational interests and positions to internal and external stakeholders including at a regional level.

Experience in managing communications in support of national and/or federal-provincial programs

Experience in managing professional service contracts for the development of communications products
Extensive experience in developing strategies that support organizational goals and objectives.

Extensive experience in leading and conceptualizing a variety of creative communications products for specific target audiences.

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

Information on employment equity

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability; Visible Minorities, Women.

Ability and willingness to work overtime on short notice.
Some travel may be required.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Other information

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.jobs.gc.ca.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

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

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

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

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

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.