Second Language Assessor (French)

Update: Extension of closing date and change in the education criteria to be more inclusive.

Important messages

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Please note that the positions that will be staffed within the Public Service Commission (PSC) will be at the Gatineau office only.

Please also note that tests for this selection process will be administered in Gatineau.

The screening board cannot make assumptions about your experience. When responding to screening questions, please be sure to clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience criteria. In order for your application to be retained, you must provide concrete examples about your work experience and explain relevant responsibilities that you had and/or actions that you took.

Work environment

Do you have a passion for the French language? Do you enjoy working with clients and being attentive to clients’ needs?

Come join our vibrant and motivated team!

What is the Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP)?

The TOP is a staffing tool used by departments and agencies to assess employees' proficiency in their second official language. It is a key step in the hiring process within the federal government.

What do Second Language Assessors do?

Second Language Assessors administer the TOP approximately five (5) times a day on a fixed schedule. The job involves extensive interaction in person and over the phone with a wide spectrum of public servants and members of the general public, whether they be a judge, a military member, a policy analyst or a customer service agent. Your ability to use good judgement, to listen and to analyze will constantly be put to use. You will be called upon to foster a testing environment where candidates are at ease demonstrating their language proficiency.

About 22 Eddy…

A dynamic team of colleagues is waiting for you to join them at 22 Eddy Street, in the heart of downtown Gatineau. Our location is easily accessible and is located near Terrasses de la Chaudière, close to downtown Ottawa. Our employees have access to showers, changing rooms and reserved spaces for bicycles, which is ideal for those wishing to travel to work by bike, or simply go running or walking on the nearby bike paths.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established through this process to staff positions at the Public Service Commission (PSC) in Gatineau. It may also be used to staff identical or similar positions with various tenures in the future within other federal organizations in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Positions to be filled: 2

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)

Graduation with a degree* (already obtained OR will be obtained by June 30, 2018) from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization** in education, linguistics, translation, literature, communications, journalism or some other specialty relevant to the position.

* Degree: A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, as established by educational authorities.
**This may also be obtained through any Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years’ experience teaching French as a first or second official language.

Degree equivalency

Experience interacting with and offering a personalized* service to a diverse clientele.

*Refers to offering a service customized to each client in response to his or her needs.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/PPP)
*The BBB/PPP language profile for the position of Second Language Assessor requires the advanced professional level (P) in French in reading, writing and oral communication, and the command of English as a second official language at an intermediate level for the same skills.

The P proficiency levels in French will be assessed using job specific proficiency tests (written and oral). The test of the advanced P level in oral communication assesses individuals' ability to communicate effectively and in an accessible and understandable way to a broad range of second official language testing candidates.

English as a second official language will be assessed using the Public Service Commission (PSC)'s Second Language Evaluation tests.

Information on language requirements

Ability to conduct structured interviews.

Reliability
Judgement
Reasoning
Interpersonal skills
Client service orientation

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

Experience conducting qualitative interviews*.

*This may include interviews in the context of academic research, language proficiency exams, focus groups, hiring interviews, journalistic interviews, or any other type of qualitative interview.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

*Successfully passing the Second Language Assessor certification program.

*Candidates who have successfully completed all the steps in the selection process may be invited to participate in a 3-4 week training session to obtain their certification. Candidates who obtain their certification will be offered either a full-time indeterminate (permanent) or determinate (term) position at the PSC in Gatineau.

Maintenance of Second Language Assessor certification is essential for the position.

Tests

Public Service Entrance Exam UIT

Applicants must complete the Public Service Entrance Exam Unsupervised Internet Test as part of the screening for this selection process. This exam consists of two sub-tests: the Test of Reasoning and the Test of Judgement. While all applicants are asked to take the first sub-test, you will only be invited to take the second sub-test if additional information is required to complete the assessment. You will have 90 minutes to complete the Test of Reasoning and 75 minutes to complete the Test of Judgement (if required). You must complete the test(s) before you submit your application for this position.

For more information, please consult: Public Service Entrance Exam - Unsupervised Internet Test

Other information

A random selection may be used at certain stages of the assessment.

Please note that travel costs associated with participating in the various steps of the selection process will be assumed by the applicant.

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.