Communications Analyst (writer)

Important messages

*Please note the closing date has been amended*

IMPORTANT: In order to submit a COMPLETE application, you must complete a three-step process:

1. Submit your résumé
2. Answer all of the pre-screening questions
3. Submit a news release or statement to

When answering the pre-screening questions, you must provide specific examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualification. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the experience. We’ll only use your résumé as a secondary source of information. If you don’t clearly demonstrate you have the required experience, we won’t ask for additional information and you may be screened out.

Using a Government of Canada format, you must draft a news release or statement that describes in 400 words or less why you want to write for the Prime Minister and what makes you the best candidate. Using the subject line “Communications Analyst – your first and last name”, you must submit your news release or statement to .

All of the above must be done before the closing date.

Duties

We’re looking for a talented writer to join our team who can draft high-quality communications products. Ideally, you can also meticulously edit and parallel review products in French. Working in the Privy Council Office (PCO)’s non-partisan writing shop, you will craft communications products that tell a story about what the government is doing and why.

A keen interest in history and a hunger for breaking news will help drive you as you write about high-profile domestic and world events. Within a supportive team environment, you will:

• Write non-partisan communications products to support the Prime Minister’s activities and announcements

• Provide strategic advice directly to senior PCO and Prime Minister's Office (PMO) officials

• Work with departments and colleagues in PCO to research, review, and finalize high-quality products

• Work on highly sensitive files that require discretion, tact, and attention to detail

You will also be expected to work stand-by on a rotating basis with other team members to ensure somebody is always available to write and coordinate communications products as needed after hours and on weekends.

Work environment

The Privy Council Office is like no other organization in the Government of Canada. Working here means you’ll get first-hand experience advising PMO and working directly with the Prime Minister’s chief advisors on the hottest and most interesting files in town. You will work with some of the brightest communications and policy minds in a flat organization.

Within the Communications and Consultations Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Products team offers a unique working environment. You may begin the day writing a release to announce the new Chief Science Advisor, find yourself working on a congratulatory message for the new president of a foreign country before lunch, and end your work day drafting an urgent statement from the Prime Minister regarding a fire that has displaced hundreds of Canadians. You will then eat your supper while watching the words you drafted scroll across the bottom third of the national newscast.

You will work on a team where peer support and feedback is viewed as an integral part of the writing process. PCO is a flat organization, and advice and feedback from all team members – regardless of level – is carefully considered on each file to ensure we provide high-quality products that reflect the diversity of the Canadian public we serve.

Through daily interactions, you will also develop strong relationships with advisors within PMO and with communications colleagues across the Public Service. You will be challenged to think through the complexities and nuances of a variety of issues to get to the heart of the matter so you can write in a tone and voice that reaches and engages Canadians.

The vast array of files you touch will give you the chance to build a wide network and work with a variety departments and agencies. If you’re looking to develop new skills and be pushed beyond your comfort zone, PCO will help you grow and propel your career forward.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is anticipatory. We would like to create a pool of qualified candidates at the IS-04 level for future needs within the Privy Council Office and the core public administration.

We may appoint candidates by applying one or more of the following criteria:

• Breadth, depth, type of specific work experience

• Matching individual experience or qualifications to the strengths and/or weaknesses of the work team

• Matching individual experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

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

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

Significant* experience in assessing the public environment and its implications on communications planning and communications product development.

Significant* experience in writing and coordinating communications products that support senior officials or Ministers for public events.

Recent** experience in providing communications advice to senior managers (Director level and above).

* Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a period of at least 2 years.

** Recent experience is defined as within the last 5 years.

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

EDUCATION (ASSET)

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in translation or French.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE (ASSET)

Experience performing comparative revision and terminological research.

Experience translating short passages from English to French.

Experience coordinating inter-governmental or multi-departmental communications initiatives, projects or strategies.

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

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES

Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure and under tight deadlines.

Ability to work effectively with senior officials and ministerial staff.

Ability to provide strategic advice.

Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally.

Ability to conduct research and accurately synthesize information.

Ability to write high quality communications products in English within short deadlines.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY

Tact

Judgement

Initiative

Effective interpersonal skills

Stress management

Attention to detail

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

ABILITIES (ASSET)

Ability to review and edit texts in French.

Ability to quality control texts translated from English to French.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance.

Ability to work long hours and overtime on short notice.

Ability to be included in a roster for scheduled stand-by and on-call duties.

Other information

As part of this process, you can expect to:

• write an exam
• take part in an interview
• have your references checked

While we will not acknowledge receipt of your application, you will be contacted when the screening process is complete. All communications related to this process, including email, may be used to assess your qualifications. We will send all communication through email or the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). Please ensure your email address can receive email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email) and that you check your junk mail just in case. It’s your responsibility to keep your contact information up-to-date.

Please use the online system to submit your application. If you have absolutely no access to the Internet or to apply online, please contact Shelley-Anne Abbas at: to make alternative arrangements.

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.