Senior Communications Advisor

Important messages

Please note that selection process is comprised of two streams (1 and 2). It is important that applicants CLEARLY indicate for which stream(s) they are applying on their application:
- Stream 1: Senior Communications Advisor – Measurement and Results
- Stream 2: Senior Communications Advisor – Internal Communications
- Or Both

Candidates MUST provide a cover letter. Candidates must clearly demonstrate IN THEIR COVER LETTER (maximum 5000 words), if and how they meet each of the Education and Experience qualifications, both Essentials and Assets, as the screening of applications may also be done using asset qualifications. Candidates are required to do so by using the qualifications as headers and then write a few paragraphs demonstrating, with concrete and detailed examples, how they meet the qualifications required. Résumés will be used as a secondary source of information to validate the education and experience described in the cover letter. Failure to provide an appropriate cover letter could result in a failure as we will be unable to assess you against the position’s essential qualifications.

Your cover letter will be assessed for writing ability.

Work environment

Transport Canada oversees federal policies and procedures that promote safe, secure, efficient and environmentally-responsible transportation. Our goal is to make sure that Canada’s transportation system works and works well.

With over 5,000 employees spread across Canada, the department hires people who share our common values of professional excellence, teamwork, diversity and mutual respect.

Intent of the process

This process will be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures.

Stream 1: Senior Communications Advisor – Measurement and Results
Stream 2: Senior Communications Advisor – Internal Communications (anticipatory)

Please note this process is being posted simultaneously externally and internally to the Public Service. Evaluations from both process will be the same. Concerned applicants are invited to apply on only one of the processes.

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)

EDUCATION
The minimum standard is:
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
STREAMS 1 AND 2:
- Significant* experience providing strategic communications advice on complex files to the director level and above. (Please provide 1-2 concrete examples)
- Significant* experience in developing and implementing strategic communications plans, products and projects for external or internal audiences. (Please provide 1-2 concrete examples)
- Experience in planning and coordinating internal communications projects, engagement and activities events for external or internal audiences. (Please describe the type of events and approaches taken to assure awareness and success)

STREAM 1 ONLY:
- Recent** experience in collecting and analyzing data from web, social media and other sources to make recommendations about strategic use of communications platforms and tactics.
- Experience in developing strategies, frameworks or new business models and procedures.

*Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a period of two years or more.
**Recent experience is defined as within the last three years.

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE
Experience in performance measurement and reporting

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

Various language requirements
Stream 1: Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB; CBC/CBC; CCC/CCC, English Essential
Stream 2: Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB; CBC/CBC; CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
STREAMS 1 AND 2:
- Knowledge of the Government of Canada’s priorities, and how Transport Canada supports them.
- Knowledge of the Government of Canada’s Policy on Communications and Federal Identity.

STREAM 1 ONLY:
- Knowledge of current trends and best practices in digital communications methods, tools and evaluation.

ABILITIES
- Ability to provide strategic communications advice to the director level and above on complex issues and their impacts on policies and programs.
- Ability to develop communications plans and products.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

COMPETENCIES
Demonstrating integrity and respect
Thinking things through
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action-oriented

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

- The incumbent is required to be on standby during off-duty hours and be able to do so.
- Must be willing and able to work overtime with minimal notice.

Other information

Candidates from outside the Federal Public Service will be required to pay for their own travel expenses for various phases of testing/assessment.

A written exam will be administered.

An interview will be conducted.

Reference checks will be sought.

Candidates may be asked to provide their performance assessment as part of the selection process.

Candidates must possess each of the essential qualifications to be appointed to the position.

Candidates may be required to possess the asset qualifications or to satisfy the operational requirements or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

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.

For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail for screening/assessment purposes (including issuing screening results, and sending invitations for written tests and interviews).

Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

Applicants with diplomas from outside of Canada must provide proof of Canadian equivalence. Visit the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) for more information at http://www.cicic.ca/.

Transport Canada will accept applications on-line only.

All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). Following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line:
Applicants can create a profile and a resume that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time.
Applicants can modify their application/resume at anytime BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.
Applicants can verify the status of their applications, at any time.
Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results.
For some jobs, applicants will find important information, namely the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria that are only available when applying on-line.

To submit an application on-line, please click on the button "Apply Now" below.

Applications sent via email will not be consider.

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent.

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

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.