Senior Media Relations Officer and Spokesperson & Senior Media Relations and Issues Advisor

Important messages

Are you a skilled communicator with a keen sense of the media environment, excellent judgement, and interest in supporting democracy? Perhaps you’re a seasoned journalist or spokesperson looking for a new challenge, good pay and benefits, and a healthy work-life balance?

Elections Canada is looking for two professionals to join the media relations and issues management team preparing for the next general election, scheduled for October 2019. In this role, you will anticipate and respond to media questions, plan and deliver media and communications strategies, offer media relations and issues management advice, and prepare officials for media and Parliamentary appearances.

Our media relations governance process affords spokespeople a high degree of latitude in answering media requests. We pick up the phone and speak with journalists in real time. We answer most requests on the spot or within an hour. Where we don’t have a pre-approved answer at hand, our streamlined process allows you to get information and approvals quickly, answer the journalist, and leave work on time.

During a general election, the team works flat out. During by-elections, the pace is somewhat accelerated. But most of the time, the team works regular hours with little overtime or time on call, and no expectation that you stay tethered to your cell phone.

Our office is located at 30 Victoria Street, in downtown Gatineau (Hull sector). Our modern building has indoor bike storage and comfortable locker rooms and showers. We’re in a workplace 2.0 environment with large windows and a direct view of the Ottawa River.

If you are looking for a rewarding media relations post that also affords work-life balance, this is it.

Intent of the process

A pool of fully or partially qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions within Elections Canada with various bilingual linguistics profiles with various tenures (various specified periods or indeterminate).

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)

EDUCATION

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with specialization in communications, journalism, public relations, public administration or other specialty relevant to the position.

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.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE


Significant* experience answering media requests by phone and in writing, and in interviews on broadcast media, in the capacity of official spokesperson for a government department or agency, a non-profit group, or a company OR significant experience as a professional journalist producing, researching and/or conducting interviews for a professional media outlet
Significant* experience analyzing media coverage in a professional capacity
Significant* experience writing media products such as news releases, backgrounder and media lines OR writing articles and/or scripts for a professional media outlet
Significant* experience providing media relations advice to an organization, department or company OR significant experience planning media coverage


Significant* is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a minimum period of three (3) years.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge of Elections Canada’s mandate and priorities
Knowledge of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity
Knowledge of best practices in media relations and issues management
Knowledge of the Canadian media landscape

ABILITIES

Ability to communicate effectively orally
Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to handle media requests
Ability to write media lines, press releases, media advisories, and other media products
Ability to provide senior management (Director or above) with strategic media relations advice on complex issues
Ability to identify, track, anticipate and provide advice on emerging communications issues

COMPETENCIES/PERSONAL SUITABILITY

Strategic Thinking
Sound judgement
Values and Ethics
Reliability

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

Experience providing media training
Experience organising news conferences and media briefings

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Must be available to work holidays and weekends during federal electoral events.

Must be willing to work overtime during federal electoral events or as needed.

Consent to observe strict political impartiality and neutrality for the duration of employment.

Other information

A test may be administered.
An interview may be administered.
Reference checks may be sought.
You must provide proof of your education credentials or occupational certification.
Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.
Please note that asset qualifications may be used at the screening stage or any stage during the process.
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.

PLEASE NOTE: 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.
The client organization will accept applications on-line only.

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.