Senior Communications Advisor

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request special accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Information on accommodation for persons with disabilities

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.

Would you describe yourself as a:
• creative person with a passion for words? Check.
• collaborator? Check.
• keener? Check.
• multi-tasker extraordinaire? Check.

Have we got opportunities for you!

If you live, eat and breathe communications and if the idea of helping Canadian businesses grow, innovate and create quality jobs and wealth makes you giddy, you should consider joining our team at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED for short, but we used to be Industry Canada). We’re looking for creative people with serious communications skills who are ready to take on the challenge of helping Canadian business owners think and act globally, take risks and compete to win.

At ISED, we are focused squarely on delivering results for Canadian business owners, helping them to win in the global marketplace. The stories you build will help make Canada a destination of choice for global investment. ISED cares about building an economy that is fair, efficient and competitive, and you will contribute to that goal every day.

What can you expect from us?

• An opportunity to roll up your sleeves and push beyond your comfort zone every day – status quo is not an option
• Access to the coolest files in town – issues that affect the lives of Canadians from all walks of life
• Technology for you to get the job done
• Daily learning, feedback and hoorays
• Lots of opportunities to express your ideas and make a difference
• A diverse, receptive and healthy workplace
• Competitive salary rates and a benefits program (dental and health care plans) for you and your family, a defined benefit pension plan and the services of our Employee Assistance Program

We are keeping it simple

Just answer the questions in the application and submit your resumé!

What is next?

We will be looking closely at your application over the next few weeks. Here is what you can expect:

• Phase 1: Let’s see what you’ve got
The information you provide will be closely reviewed by our management team, with a focus on your education and experience. This will help us determine if you will be further assessed. We will review the applications as we receive them, so if you have what it takes, you should hear from us soon about proceeding to phase 2.

• Phase 2: Show us your stuff
If you reach this phase, you will be invited to demonstrate your competencies. We may use a variety of different tools to assess them, including interviews, written tests or online evaluations. But don’t worry, we will give you a heads-up and time to prepare. This is a really important step for you and for us, as it lets you demonstrate your talent and lets us ensure you can be successful in our organization. This will take longer than the other phases, but the end result will be worth the time investment.

• Phase 3: Meet us
If you have what it takes and have been successful in demonstrating the competencies, our management team will be excited to meet you, either in person or virtually, to validate and further understand what we have learned about you. We may also assess what other assets you can bring to our team and where you best fit in.

• Phase 4: Congratulations!
You have met all our requirements, and an offer could be on the table. We will let you know where you stand and tell you when and if you can expect to be offered a position on our team.

Please note the following:
• All the information collected during the process, from the time you apply until the end of the process, may be used as part of your assessment.
• If you have disabilities that prevent you from applying online, please call 1 800 645 5605. If at any stage in the selection process you require special accommodation to ensure an equitable assessment of your qualifications, including technical aid or an alternative method of assessment, please inform us as soon as possible.

Intent of the process

The intent is to create an inventory that may be used to staff various positions with various tenures, various language requirements, various locations and various security requirements within the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Please note, candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed. We encourage candidates to demonstrate in their application all of the asset experience that they meet.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Here are some of the things we are looking for:

EDUCATION
You have a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field related to the positions such as communications, media studies, public relations, journalism, marketing, editing, translation or other acceptable specialization or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience such as a college degree in videography, graphic design, etc.

If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. You are encouraged to begin this process as soon as possible.

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

- You have provided strategic communications advice to senior management and have done so for at least two years within the last 5 years.
- You have developed and coordinated a variety of communications products, including but not limited to media lines/responses, news releases, social media content, communications plans, articles, web content, briefing notes, presentations and reports.
- You have experience writing or editing communications products for various audiences. - You have experience leading meetings and presenting to clients or stakeholders.
- You have led teams producing communication products from planning to production.

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

Various language requirements
We are looking for a variety of different language profiles:
- English Essential
- Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB
- Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC
- Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC
- Bilingual Imperative PPC/CCC – CCC/PPC

Information on language requirements

ASSET: ABILITIES AND SKILLS
- Ability to edit and/or translate materials.

COMPETENCIES

Now that we know you have what it takes, we will be asking you during the assessment phase to demonstrate the following behaviours that you will need to be part of our team.

Collaboration – You understand the importance of reaching out, seeking and building internal/external alliances and integrating all perspectives to deliver comprehensive products and services to your clients and colleagues.

Organizational awareness – You are fully aware of, and understand the importance of, the workings, structure and culture of the organization as well as the political, social and economic climate in which the organization operates.

Client focus – You understand the importance of excellent client service and focus your efforts on discovering and meeting the needs of your clients.

Developing solutions – You gather ideas, proposals and suggestions and think outside the box to find options. Your proposed solutions are tested against reality while you continually look beyond the obvious.

Engaging and organizing people – You continually engage others and guide them while being accountable for the achievement of organizational goals and objectives.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS - EXPERIENCES

You may have other experience that may not be necessary for all our positions but that could be an asset. Let us know which areas of communications you have worked in so we can find the right position for you:

• advertising
• consultation or public opinion research
• design development for digital and print communications
• development and implementation of marketing and/or advertising plans
• graphic design for internal and external audiences
• internal communications
• organizing and coordinating ministerial events
• media monitoring or analysis
• media relations
• planning , coordinating and/or implementing announcements or events
• speech writing
• strategic communications
• translation and revision
• videography
• web publishing
• writing and editing communications documents
• writing for social media
• writing web content

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Depending on the position to staff, operational requirements could apply such as:
- Ability to work overtime and work on the weekend often on short notice, and to adopt flexible work hours as per operational requirements.
- Shift work.

Conditions of employment

Various security profiles: Reliability Status or Secret security clearance.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the targeted groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

We will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System.

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent.

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

PLEASE NOTE: For this inventory, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail for assessment purposes. Applicants who apply to this inventory 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.

Candidates WILL be required to provide proof of education.

Candidates with foreign education credentials MUST have proof of Canadian equivalency at the time of application. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at: http://www.cicic.ca

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.