Senior Communications Expert

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

WHO MAY APPLY

We invite all Canadians who would like to work in the communications field in the Government of Canada, including eligible veterans and CAF members.

We are committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce that reflects Canadian society. As a result, we promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate voluntarily on you application if you are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability, or a member of a visible minority group.

HOW TO APPLY

You won’t need to provide a cover letter. However, you must complete the following mandatory pre-screening questions.

WHAT YOU MUST HAVE: MANDATORY CRITERIA

You are required to provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain not only how you acquired the experience, but also where and when you gained the experience. Simply stating you have the mandatory education or experience is not enough. 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 which will result in you being screened out.

HOW WE WILL EVALUATE CANDIDATES

We will review your responses to the mandatory education and experience criteria to verify that you have met each one.

We will communicate the results of the review to candidates. If you meet the mandatory criteria, you may then be invited to participate in a written exam.

If you are successful on the written exam, you will be invited to an interview where we will probe the depth and breadth of your abilities and give you a chance to demonstrate your skills. You will also be asked to provide proof of your education and your reference checks at this stage.

Duties

WHAT IS THE JOB

The Government of Canada has new opportunities for innovative, strategic and creative individuals in the field of communications. Whether you are a communications strategist, a specialist in different areas of communications such as (but not limited to) media relations, policy, social media, project management, digital user experience, videography or web and everything in between, we want to hear from you. We’re looking for people who are passionate about serving their country by communicating with Canadians in a variety of ways and a variety of topics. You’ll have the opportunity to offer advice on a variety of communication projects, often to senior decision makers as well as to demonstrate your leadership skills and to help produce communication products and services.

Intent of the process

THE GOAL OF THE PROCESS

The intent of this selection process is to create a pool of qualified candidates. This selection process will be used to staff similar positions within the Government of Canada with various language requirements and various security requirements. These positions may be staffed on an indeterminate or temporary basis/term, acting, assignment, or secondment basis.

We are creating a hiring pool for use by all federal government departments and agencies. The hiring board will evaluate applications, interview candidates, assess qualifications through tests and other mechanisms, and check references.

If you are successful in this hiring process, you will be deemed qualified and placed in the hiring pool; being in the pool does not mean you will be offered a position. Federal departments and agencies may select you from the pool and appoint you to a specific position, when vacancies arise. You may be required to complete additional steps to see how well you will fit with their team. This will also give you a chance to assess whether you want to work on their team.

All federal organizations listed in Schedules I, IV and V of the Financial Administration Act (FAA) may use this appointment process to appoint a candidate to its organization in a similar position.

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)

EDUCATION

Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Extensive* experience in the communications field in roles of increasing responsibility, including the development of communications products or implementation of communications activities for diverse audiences using a variety of communications tools.

Significant* experience in providing communications advice on a variety of communications projects or tools to senior management such as directors, director generals, vice-presidents, presidents and CEOs, etc.

Experience in developing collaborative relationships with diverse internal or external partners.

Experience in leading or coordinating communications activities or initiatives requiring the contributions of a variety of communications experts.

* Extensive experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a period of at least 5 years.

* 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 3 years.

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

BONUS: ASSET CRITERIA

Although all you need to do to be considered is to show how you meet the mandatory criteria, we would like to learn more about you. Please take the time to tell us about any of your special skills in the areas listed below. This won’t affect whether you qualify for the hiring pool but it may mean you are considered for a job you want later on when managers are looking for candidates.

The following are all asset criteria and will be assessed further at a later time.

ACCOUNT MANAGER
Experience in providing strategic communications advice
Experience in crisis and issues management
Experience in project management
Experience in internal Communications
Experience in media Relations
Experience in marketing or advertising
Experience in organizing and coordinating events
Experience in stakeholder relations
Experience in consultation or public opinion research
Experience in public environment analysis

DIGITAL EXPERTISE
Experience in social media
Experience in performance measurement including analysis of performance metrics
Experience in digital user experience and user testing
Experience in web publishing
Experience in videography – production, editing and other related skills

WRITERS
Experience in speech writing
Experience in writing for web

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

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES

Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to provide relevant advice
Ability to solve problems
Ability to conduct research and analysis
Ability to understand and integrate information

PERSONAL SUITABILITY

We need team players and individual thinkers who can work in a variety of situations with the following attributes:

Judgement
Working effectively with others
Adaptability
Initiative
Attention to detail

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

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The exact operational requirements will vary depending on the department or agency. The hiring department or agency will discuss these requirements when they contact you about a specific position.

Conditions of employment

SECURITY
Various levels required

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

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

All communications relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Communication for this process will be sent via email or via the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updates as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process must include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

Candidates are asked to submit their application by using the online system. Those with absolutely no access to Internet and no access to apply online are to contact Shelley-Anne Abbas, at to make alternative arrangements.

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.