Advanced Policy Analyst Program (APAP) - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

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If you have a limitation that may impact your performance during an assessment, such as a test or interview, you may require an accommodation. Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so candidates with limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities.

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For more information about assessment accommodation, please visit our website at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html

Health Canada is responsible for the coordination of this recruitment process on behalf of the following anticipated participating organizations: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; Canada Revenue Agency; Canadian Food Inspection Agency; Employment and Social Development Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada; Finance Canada; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Global Affairs Canada; Health Canada; Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Privy Council Office; Transport Canada; Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat; Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Work environment

The Program is seeking highly motivated individuals who have an interest in Canadian public policy and governance, and who possess sound judgment, analytical skills, leadership potential, and the ability to work in a team. The Program offers four challenging six-month assignments in the three central agencies (Privy Council Office, Finance Canada, and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat) and a sectoral department (typically the participant’s sponsoring department) in the National Capital Region.

Participants will have the opportunity to analyze and contribute to a variety of social, economic, and international policy issues. The combination of hands-on work experience and training provides participants with a unique introduction to a challenging and rewarding career, and a chance to serve Canada and Canadians. Upon completion of these program assignments and with a fully satisfactory performance rating, participants are eligible for graduation at the EC-05 level and will be placed in their sponsoring organization.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates WILL be created and WILL be used to make indeterminate (permanent) appointments with various language requirements at the EC-03 group and level within the Advanced Policy Analyst Program (APAP) across Canada.

This pool MAY also be used by all federal organizations to make appointments outside the APAP in a similar position with various tenures and language requirements at the EC-03 group and level across Canada.

Positions to be filled: 12

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 900 words (maximum) "By 2025 the number of adults that are overweight or obese in Canada is expected to reach 10 million people. In a well-organized essay (600-800 words in ENGLISH OR 700-900 words in FRENCH), identify and briefly discuss three associated public policy challenges and their implications; Propose two policy measures the Government of Canada could adopt to address these challenges, assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each; and recommend one of the policy measures and provide a rationale"

A list of the courses you have taken as well as any courses that you are taking now, or that you will be taking this academic year

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

EDUCATION:

a) Degree:
Graduation with a university degree (undergraduate or graduate) from a recognized post-secondary institution.

AND

b) Master's degree:
Applicants must have recently* obtained or will obtain by June 30, 2020, a Master's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in any discipline.

*Recently is defined as within the last two calendar years (2016 and 2017 inclusively). This clause is only applicable to the Master's degree.

Graduate coursework must be successfully completed* prior to June 17, 2019.

*Please note that successfully completed means completed with grades officially posted by the academic institution.

AND

c) Acceptable specialization or courses in Economics:

By June 17, 2019, applicants must have completed:

- At least one half-year course in Micro-economics AND at least one half-year course in Macroeconomics (or an equivalent full-year course with both Micro- and Macro-economics);
- and at least two additional half-year OR one full-year course in economics**;
- and at least one additional half-year course in statistics or quantitative analysis or research methods.

**Acceptable courses in economics include, but are not limited to: Canadian Economy/Provincial Economics (e.g. Economy of Quebec), International Economics, Social Economics, Managerial Economics, Development Economics, Economic Analysis, Econometrics, and Public Economics. These courses must be at the graduate or undergraduate level.

AND

d) Academic Excellence:
Applicants must have maintained an excellent grade point average (at least 75% or B+) at their last completed degree, either undergraduate or graduate level.

AND

e) Academic scholarship(s) or Award(s) received:
Applicants must have received academic scholarship(s) or award(s), such as admission scholarships, international scholarships, or other excellence scholarships or awards.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
Experience which demonstrates leadership through volunteer work, extracurricular activities, or employment (including student employment) involving a continued commitment, effort, or significant achievement performed outside of the applicant's studies.

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

Various language requirements
English or French Essential
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge of public policy issues facing Canada.
Knowledge of economic implications of public policy issues.

COMPENTENCIES:
Analytical thinking;
Judgment;
Effective people skills;
Effective oral communication;
Effective written communication;
Managing workload;
Values and ethics;
Respectful of diversity.

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

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Operational requirements specific to the position, could apply such as:
- Willingness and ability to work overtime
- Willingness and ability to travel in Canada

Conditions of employment

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

Your application must include the following:

- A curriculum vitae which will be used as a secondary source to validate the information provided in the questionnaire which you must fill out as part of your application. It must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements (education and experiences).

- ALL of your university transcripts (indicating university, course titles, number of credits, grades, year taken); including a list of all courses you will be taking this academic year, if applicable. Proof of Canadian equivalency for degrees obtained outside of Canada must be provided before the interview.

- In your covering letter, you will be required to answer an essay question that will be used to assess your Written Communication competency, as well as your Analytical Thinking and Judgement competency.

- References: the name, title, organization, phone number, and e-mail address for two (2) references - one being an academic reference and the other an employment or volunteer work reference (supervisor/manager).

Only the top 40 to 70 candidates, assessed on a combination of factors, will be considered for an interview based on the number of available positions.

Management may use scores obtained at various stages in the process to determine which candidates advance to the next stage. Selection decisions may be based on results achieved for one or more qualifications; for example preference may be given to the candidate that has scored the highest on a specific qualification.

Should you be considered for an interview, you will be contacted by December 2018. All communications with candidates will be by e-mail only. Please include a valid e-mail address and check your mailbox frequently. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of January 7, 2019.

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.