Inventory: Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP)

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.

As this is an inventory, applications will be accepted on an on-going basis until the closing date. Random selection(s) of candidates will occur continuously while the inventory is active.

Upon application, you will be prompted to indicate your province or territory of residence through responses to screening questions. This information will be used to monitor the inventory to ensure representativeness across Canada and will not have an impact on your eligibility.

IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING OFFICIAL LANGUAGE TRAINING: If you have limited to no prior knowledge of your second official language, please select ‘beginner’ on your application when prompted to indicate your level of proficiency; the selection of ‘none’ would not allow you to submit your application to this process.

Work environment

A career in the Foreign Service (FS) at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers you the chance to work in a challenging and stimulating environment: the world is your workplace!

All FS recruits start their career with a 3-year development program. A well-developed training program, in conjunction with diverse and challenging assignments in Canada and abroad, will help recruits become effective Foreign Service Officers. At IRCC, the first of those 3 years is an intensive training year spent primarily in Ottawa. The next 2 years are spent on assignment abroad, learning on the job.

FS Officers are rotational: they must be ready and available to be assigned anywhere in Canada or abroad, according to operational needs, every 2 to 4 years. At IRCC, officers spend about two-thirds of their career on assignment at Canadian missions abroad and the remainder at Headquarters, in Ottawa.

Abroad, FS Officers deliver the Canadian immigration program: they process and decide on applications to come to Canada from immigrants, foreign students, visitors or temporary workers. Through these decisions, FS Officers contribute to building Canada's future and meeting Canada's economic and social needs. FS Officers also liaise with local and international authorities and organizations, and report on and monitor migration trends. When assigned in Ottawa, they provide support to our offices abroad or in other areas of IRCC, such as policy development, ministerial support, international and intergovernmental co-ordination or corporate services.

If you are looking for an exciting and interesting career, if you can work independently and in a team environment, if efficiency, sound judgment and adaptability are words that describe you, an exciting career as a Foreign Service Officer awaits you at IRCC!

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and used to fill future vacancies in the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) at IRCC.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A response to a text question addressing the following:

• How did you hear about this job opportunity?

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

EDUCATION:
ED.1 Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.*

*A "recognized post-secondary institution" is a public or private institution that has been given authority to grant degrees, diplomas, and other credentials by a public or private act of a provincial/territorial legislature or through a government-mandated quality assurance mechanism. For greater certainty, also included are institutions authorized to grant specific academic credentials for specific academic programs.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution at the time of application.

Candidates with foreign credentials will be required to show proof of Canadian equivalency.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:
EX1. Recent* experience responding to clients’ inquiries and resolving clients’ issues.
EX2. Recent* experience handling conflicting priorities, deadlines, and time pressures on an on-going basis.

*Recent is defined as within the last two (2) years.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS:
AEX1. Experience working OR studying abroad.
AEX2. Experience writing detailed reports in a work environment.
AEX3. Experience preparing AND delivering presentations to the public.
AEX4. Experience using social media within a professional context.
AEX5. Recent* and significant** experience reviewing, analyzing, and making final decisions*** on the status of immigration applications in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and related Regulations and policies.

*Recent is defined as within the last five (5) years.

**Significant is defined as:
The depth and breadth of experience as well as the complexity of tasks that could be expected to have been obtained by carrying out the functions for normally one (1) year;
OR
Successful completion of three six-week temporary duties as a member of the SOAT program (Short-term Operational Assignment Training) including at least one temporary duty overseas. Please note that the SOAT program is only available to indeterminate IRCC employees.

***Final decision is defined as a decision in which you decide whether someone qualifies for status or a benefit under IRPA. Note that recommendations or assessments of decisions are not considered final decisions.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
OR1. Able and willing to work overtime, as required.
OR2. Rotationality: Able and willing to be posted abroad or in Canada at any time and at the request of the employer.
OR3. Able and willing to travel.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)
Candidates must attain language proficiency level CCC/CCC prior to being appointed*.

*In order to be appointed to the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP), candidates must meet all essential qualifications including the official language proficiency requirements (CCC/CCC, imperative staffing).

Selected candidates who meet the essential qualifications except the official language proficiency requirements will be hired on an "ab initio" status, meaning the candidate is not an employee under the Public Service Employment Act. "Ab initio" hires will undergo full-time paid official language training for a maximum of 2,270 hours. They will be eligible for an appointment to the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) ONLY if they successfully complete their official language training i.e. if they obtain the required level at their official language tests (CCC/CCC). If they are not successful, they will not be retained and therefore will be eliminated from this process.

If you have limited to no prior knowledge of your second official language, please select ‘beginner’ on your application when prompted to indicate your level of proficiency; the selection of ‘none’ would not allow you to submit your application to this process.

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

COMPETENCIES:
C1. Integrity and Respect
C2. Comprehensive Analysis
C3. Judgment*
C4. Reasoning*
C5. Results Orientation
C6. Change Leadership

*Applicants must demonstrate these skills by successfully obtaining the required pass mark for the Public Service Entrance Exam 371 (PSEE 371).

ABILITIES:
AB1. Ability to follow instructions
AB2. Ability to communicate effectively (Oral)
AB3. Ability to communicate effectively (Written)

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

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, Persons with a Disability, Visible Minorities, and Women.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance - Top Secret security clearance - A secret security clearance is required to join the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP). You must obtain a Top Secret clearance within one year of your appointment in order to be posted overseas, which is a mandatory requirement of the development program. If a Top Secret clearance cannot be granted to you within the required time frame, you cannot remain in the FS development program as it is a condition of employment.

COE1. Top Secret Security Clearance.
COE2. Rotationality: Able and willing to be posted abroad or in Canada at any time and at the request of the employer.
COE3. Able and willing to travel.

Tests

Applicants must successfully write Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE).

Public Service Entrance Exam UIT

Applicants must complete the Public Service Entrance Exam Unsupervised Internet Test as part of the screening for this selection process. This exam consists of two sub-tests: the Test of Reasoning and the Test of Judgement. While all applicants are asked to take the first sub-test, you will only be invited to take the second sub-test if additional information is required to complete the assessment. You will have 90 minutes to complete the Test of Reasoning and 75 minutes to complete the Test of Judgement (if required). You must complete the test(s) before you submit your application for this position.

For more information, please consult: Public Service Entrance Exam - Unsupervised Internet Test

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

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.

Keywords: Migration Officer, Foreign Service Officer, Immigration, Visa Officer, Jobs Abroad

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.