Intern Officer Development Program - Become a Professional Buyer - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

The Public Service of Canada is committed to workplace inclusion. A workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated and respected, and where each person's talents and strengths are fully developed and utilized.

Creating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued begins with self-identification. Help us to achieve this goal by identifying your employment equity group.

Give yourself the best chance to succeed!

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.

To request an assessment accommodation or if you have questions, including the physical environment of the exam room, please contact us as soon as possible at

Each request will be individually reviewed. You will be asked to provide information regarding your limitations. If needed, professional documentation could be requested to determine the appropriate accommodation measures. For more information about assessment accommodation, please visit our website at https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html

Duties

The Acquisitions Program buys and manages contracts for billions of dollars of goods and services on behalf of the federal government departments and agencies. They are responsible for the procurement of complex technical, engineering and scientific products and services, as well as commercial products and services that ensure best value to Canadian citizens.

As an Intern Officer in procurement, you will be able to share experiences with fellow officers and will receive formal and on-the-job training through a series of developmental assignments meeting departmental needs.

Roles include: negotiating contracts of varying complexity, from low dollar value commercial products to multi-million major equipment projects; contributing to the development of innovative procurement solutions; transforming how government leverages its enormous buying power and developing and maintaining effective customer relations.

Work environment

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) helps the Government of Canada serve Canadians. With a strong focus on quality customer service, we provide innovative common services such as real estate and building management, purchasing, banking, pay and pensions, and translation to other government departments, agencies and boards. By providing these centralized services to departments and agencies, we enable them to focus on what they do best: providing their programs and services to Canadians.

The objective of the Program is to provide Intern Officers with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to plan, negotiate and administer contracts as Supply Officers and then as Supply Specialists for various commodities on behalf of the Acquisitions Program and Department. This objective is achieved by providing the Intern Officers with varied and well-rounded professional procurement experience through exposure to various clients and suppliers, as well as line and staff work, through structured developmental work assignments. The assignments are supervised by trained Assignment Coaches and augmented by formal classroom training and include written performance assessments and feedback by the Assignment Manager. To ensure training objectives remain on track, structured feedback opportunities are provided to Intern Officers through regular communication with their Program Mentors.

As an organization, PSPC strives to give all its employees opportunities to achieve organizational, professional and personal goals in a respectful and inclusive workplace, mobilized and supported by leadership at all levels. For more information on PSPC's People Management Philosophy and Our Commitments, please see the following link: http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/apropos-about/pe-pc-eng.html

Intent of the process

This process will be used to staff positions within the Intern Officer Development Program which allows participants to progressively move from the PG-01 to the PG-04 group and level. Progression occurs after a review panel assesses each participant against a standard of competence. It must be demonstrated that incumbents considered for progression meet the competencies for the respective PG-02, PG-03, and PG-04 job requirements. Successful completion of the Program will lead to an indeterminate appointment at the PG-04 group and level. Participants recruited from outside the Public Service are subject to a probationary period for the whole duration of the Program.

A pool of partially qualified candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions within PSPC. The majority of positions to be staffed will be in the National Capital Region; however, this pool may be used to staff positions in other regions.

The pool may be used by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with prior approval from PSPC. Candidates appointed by GAC and by CBSA will participate in the PG Development Program in the respective department and not the PSPC Intern Officer Development Program.

Positions to be filled: 40

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 500 words (maximum) "Describe why you want to become a Procurement Officer for Public Services and Procurement Canada. This covering letter will be used to evaluate your ability to communicate in writing."

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:

Graduation by August 2019 with an applied degree from a recognized college, with at least one the following acceptable specialization: International Business and Supply Chain Management OR e-Business Supply Chain Management OR Naval Architecture OR Marine and Naval Engineering.

OR

Graduation by August 2019 with a degree* from a recognized post-secondary institution.

*A degree is defined as a baccalaureate or a degree at a higher level than a baccalaureate.

PLEASE NOTE: Our system uses an automatic education screening functionality; you must select all the specializations you have among those listed above.

Proof of graduation will be required prior to the start date of the offer of employment. If you have a foreign degree(s), you will have to provide proof of Canadian equivalency.

Degree equivalency

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB (National Capital Region & regions)
English essential (regions only)

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

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES:

- Ability to communicate effectively in writing
- Ability to communicate effectively orally
- Client Service
- Excellence through results
- Integrity and respect
- Thinking things through (Judgment and Reasoning)
- Work management
- Working effectively with others

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

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Various levels of security clearance up to Top Secret

- Willingness and ability to work overtime on short notice;
- Willingness and ability to travel occasionally;
- Willingness to relocate to the National Capital Region or other locations in Canada where there are regional offices.

Tests

How and when will I be assessed?

- You will receive an unsupervised internet test (PSEE UIT 370) at the end of October 2018 to be completed within a five (5) day window.

- If you are successful at the unsupervised test, you will be invited to the supervised in-person test (PSEE 371) that will be administered starting in November 2018.

For more information on these tests, the testing process and assessment accommodation, please visit: canada.ca/post-secondary-recruitment

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

Top down selection may be used at any point during the assessment phase.

Your application must include the following:
- A curriculum vitae
- 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 your covering letter, you will be required to answer an essay question that will be used to assess your Written Communication competency.
- The name, title, phone number and address for two (2) references - one has to be your immediate supervisor who supervised you for a minimum of six (6) months and the other can either be an academic or work reference.

Our intention is to communicate with candidates via email. Applicants must include in their application a valid e-mail address and to make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is the applicants' responsibility to provide any changes to their personal information to the contact indicated on this job advertisement.

Any travel expenses incurred by candidates to attend evaluations under this recruitment process will be the candidate's responsibility.

Relocation expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with the National Joint Council Relocation Directive.

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.