Storyteller

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 specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

The Prime Minister’s Products team operates in a 24/7 environment that requires the team to be available to support the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at a moment’s notice.

Please see the OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS section for additional information on the hours of work.

In order to submit a COMPLETE application, you must:
1. Submit your résumé
2. Answer all of the pre-screening questions

When answering the pre-screening questions, you must provide specific examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualifications. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the experience. 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 and you may be screened out.

Priority will be given to candidates who have the asset experiences and abilities.

Duties

We’re looking for a talented writer to join our team who can draft high-quality communications products, and meticulously edit and parallel review products in French. Working in PCO’s non-partisan writing shop, you will develop communications products that tell a story about what the government is doing and why.

A keen interest in history and a hunger for breaking news will help drive you as you write about high-profile domestic and world events. Within a supportive team environment, you will:

• Write non-partisan communications products to support the Prime Minister’s activities and announcements
• Play a leadership role by mentoring and coaching junior analysts
• Provide strategic advice directly to senior PCO and PMO officials
• Work with departments and colleagues in PCO to research, review, and finalize high-quality products
• Work on highly sensitive files that require discretion, tact, and attention to detail

You will also be expected to work stand-by on a rotating basis with other team members to ensure somebody is always available to write and coordinate communications products as needed after hours and on weekends.

Work environment

The Privy Council Office (PCO) is like no other organization in the Government of Canada. Working here means you’ll get first-hand experience advising PMO and working directly with the Prime Minister’s chief advisors on the hottest and most interesting files in town. You will work with some of the brightest communications and policy minds in a flat organization.

Within the Communications and Consultations Secretariat, the Prime Minister’s Products team offers a unique working environment. You may begin the day writing a release to announce a new state-of-the-art research laboratory, find yourself working on a congratulatory message for the new president of a foreign country before lunch, and end your work day drafting an urgent statement from the Prime Minister regarding a fire that has displaced hundreds of Canadians.

You will work on a team where peer support and feedback is viewed as an integral part of the writing process. PCO is a flat organization, and advice and feedback from all team members – regardless of level – is carefully considered on each file to ensure we provide high-quality products that reflect the diversity of the Canadian public we serve.

Through daily interactions, you will also develop strong relationships with advisors within PMO and with communications colleagues across the Public Service. You will be challenged to think through the complexities and nuances of a variety of issues to get to the heart of the matter so you can write in a tone and voice that reaches and engages Canadians.

The vast array of files you touch will give you the chance to build a wide network and work with a variety departments and agencies. If you’re looking to develop new skills and be pushed beyond your comfort zone, PCO will help you grow and propel your career forward.

Intent of the process

IS-04

The intent of this process is anticipatory. PCO would like to create a pool of qualified or partially qualified candidates at the IS-04 level for future needs.

IS-05

The intent of this process is to fill one (1) IS-05 position on an indeterminate basis.

A pool of qualified or partially candidates at the IS-04 and IS-05 levels may be established to staff similar positions within PCO and the core public administration.

We may appoint candidates by applying one or more of the following criteria:

• Breadth, depth, type of specific work experience
• Matching individual experience or qualifications to the strengths and/or weaknesses of the work team
• Matching individual experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION

IS-04 and IS-05

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or related experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

IS-04 and IS-05

Significant* experience in assessing the communications implications of government policies and programs.

Significant* experience in writing and coordinating communications products that support senior officials** or Ministers for public events.

IS-04 ONLY

Recent*** experience in providing advice to senior officials** regarding strategic communications.

IS-05 ONLY

Significant* and recent*** experience in providing advice to senior officials** or ministerial staff regarding strategic communications.

* Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a period of approximately 2 years.

** Senior Officials is defined as Director level and above for IS-04 positions, and Director General level and above for IS-05 positions.

*** Recent experience is defined as within the last 5 years.

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

EDUCATION ASSET

IS-04 and IS-05

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in translation or French.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE ASSET

IS-04 and IS-05

Experience performing comparative revision and terminological research.

Experience reviewing and editing texts in French.

IS-05 ONLY

Experience coordinating inter-governmental or multi-organizational communications initiatives, projects, or strategies.

Experience writing speeches for senior officials (assistant deputy minister and above level) or Ministers.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES

IS-04 and IS-05

Ability to write high quality communications products in English within short deadlines.

Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure and under tight deadlines.

Ability to provide strategic advice.

Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Ability to conduct research and accurately synthesize information.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY

Judgement

Initiative

Effective interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

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

ABILITIES (ASSET)

IS-04 and IS-05

Ability to translate short passages from English to French.

Ability to review and edit texts in French.

Ability to quality control texts translated from English to French.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

IS-05 ONLY

Willingness to work from Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m, and Friday during normal hours.

A premium applies to certain hours of work. For more information, please contact .

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Ability to work long hours and overtime on short notice.

Ability to be included in a roster for scheduled stand-by and on-call duties.

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 designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

As part of this process, you can expect to:
• provide proof of your education credentials
• write an exam
• take part in an interview
• have your references checked

Please note that other assessments methods may be used.

A random and/or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Please note that we will not acknowledge receipt of your application. All communications related to this process, including email, may be used to assess your qualifications. We will send all communication through email or the Public Service Resourcing System. Please ensure your email address can receive email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email) and that you check your junk mail just in case. It’s your responsibility to keep your contact information up-to-date.

Please use the online system to submit your application. If you have absolutely no access to the Internet or to apply online, please contact Josée Philippe at: to make alternative arrangements.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

The Privy Council Office is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce with a diversity of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds that represents Canada now and in the future. In order to achieve this goal, we strongly encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups (women, people with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and visible minorities). We are passionate about fostering a workplace where all people feel welcome and can reach their full potential.

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 that 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.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.