Senior Communications Officer and Principal Communications Advisor

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

***Other position locations in the Atlantic provinces, such as Fredericton, could be staffed via this process. ***

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.

Are you a:
• passionate storyteller with an inquisitive mind? Check.
• creative and innovative thinker who has fresh ideas? Check.
• collaborator and relationship-builder? Check.
• multi-tasker extraordinaire? Check.

If you live, eat and breathe communications and want to work on projects and files that have a positive impact on the Atlantic Canadian economy, consider joining our team at the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). We’re looking for creative people with serious communications skills who aren’t afraid to take risks.

We are a team of dynamic and talented professionals who:
• Do Big things in a small organization.
• Take pride in the results of our work.
• Promote work/life balance.
• Provide an environment that encourages and supports continuous learning throughout your career.
• Over the past decade, ACOA has consistently ranked as one of the best places to work in the federal government.

What can you expect from us?
• An opportunity to roll up your sleeves and push beyond your comfort zone every day – status quo is not an option.
• Collaborative team members who are always ready and willing to help each other and provide a pat on the back.
• Daily learning, feedback and random acts of ice-cream.
• Lots of opportunities to express your ideas and make a difference.
• A diverse, receptive and healthy workplace.
• Competitive salary rates and a benefits program (dental and health care plans) for you and your family, a defined benefit pension plan and the services of our Employee Assistance Program

We are keeping it simple
• Just answer the questions in the application and submit your resumé!

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to create a pool of candidates to staff anticipated permanent and/or temporary vacancies. Other federal departments, including but not limited to, Canadian Heritage and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (Gulf Region), will be able to use this pool. Other position locations in the Atlantic provinces, such as Fredericton, could be staffed via this process.

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:

You have a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field related to the positions such as communications, media studies, public relations, journalism, marketing, editing, translation or other acceptable specialization or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience such as a college degree in videography, graphic design, etc.
If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. You are encouraged to begin this process as soon as possible.

NOTES:
1. Based on their education, training and/or experience, indeterminate incumbents of positions in the IS classification are deemed to meet the minimum education standard whenever a bachelor's degree without specialization is called for in a position classified as IS.
2. At the manager's discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience, may serve as an alternative to the minimum education standard.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:

Experiences required for the Communications Officer (IS-4) positions & Principal Advisor positions (IS-5):

1) You have experience in liaising with clients, partners or stakeholders on communications products.
2) You have developed and coordinated a variety of communications products, including but not limited to media lines/responses, news releases, social media content, communications plans, articles, web content, briefing notes, presentations and reports.
3) You have experience writing or editing communications products for various audiences.

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

Various language requirements
We are looking for a variety of different language profiles (depending of the position requirements and location):
- English Essential
- Bilingual Imperative: BBB/BBB level
- Bilingual Imperative: CCC/CCC level

Information on language requirements

Additional experiences required for Principal Advisor (IS-5) :

1) You have provided strategic communications advice to senior management and have done so for at least two years within the last 5 years.
2) You have experience leading meetings and presenting to clients or stakeholders.
3) You have experience in developing strategic plans and work plans for communications.
4) You have led teams producing communication products from planning to production.

COMPETENCIES:

Now that we know you have what it takes, we will be asking you during the assessment phase to demonstrate the following behaviours that you will need to be part of our team.

1) Collaboration – You understand the importance of reaching out, seeking and building internal/external alliances and integrating all perspectives to deliver comprehensive products and services to your clients and colleagues.

2) Organizational awareness – You are fully aware of, and understand the importance of, the workings, structure and culture of the organization as well as the political, social and economic climate in which the organization operates.

3) Client focus – You understand the importance of excellent client service and focus your efforts on discovering and meeting the needs of your clients.

4) Developing solutions – You gather ideas, proposals and suggestions and think outside the box to find options. Your proposed solutions are tested against reality while you continually look beyond the obvious.

5) Engaging and organizing people – You continually engage others and guide them while being accountable for the achievement of organizational goals and objectives.

6) Communication - You understand how to use language (oral and in writing) as a flexible tool to share and collect information, to exchange ideas and to openly explore a variety of perspectives, adjusting style and content to each unique individual, audience and circumstance.

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

EXPERIENCE:

You may have other experience that may not be necessary for all our positions but that could be an asset. Let us know which areas of communications you have worked in so we can find the right position for you:

• Advertising
• Consultation or public opinion research
• Design development for digital and print communications
• Development and implementation of marketing and/or advertising plans
• Graphic design for internal and external audiences
• Internal communications
• Organizing and coordinating ministerial events
• Media monitoring or analysis
• Media relations
• Planning , coordinating and/or implementing announcements or events
• Speech writing
• Strategic communications
• Translation and revision
• Videography
• Web publishing
• Writing and editing communications documents
• Writing for social media
• Writing web content

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

In support of achieving a represented workforce, current or future organizational needs may require consideration be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and Aboriginal peoples.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Depending on the position to staff, operational requirements could apply such as:
• Ability to work overtime and work on the weekend often on short notice, and to adopt flexible work hours as per operational requirements.
• Ability to travel on short notice

Conditions of employment

SECURITY:
Various security profiles required depending of the position:
- Reliability Status
- 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 designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

What is next?

We will be looking closely at your application over the next few weeks. Here is what you can expect:

•Phase 1: Let’s see what you’ve got
The information you provide will be closely reviewed by our management team, with a focus on your education and experience. This will help us determine if you will be further assessed. We will review the applications as we receive them, so if you have what it takes, you should hear from us soon about proceeding to phase 2.

•Phase 2: Show us your stuff
If you reach this phase, you will be invited to demonstrate your competencies. We may use a variety of different tools to assess them, including video interviews, written tests or online evaluations. But don’t worry, we will give you a heads-up and time to prepare. This is an important step for you and for us, as it lets you demonstrate your talent and lets us ensure you can be successful in our organization. This will take longer than the other phases, but the result will be worth the time investment.

•Phase 3: Meet us
If you have what it takes and have been successful in demonstrating the competencies, our management team will be excited to meet you, either in person or virtually, to validate and further understand what we have learned about you. We may also assess what other assets you can bring to our team and where you best fit in.

•Phase 4: Congratulations!
You have met all our requirements, and an offer could be on the table. We will let you know where you stand and tell you when and if you can expect to be offered a position on our team.

Please note the following:
•All the information collected during the process, from the time you apply until the end of the process, may be used as part of your assessment.

•We will accept applications on-line only. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System.

•Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent.

•Persons are entitled to participate in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

•PLEASE NOTE: For this inventory, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail for assessment purposes. Applicants who apply must include in their application a valid e-mail address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

•Candidates WILL be required to provide proof of education.

•Candidates with foreign education credentials MUST have proof of Canadian equivalency at the time of application. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at: http://www.cicic.ca

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.