EC-06: Senior Foresight Analyst / EC-07: Manager of Foresight ***

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

***AMENDMENT TO CLOSING DATE***
We are looking for candidates who want to contribute to the future of Canadians by producing high quality, strategic foresight to policy-makers.

Duties

We’re looking for bilingual people who are hard-working, creative and collaborative to fill positions in two streams:
• Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06, and
• Foresight Manager – EC-07

Stream one: Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06
As a Senior Foresight Analyst, you will:

• Research and synthesize future developments in the policy landscape that could affect government policy and programs;
• Engage with public servants across all of government to ensure the research is relevant and has impact;
• Interview experts and stakeholders to understand what the future may hold across many different domains;
• Develop and write high quality foresight materials for both government internal and external audiences (social media and web channels);
• Help design foresight projects, and work collaboratively in teams to drive them forward; and
• Facilitate and participate in meetings and workshops.

Stream two: Manager of Foresight – EC-07
As an effective Manager of Foresight, you will take on many roles of a Senior Foresight Analyst, and you will also:

• Design and manage foresight studies that are relevant to government policy-makers;
• Hire, orient, train, manage and develop talent of foresight staff;
• Participate in management committees and discussions;
• Build relationships with partners and clients across government; and
• Lead production of foresight reports, presentations, and corporate documents.

Work environment

Policy Horizons Canada (PHC) (www.horizons.gc.ca) uses foresight to help the Government of Canada develop future-oriented policy and programs that are robust and resilient in the face of disruptive change by:

• Analyzing the emerging policy landscape, the challenges that lie ahead and the opportunities opening up;
• Engaging in conversations with public servants and citizens about forward-looking research to inform their understanding and decision-making;
• Building foresight literacy and capacity in the Public Service.

PHC’s mandate is government-wide. PHC is governed by a Deputy Minister Steering Committee, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Employment Social Development Canada and the Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Plans and Consultations) of the Privy Council Office.

Our dedicated, diverse, intelligent, and curious staff is our strength. Our foresight work benefits from our employees’ academic training in fields currently ranging from artificial intelligence, physical sciences and engineering, to history, economics, education, international relations, art, and law.

We work with partners from government, the private sector, educational institutions, communities, and civil society. We often host meetings and workshops in our collaborative and technologically advanced workplace. While the Manager of Foresight (EC-07) position requires on-site presence on a full-time basis, the Senior Foresight Analyst (EC-06) position may offer telework opportunities, depending on operational requirements, performance and at the discretion of management.

Intent of the process

We plan to staff at least three positions from this selection process.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions with various tenures within Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

INFORMATION YOU MUST PROVIDE

Here’s how it works: to advance in the selection process, you first need to show how you meet all the essential education and experience qualifications by responding to the screening questions that will be asked during your online application. You can also demonstrate how you meet one or more other qualifications that are assets but not essential. You will have a maximum of 4000 characters for each response.

Note: When responding to each screening question, it is not sufficient to only state that you meet the criteria or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Rather, you must clearly demonstrate how, when, and where you met this qualification, by providing concrete work examples. For example, you could state that you meet the criteria by explaining a time when you successfully met that criteria, including information about your role, the context, the duration, the results achieved, and so on. Education and experience requirements will be assessed using the online responses only.

In addition to responding to the online screening questions, you are asked to submit a resume (maximum 4 pages) and a cover letter (maximum 600 words in total). In the letter, please:
• State which position(s) you are applying for (you may apply to one or both streams);
• Explain why you are a great candidate for the job(s); and
• Include a list of three references who have worked with you directly.
To recap, here is the information you need to submit when applying:
• Responses to all the online essential qualifications screening questions (maximum 4000 characters each)
• Responses to the online asset qualifications screening question(s) that apply to you (maximum 4000 characters each)
• A resume not exceeding 4 pages – to send to Emma Garand, assistant to the Senior Director, at
• A cover letter as described above (maximum 600 words) – to send to Emma Garand
• A copy of your proof(s) of education – to send to Emma Garand
• A copy of your official language results (if you have any) – to send to Emma Garand

We will use the resume only as a secondary source to validate the experience you described in your screening questions and in your cover letter. If you have any questions about how to apply, please contact Emma Garand, assistant to the Senior Director at .

Positions to be filled: 3

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

EDUCATION

• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution, with acceptable specialization in economics, sociology or statistics. This criterion does not require that the degree be granted in those specific subjects.

Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06 and Manager of Foresight – EC-07

• Experience in leading one or more studies that considered future social, political, environmental, economic or technological changes and analyzed policy implications.
• Significant* experience in performing strategic and/or policy analysis using qualitative or quantitative information.
• Experience in managing a complex** project.

*Significant is defined as experience that would normally be associated with performing these duties as a primary function for approximately 1 year.

**A project is complex if it involves numerous interrelated parts, requires dealing with ambiguity, has challenging or shifting timelines, and involves budgetary or other constraints.

Manager of Foresight – EC-07

• Experience in managing human resources (including, but not limited to: assignment of work, performance management, coaching for development, staffing and/or human resources planning).

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

Various language requirements
All positions are bilingual imperative (English and French)
Senior Foresight Analyst (EC-06): Level BBB/BBB
Manager of Foresight (EC-07): Level CBC/CBC

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES

Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06 and Manager of Foresight – EC-07

• Ability to lead forward-looking research, policy or foresight projects.
• Ability to select among methods for research and group work.
• Ability to work effectively in a team.
• Ability to synthetize and clarify complex information for a specific audience.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Manager of Foresight – EC-07 Only

• Ability to manage people effectively.

KEY LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06 and Manager of Foresight – EC-07

• Mobilize people
• Uphold integrity and respect
• Exercise judgment
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Promote innovation and guide change
• Achieve results

Manager of Foresight – EC-07 Only

• Create vision and strategy
• Empathize with and understand the perspectives of others

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Those criteria are not mandatory for the job, but are considered assets and may be used in the selection decision at the end of the process. If you meet any of these criteria, you may state this in your online application.

EDUCATION

Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06 and Manager of Foresight – EC-07

• Masters, PhD, or Professional degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in a field relevant to the position.
• A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or substantial*** work experience in biology, neuroscience, medicine, life sciences or psychology.

*** Substantial is defined as experience that would normally be associated with performing duties requiring an understanding of one of these fields as a primary function for approximately 2 years.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Senior Foresight Analyst – EC-06 and Manager of Foresight – EC-07

• Experience leading foresight studies.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

At Employment and Social Development Canada, diversity is our strength. If you’re a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a visible minority and are interested in bringing in different perspectives and insights, let us know by completing the Employment Equity (EE) section in your application. Appointments of members of these EE groups could be made to ensure our workforce is inclusive and representative of the Canadian public we serve.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

May require overtime during periods of high demand for foresight products (e.g. ahead of briefings with senior officials).

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Reliability security clearance and 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

We want to find people who will flourish at Policy Horizons Canada and do great work that will take our organization forward.

PROCESS FOR EVALUATING APPLICANTS

If your screening questions responses and your cover letter show that you meet the essential education and experience qualifications, you will be invited to take a written exam.

If you are successful at the written exam, you will be invited to participate in a scenario or simulation.

If you are successful at the scenario or simulation, you will be invited to an interview.

During the process, you will be required to provide proof of your education credentials.
Reference checks could take place at any time during the process. We reserve the right to contact references other than the ones submitted by the applicants, to make a suitable assessment.

Top-Down ranking can be used at any stage of the assessment process and only the top scoring candidates may be invited to the next stage of the assessment. Various pass marks and cut-off scores may be used at different stages of the assessment. A cut-off score for proceeding to a later stage may be different than the pass mark.

All information obtained through the selection process, including all communications, from the time of application to the close of the process, could be used to evaluate the candidate.

OTHER INFORMATION

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

Candidates are asked to submit their application by using the online system.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Communication for this process will be sent via email or via the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process must include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

Cost of travel and expenses will not be reimbursed for participating in this selection process.

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.