Senior Advisor

Important messages

Are you looking for a new challenge? Are you interested in learning about other branches and initiatives in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada? If so, we have a great opportunity for you.
The office of the Director General for the Coastal and Prairie Regions are looking for motivated employees interested in an indeterminate opportunity at the EC-06 level to take on the duties of Senior Advisor to the Director General.

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities or Women).

Duties

We are looking for individuals with strong analytical thinking, creative, strategic, research and writing skills to work on planning, leading and developing regional and national strategic advice and recommendations on research, development and technology transfer initiatives that contribute to the identification and implementation of science-related departmental/branch plans and priorities. The work consists of preparing and reviewing briefing materials, and initiating and maintaining effective networks of expertise within Coastal Region or Prairie Region and across the department and with federal/provincial/ industry stakeholders to provide analyses and relevant advice for senior management. This position reports to the Director General for the Coastal or Prairie Regions.

Intent of the process

We intend to staff 2 permanent positions with this process: 1 position will be located in the Prairie Region and 1 will be located in Kenvtille. A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures as well as various linguistic requirements.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field such as agriculture, environment and natural resources, life science, economics, sociology or statistics with acceptable specialization in economics, sociology or statistics.*

*Note : 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 developing strategic approaches in a complex environment and define optimal processes to achieve them.
Experience in providing strategic advice and recommendations to senior management* on program and policy issues.
Experience working in multidisciplinary teams with diverse reporting relationships to optimize portfolio outcomes.

*Senior management is defined as Director-level or equivalent and above.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge of the Departments and Programs that support the agricultural industry.
Knowledge of socio-economic challenges facing Canada’s agriculture industry and the federal government’s priorities to address them.
Knowledge of the process for policy and/or program development.

Planning and Organizing
Adaptability
Analytical Thinking
Interactive Communication
Writing Skills
Strategic Thinking

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

Graduation with a Master’s degree from a recognized university with specialization in agriculture and agri-food, environment and natural resources, life science, economics, commerce, public or business administration, political science, sociology, statistics, law or some other specialty relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience in developing science or innovation policy, strategies or strategic frameworks.
Experience working with external stakeholders such as industry, central agencies, other government departments, provincial departments, national or international organizations, or portfolio agencies.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Ability and willingness to work overtime.
Ability and willingness to travel.

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

ASSESSEMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

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.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

A test may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.jobs.gc.ca.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

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

Communication for this process will be sent via email. 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 should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
- Matching of the individual's experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
- Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
- Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

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.