Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

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• you will have access to a variety of opportunities across the country in a broad range of specializations that offers training, development possibilities and career advancement;
• you will have access to work-life balance through a flexible work environment, excellent benefits and competitive salaries;
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Work environment

The world is your workplace!

If you are looking for an exciting and interesting career, if you can work independently and in a team environment, if being efficient, having sound judgment and being adaptable are words that describe you, an exciting career as a Foreign Service Officer awaits you at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada!

New Foreign Service recruits with IRCC start their career with a 3-year development program. Generally, the first of those 3 years is an intensive training year spent primarily in Ottawa, Ontario. The next 2 years are spent on assignment abroad, learning on the job.

Foreign Service Officers are rotational: they must be ready and available to be assigned anywhere in Canada or abroad, according to operational needs, every 2 to 4 years. At IRCC, officers spend about two-thirds of their career on assignment at Canadian missions abroad and the remainder at Headquarters, in Ottawa.

Abroad, Foreign Service Officers deliver the Canadian immigration program. They process and render decisions on applications from persons seeking to immigrate to, study in, work in or visit Canada. Through these decisions, Foreign Service Officers contribute to building Canada's future and meeting Canada's economic and social needs. Foreign Service Officers also liaise with local and international authorities and organizations, and monitor and report on migration trends. When assigned in Ottawa, they provide support to our offices abroad or to other areas of IRCC (such as policy development, ministerial support, international and intergovernmental co-ordination or corporate services).

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established and used to fill future vacancies in the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP).

Positions to be filled: 20

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION:

Graduation by July 31, 2020, with a degree* from a recognized post-secondary institution**.

Note: *Degree: Unless it is otherwise specified (e.g., Master’s degree), the term “degree” refers to a baccalaureate as established by educational authorities.

**A "recognized post-secondary institution" is a public or private institution that has been given authority to grant degrees, diplomas, and other credentials by a public or private act of a provincial/territorial legislature or through a government-mandated quality assurance mechanism. Institutions authorized to grant specific academic credentials for specific academic programs are also included.

Candidates with foreign credentials will be required to show proof of Canadian equivalency.

Degree equivalency

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

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Able and willing to work overtime.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)
Candidates must attain language proficiency level CCC/CCC prior to being appointed*.

*Candidates must meet all essential qualifications including the official language CCC/CCC proficiency requirements in both official languages in order to be appointed to the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP).

Selected candidates who meet the essential qualifications except the official language proficiency requirements may be hired on an "ab initio" status, meaning the candidate is not an employee under the Public Service Employment Act.

"Ab initio" hires will undergo full-time paid language training for a maximum of 2,270 hours. They will be eligible to be appointed to the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP) ONLY if they successfully complete their language training i.e. if they obtain the required level (CCC/CCC) on their official language tests. If they are not successful, they will not be retained and will therefore be eliminated from this process.

If you have limited or no prior knowledge of your second official language, please select ‘beginner’ on your application when prompted to indicate your level of proficiency. The system will not allow you to submit your application to this process if you select "none".

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

COMPETENCIES:
C1. Integrity and Respect
C2. Comprehensive Analysis
C3. Judgment
C4. Reasoning
C5. Results Orientation
C6. Change Leadership
C7. Team Work

ABILITIES:
AB1. Ability to follow instructions
AB2. Ability to communicate effectively orally
AB3. Ability to communicate effectively in writing

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

Top Secret security clearance - A secret security clearance is required to join the Foreign Service Development Program (FSDP). You must obtain a Top Secret clearance within the first year of your appointment in order to be posted overseas, which is a mandatory requirement of the development program. If a Top Secret clearance cannot be granted to you within the required time frame, you cannot remain in the FS development program as it is a condition of employment.

Rotationality: Able and willing to be posted abroad or in Canada at any time and at the request of the employer.

Able and willing to travel.

Tests

How and when will I be assessed?

- You will receive an unsupervised internet test (PSEE UIT 370) at the end of October 2019 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 2019.

For more information on these tests, the testing process and assessment accommodation, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/recruitment/graduates/post-secondary-recruitment.html

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

Each request for assessment accommodations 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

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.