Communications Officer (IS-02) / Communications Advisor (IS-03)

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

You must write a cover letter in 2000 words or less. You must provide concrete examples in your cover letter to clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience requirements listed in the essential qualifications section and asset qualifications for the stream(s) you have identified. Your résumé and cover letter will be used to assess if you meet the essential and asset qualifications to proceed to the next steps of the process. Lack of examples and details in your cover letter will result in your application being rejected. Applicants will not be contacted to clarify incomplete or missing information.

The ability to communicate effectively in writing will be partially assessed using the cover the letter and résumé.

Please specify in your application the tier(s) and stream(s) for which you are applying.

Only applications submitted online via the jobs.gc.ca site will be accepted. To submit an application online, please select the button "Apply Online" below.

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

We will need contact information for two (2) references, one of them being a current or previous manager or supervisor or employer.

Intent of the process

The purpose of this selection process is to staff current and future vacant positions within the Communications Directorate of the Public and Indigenous Affairs and Ministerial Services Branch.

A pool of partially qualified candidates will be established and could also be used to staff similar positions with various language requirements, various security requirements and various tenures (permanent or temporary) within Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Positions to be filled: 8

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 2,000 words (maximum)

A response to a text question addressing the following:

• TIER 1: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02)
  TIER 2: COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)
• Stream 1: Digital Communications Services (Social Media and Web)
  Stream 2: Media Monitoring
  Stream 3: Media Relations & Issues Management
  Stream 4: Public Inquiries
  Stream 5: Ministerial Communications Services
  Stream 6: Strategic Communications

Contact information for 2 references.

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

EDUCATION:

All streams:

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

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

EXPERIENCE:

Stream 1: Digital Communications Services (Social Media and Web)
Stream 2: Media Monitoring
Stream 3: Media Relations & Issues Management
Stream 4: Public Inquiries
Stream 5: Ministerial Communications Services
Stream 6: Strategic Communications

TIER 1: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02)

All Streams:

EX01: Experience in supporting the development or delivery of communications products.

Stream 2: Media Monitoring

EX02: Experience in gathering and analyzing news clippings or social media on a specific set of issues to create a media monitoring product/analysis for a department/organization.

Stream 3: Media Relations & Issues Management

EX03: Experience liaising with media, partners and organization and coordinating their requests for a department/organization.

Stream 4: Public Inquiries

EX04: Experience in preparation of responses to requests for information presented verbally and in writing by industry representatives, organizations or the public.

TIER 2: COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

All Streams:

EX05: Experience in the development and delivery of communications products.
.
Stream 2: Media Monitoring

EX06: Experience in gathering and analyzing news clippings to create a media monitoring product, including providing an environmental analysis of a specific issue that includes tone, geography and trends over time;

Stream 3: Media Relations & Issues Management

EX07: Experience in writing comprehensive and sometimes complex media relations and issues management products—including summaries of specific emerging issues and media responses;
EX08: Experience in providing advice in the planning and implementation of effective communication strategies

Stream 5: Ministerial Communications Services

EX09: Experience in event logistics such as, but not limited to, booking event venue, facilities and equipment and travel.
EX10: Experience in maintaining electronic and paper files.

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

All streams:

EX11: Experience working with clients, partners or organizations.

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

Various language requirements
(English or French Essential, Bilingual Imperative (BBB/BBB), Bilingual Imperative (CBC/CBC))

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

All stream
- Ability to communicate effectively orally.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

TIER 1: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02)

Stream 2: Media Monitoring
- Ability to summarize articles or documents.

Stream 3: Media Relations & Issues Management
- Ability to offer excellent client service.

Stream 6: Strategic Communications
- Ability to synthesize/edit information and draft documents.
- Ability to analyze issues in order to provide strategic communications advice to clients.

TIER 2: COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

Stream 1: Digital Communications Services (Social media and Web)
- Ability to draft and review social media content.
- Ability to use social media platforms appropriately.
- Ability to code HTML documents.
- Ability to review and assess content based on Canada.ca Content Style Guide.

Stream 2: Media Monitoring
- Ability to analyze past and present media and social media coverage using analytics tools/platforms.

Stream 3: Media Relations & Issues Management
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple tasks.
- Ability to manage moving priorities and meeting deadlines.

Stream 6: Strategic Communications
- Ability to draft communications products.
- Ability to analyze issues in order to provide strategic communications advice to clients.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

All streams
- Judgment;
- Reliability;
- Care for accuracy and detail.

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

KNOWLEDGE:

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

All Streams
- Knowledge of policies and good practices relating to communications.
- Knowledge of communications trends and tools.
- Knowledge of the Government of Canada Communications Policy.

Stream 1: Digital Communications Services (Social Media and Web)
- Knowledge of Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada Web Standards.

ABILITIES:

TIER 1: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02)

Stream 1: Digital Communications Services (Social Media and Web)
- Ability to publish social media content using platforms or tools, such as but not limited to Hootsuite.
- Ability to publish web content.

Stream 4: Public Inquiries
- Ability to offer excellent client service.

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

Stream 5: Ministerial Communications Services
- Ability to collate complex calendars and other communications products from many sources.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

- Initiative;
- Teamwork oriented;
- Service Oriented;
- Creativity.

Conditions of employment

TIER 1 & 2: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER (IS-02) / COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR (IS-03)

All streams
- Reliability Status or Secret Security Clearance.
- Ability and willingness to work overtime on occasion on short notice.

Stream 2 and 3 (Media Monitoring and Media Relations and Issues Management)
- Ability to work irregular hours.

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

Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process, such as but not limited to written examination, standardized assessment, interview and reference checks.

Please provide two references, one being a current or previous manager, supervisor or employer.

Our intention is to communicate with candidates via email. Candidates who apply on this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and have to make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide any changes to their personal information to the contact person indicated on this job advertisement.

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

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

Throughout the selection process, it is your responsibility to make yourself available for all testing and interview dates for which you are invited. If you fail to attend any of the scheduled testing or interview sessions, you will be deemed to be no longer interested in this selection process and as a result, you will not be considered further.

Please note that the assessment will only be rescheduled under exceptional circumstances:

- Illness (a medical certificate or confirmation in writing from your employer will be required);
- Emergency Circumstances (verifiable);
- Operational Requirements (must be confirmed in writing by your supervisor/manager/employer);
- Pre-approved Annual Leave/Travel Plans (must be confirmed in writing by your supervisor/manager/employer).

Failure to attend the assessment without good reason will be construed as a withdrawal from the appointment process.

Candidates from outside the public service may be required to pay for travel and relocation costs associated with this selection process.

The Public Service of Canada is 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 contact person indicated on this job advertisement in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which 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.

As this process may be used to fill other departmental vacancies, your application (e.g. CV, assessments, results) could be shared with other hiring managers in order for the department to make optimal use of our pools.

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.