Chief Herald of Canada, Director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority (Anticipatory process)

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Assessment accommodation

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

Following are some of the benefits associated with applying online:

- Applicants can create a profile and a resume that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time.
- Applicants can modify their application/resume at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.
- Applicants can verify the status of their applications, at any time.
- Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results.
- For some jobs, applicants will find important information, namely the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria that are only available when applying on-line. To submit an application online, please select the button "Apply Online" below.

When answering the screening questions, remember that the assessment board cannot make assumptions about your experience. It is insufficient to mention that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past duties. Rather, using this tool, candidates must demonstrate how they meet the education and experience criteria listed in the job opportunity advertisement by providing clear and concrete examples.

Clear and concrete examples are defined as illustrations in which you fully explain the actions, considerations and steps you completed in order to gain the experience you are describing. This detailed contextual information will be used by the board members reviewing your submission to assess whether you have sufficient experience in a relevant field to complete the tasks which will be assigned to you should you be considered for this position. This is similar to what would be expected of you when asked to provide a concrete example of a particular situation in the context of an interview. Such examples usually require a minimum of ½ page to describe and a maximum of 2 pages. In order to facilitate this process, you may wish to start your submissions with a sentence similar to: “A clear and concrete example of a situation where I did X is a situation which occurred on Y date and my role in this activity was to...”.

Resumes will be used as a secondary source of information and strictly to validate the concrete examples you will have described in this tool.

Duties

See Work environment

Work environment

Context Addendum:

The OSGG is planning the succession of the current Chief Herald of Canada, who will assume new duties at the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

The Canadian Heraldic Authority has a unique mandate within the federal or provincial public service. This office was created on June 4, 1988, as a result of royal letters patent of Her Majesty The Queen authorizing the Governor General to exercise her powers related to the official granting of heraldic emblems (arms, flags and badges). The Governor General of Canada is the head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

The Chief Herald of Canada, who is also the Director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, is appointed by a commission of office, made under the privy seal of the Governor General. This commission formally delegates to the Chief Herald the power “to grant and to assign such arms, flags and badges and other devices to government, corporations, associations, societies, institutions and persons worthy and deserving of this grant of honour, and to undertake such other measures as necessary to create and maintain a heraldic system for Canada.”

The Chief Herald of Canada develops the strategic vision, business and operational plans, and legal and policy frameworks to guide the work of the Canadian Heraldic Authority; directs the granting and registration processes for heraldic emblems (coats of arms, flags and badges), and the conduct of granting ceremonies; and ensures that the heraldic emblems created are aesthetically innovative and respectful of the heraldic traditions and that they provide opportunities to reflect Canada’s multicultural and bilingual society.

Reporting to the Director or the Assistant Director of the Canadian Heraldic Authority are several heralds who have each received a commission of office instructing them to assist the Chief Herald of Canada. All of them are specialists at an advanced level in the subject of coats of arms and emblems. They have mastered the history, the rules and conventions, the special language related to arms (the language of blazonry), and the knowledge of coats of arms used currently and historically in Canada. About 20 independent artists, painters and calligraphers are also employed on a contract basis to render the emblems developed by the heralds.

It is within this challenging and complex environment that the Chief Herald of Canada is assigned as the recognized heraldic expert in Canada responsible for the program delivery and development of Canada’s Heraldic System.

Our ideal candidates bring:
• Knowledge of the history of heraldry in Canada and Europe
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• An ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, at both the national and international levels
• Superior people management skills with a natural ability to develop and promote cultural programs, special ceremonies and events

Intent of the process

The purpose of this selection process is to staff one (1) indeterminate positions.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff identical or similar positions with various language requirements and tenures within the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (indeterminate, acting, deployment, secondment or assignment).

Employees at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for a deployment before all the other candidates. However, if no deployment is made, applicants from other groups and levels will be considered in this advertised appointment process. This selection process may be used to staff similar positions at this group and level.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 1,000 words (maximum) "Tell us why you would like to work for the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General within the Canadian Heraldic Authority."

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

EDUCATION
Graduation from a recognized university with a degree in history or in another field of studies relevant to the position to be staffed.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
E1 – Recent* experience in developing new partnerships and collaborating with stakeholders.
E2 – Recent* experience in the development and promotion of cultural programs.
E3 – Recent* experience in representing institutions, bodies and individuals at the national level.
E4 – Experience in managing human resources.

*Recent experience is defined as experience acquired within the last three years.

KNOWLEDGE
K1 – Knowledge of the history of heraldry in Canada and of the operations of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.
K2 – Knowledge of the history of European heraldry and of the structures and functions of the main Heraldic Public and Private Offices outside Canada.

COMPETENCIES
COMP-1 – Create vision and strategy
COMP-2 – Mobilize people
COMP-3 – Uphold integrity and respect
COMP-4 – Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
COMP-5 – Achieve results
COMP-6 – Promote innovation and guide change

ABILITIES
A1 – Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
A2 – Ability to communicate effectively orally.
A3 – Ability to appreciate, respect and promote the First People’s ancestral and contemporary emblematic traditions.
A4 – Ability to develop the accessibility, representativity and modernity of Canadian Heraldry.
A5 – Ability to understand, enhance and promote the highest standards of heraldic art created from traditional media by hand or via digital and other emergent media.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION
AQ7 – Master or Doctorate in history.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
AQ1 – Recent* and significant** experience in research, publication and oral presentations in the cultural or heritage, heraldry, vexillology or genealogy fields.
AQ2 – Experience in development of new heraldic emblems (coats of arms, flags and badges) and of firsthand working toward getting design consensus from various groups.
AQ3 – Experience in development of new emblems such as symbols and logos for private or institutional clients.
AQ4 – Experience in the development and implementation of special ceremonies and events
AQ5 – Recent* experience in representing institutions, bodies and individuals at the international level.

*Recent experience is defined as experience acquired within the last three years.
**Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of the experience associated with being accountable and having performed a broad range of complex related activities, which is normally acquired over a period of at least three consecutive years.

ABILITIES
AQ6 – Ability to describe heraldic emblems using the specialized heraldic language (blazon).

Conditions of employment

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

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.

1. Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent.

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

3. For this selection process, the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General will communicate with candidates by email. Applicants must include in their application a valid email address that is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users as some email systems block certain types of email.

4. Candidates who have valid second language evaluation (SLE) results are to provide proof of their test results. It is the responsibility of those candidates who do not have their results to obtain them from the Public Service Commission (PSC). http://www.psc cfp.gc.ca/ppc-cpp/test-examenresult/result-eng.htm.

5. Please note that all Notifications related to this process will be posted on the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). It is your responsibility to check for notifications on the PSRS site to avail yourself of the right to informal discussion with the manager and/or recourse to be submitted to the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board.

6. Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process, such as a written exam, an interview, references check, etc.

7. INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED:
Candidates must provide the following information when submitting their application on jobs.gc.ca (Public Service Resourcing System, PSRS):
- A résumé;
- Covering letter

8. When submitting an application to this selection process, you will be prompted to answer screening questions concerning the essential education and experience qualifications, as well as asset qualifications.

9. It is NOT sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Rather you must clearly demonstrate HOW, WHEN, and WHERE the qualification was met through substantiation by examples. Information on your described skills, experience, etc. provided in the screening questions should be supported by your resume. Failure to provide the above information in the format required may result in your application being rejected from the process. Candidates may not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

10. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience, education, as well as asset qualifications described in the screening questions.

11. Although the asset qualifications are not mandatory, they may be an important factor that will be considered for specific positions being staffed. Therefore, if you meet the asset education and experience, it is to your advantage to demonstrate this in your application as well.

12. Please ensure that your personal record identifier (PRI) is included in your resume and/or application form.

13. TRAVEL RELATED TO THE SELECTION OR APPOINTMENT PROCESS
Please note that candidates (including employees of the Public Service) will not be considered to be in travel status or on government business and that travel costs will not be reimbursed. Consequently, candidates will be responsible for their travel costs.

14. A security check will be administered and proof of citizenship, education, and at least 2 recent work references with names and applicable phone numbers will be required. Security Check will include a credit check and fingerprinting. Successful candidate(s) must meet and maintain the Conditions of Employment throughout their employment.

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.