Technical translators in training (inventory)

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

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Duties

Successful candidates will be required to translate and revise from English to French or French to English a variety of technical documents from various federal departments and agencies, such as the Department of National Defence and Transport Canada.

The Translation Bureau is seeking to fill positions for technical translators. Here are some examples (non-exclusive list) of technical streams for which the Bureau provides translation services: aeronautics, electricity and electronics, and telecommunications.

Work environment

Do you fit the profile we’re looking for? If you meet our criteria, the Government of Canada’s Translation Bureau needs you!
Are you a talented translator who has:
• excellent language proficiency?
• proven writing skills?
Are you thorough in your work?

At the Bureau, translators have many opportunities to stand out and learn. Every day, they translate texts of a general or specialized nature into more than a hundred language combinations.

By working for Parliament or a number of federal departments, Crown corporations and various other organizations, the Bureau’s translators acquire in-depth knowledge of how government works.

On the job, our translators are supported by management and administrative support team members in order to deliver high-quality work. The Bureau’s translators have access to various state-of-the-art technolinguistic tools, as well as to professional and customized language training, as required.

Our vision

The Bureau is a centre of excellence in linguistic services. Its modernized vision is based on the implementation of a number of initiatives, including bolstering employee well being; improving service quality; reaching out to professional associations, universities and clients; planning and managing resources effectively; and, finally, conducting research and development in machine translation and artificial intelligence.

In 2019, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) was selected as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the third year in a row. Join an organization that is committed to ensuring an inclusive workplace and respect for all of its employees!

Intent of the process

The purpose of this process is to create and maintain a list of pre-qualified candidates to fill various permanent or temporary positions at the TR-01 group and level within the Translation Bureau.

TR-01 appointments resulting from this process will be made through the Translation Bureau's Recruitment and Development Program. The objectives of this program are to bring translators in training (TR-01) to the desired working level (TR-02) by providing them with the training, experience, tools and necessary means to develop their skills that will allow them to work autonomously.

Successful candidates will be hired at the TR-01 level and promoted to the TR-02 level when they are deemed to meet the qualifications and conditions of employment of the TR-02 level; those qualifications are, normally acquired approximately two years after the initial hiring.

Positions to be filled: 10

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Education (this employment opportunity is also open to soon-to-be graduates)

To have obtained or to be in the process of obtaining, by June 30, 2020
1) A bachelor's or master's degree in translation (French to English or English to French) from a recognized postsecondary institution and at least a diploma in the technical field*.
OR
2) A bachelor's or master's degree in a field relevant to the position* and a specialization** in translation (French to English or English to French) from a recognized postsecondary institution.

*Please refer to the "Duties" section for examples of field relevant to the position.
**The specialization in translation may have been obtained through one or more certificates consisting of a total of 30 credits in language transfer and 15 credits in related courses.

Degree equivalency

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

Bilingual - Imperative
Level P

Level P refers to the level of specialization of the skill required to occupy a translator position. For more information on the P rating - Technical or Specialized Language Skills, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/staffing/qualification-standards/relation-official-languages.html.

Information on language requirements

Competencies and abilities:

Ability to translate from English to French or from French to English
Client service competency: Level 1 (https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/sc-cs/csc-eng.html)
Showing initiative and being action-oriented
Adaptability
Effective interactive communication
Written communication
Working effectively with others
Commitment to continuous learning
Thinking things through
Reliability

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

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Various security requirements: Reliability Status, Security Clearance (Secret, Top Secret). This factor is not used at the pre-screening stage.

For some positions, translation services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Some people may be required to work on a rotational basis during the day, evening or night, including weekends. A work schedule that does not correspond with the normal work week or other special work arrangements may also be necessary. The specific working conditions for each position will be discussed with the candidates selected at the time of appointment.

The collective agreement provides for various premiums when employees are required to work evenings or weekends. For more information, please consult the following link: https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/agreements-conventions/view-visualiser-eng.aspx?id=26

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 will contact candidates by e-mail and/or via their GC Jobs account. Please ensure that your e-mail address is valid and accepts messages from unknown users. It is your responsibility to regularly check your e-mail and GC Jobs account for all communications regarding this selection process. Should we contact you and you fail to reply within the designated time frames, your application may not be given further consideration.

The selection board cannot make assumptions about your education and experience. When answering the screening questions, it is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past responsibilities. Rather, you must provide concrete examples with significant details to explain when, where and how you acquired each qualification. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

A written practical exam and an interview will be administered and reference checks may be sought. Other assessment methods may be used as needed.

The selection board may, at any point during the selection process, use random selection or apply asset criteria to select candidates for the next phase of the assessment.

Other abilities, experiences or competencies may apply and may be assessed, depending on the position being staffed.

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

This process may be used for employment equity appointments. In these cases, we may only consider candidates who have self-identified as members of employment equity designated groups (women, members of visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities), depending on the position to staff.

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.