Senior Communications Advisor

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

HOW TO APPLY

You will not need to provide a cover letter.

Please submit your résumé and answer the screening questions in the application process.

YOU MUST MEET THE ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THIS PROCESS.

You are required to provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain not only HOW you acquired the experience, but also WHERE and WHEN you gained the experience. Simply stating you have the essential education or experience is not enough. We will only use your résumé as a secondary source of information.

In your answers to the pre-screening questions, if you do not clearly demonstrate you have the required experience and education, we will not ask for additional information, which will result in you being screened out.

For example, it is not enough to tell us that you have strong writing skills; tell us what you’ve written (news releases, media lines, etc.) and provide context such as the nature of the project, the target audience, and the results achieved, etc. That will help us determine whether you will be evaluated in greater depth. If you are asked to specify dates or time periods, remember to mention them.

HOW WE WILL EVALUATE CANDIDATES

We will review your responses to the essential education and experience pre-screening questions to verify that you have met each criteria.

We will only contact the candidates who meet the essential qualifications at the screening stage. If you meet the essential qualifications, you may then be invited to participate in a written exam. If you do not meet the essential criteria, your application will not be considered any further.

If you are successful on the written exam, you will be invited to an interview where we will probe the depth and breadth of your abilities and personal suitability and give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills. You will also be asked to provide proof of your education credentials and three references.

Duties

Imagine using your strong writing skills, digital savviness and/or creative thinking to make a difference in the lives of Canadians. ECCC is looking for highly motivated, talented and experienced communicators.

We are looking for candidates for a number of functions including web, social media, writing, creative services, media relations and more.

As a Communications Advisor, you will have the opportunity to:

• provide advice on important communication issues;

• develop and implement a variety of communication plans, products and activities;

• contribute to the creation, drafting and adaptation of content in multiple formats for various audiences;

• coordinate communications projects and liaise with key stakeholders and partners.

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 in Vancouver (British Columbia), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Ottawa (Ontario), Toronto (Ontario), Gatineau (Quebec) or Montreal (Quebec).

If you are found to be qualified, your name will be placed in the pool of candidates for potential employment opportunities.

Positions to be filled: 3

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION:

ED1: 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:

EX1: Significant* and recent** experience in providing communications advice and recommendations to management***, as well as to clients or partners.

EX2: Significant* and recent** experience in developing and implementing communications strategies, plans, products or activities.

EX3: Significant* and recent** experience in researching, analyzing, interpreting and summarizing information.

EX4: Recent** experience in developing collaborative relationships with various partners.

* Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a period of at least 1 year.

** Recent experience is defined as experience acquired within the last 3 years.

*** Management is defined as supervisors or above.

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, CBC/CBC ou CCC/CCC), or other possible bilingual linguistic profiles based on the requirements of position)

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

ABILITIES:

AB1: Ability to communicate effectively orally.

AB2: Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

AB3: Ability to provide sound advice and recommendations.

AB4: Ability to conduct research, analyze information and write concise summaries or reports.

AB5: Ability to develop communication products for a variety of audiences.

AB6: Ability to manage time effectively, set priorities and work under tight deadlines.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:

We need team players and individual thinkers who can work in a variety of situations with the following attributes:

PS1: Judgement
PS2: Initiative
PS3: Resourcefulness
PS4: Adaptability
PS5: Teamwork
PS6: Attention to detail
PS7: Dependability

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

ASSET CRITERIA

You DO NOT HAVE TO POSSESS THE ASSET CRITERIA to be considered in this process or be included in a pool of qualified candidates.

If you do possess any of the following asset criteria, please take the time to clearly explain your interest and how you meet them. This information may be helpful to hiring managers, as positions become available.

You may be assessed on these asset criteria DURING this selection process OR AT A LATER DATE, if managers are looking for candidates to fill positions that require any of these specific skills.

Please provide at least one detailed example for any applicable asset criteria below (including where and when you gained that experience), to substantiate how you meet it.

EXPERIENCE:

STREAM 1 - COMMUNICATIONS STREAM:

AEX1: Experience in strategic communications.

AEX2: Experience in media monitoring and analysis.

AEX3: Experience in public environment analysis.

AEX4: Experience in internal or corporate communications.

AEX5: Experience in media relations or public relations.

AEX6: Experience in marketing or advertising.

AEX7: Experience in organizing and coordinating events.

AEX8: Experience in consultation or public opinion research.

AEX9: Experience in crisis and issues management.

AEX10: Experience in speechwriting.

Stream 2 - DIGITAL EXPERTISE STREAM

AEX11: Experience developing content, coordinating projects or writing for the web and social media in a professional context.

AEX12: Experience developing and/or implementing digital campaigns.

AEX13: Experience in digital user experience and user testing.

AEX14: Experience in web publishing.

AEX15: Experience in photography in a professional context.

AEX16: Experience in videography – production, editing and other related skills.

AEX17: Experience in graphic design.

BOTH STREAMS:

AEX18: Experience in supervising staff.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

The operational requirements may vary depending on the position. The hiring manager will discuss these requirements if they contact you about a specific position and could include, but are not limited to:

- OVERTIME
Overtime on short notice may be required for all positions.

- TRAVEL
Occasional travel, sometimes on short notice, may be required for some positions.

Conditions of employment

The security level (reliability status, secret or top-secret security clearance, etc.) may vary with the position to be staffed.

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 Government of Canada is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce with a diversity of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds that represents Canada now and in the future. In order to achieve this goal, we strongly encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups (women, people with disabilities, aboriginal peoples and visible minorities). We are passionate about fostering a workplace where all people feel welcome and can reach their full potential.

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 special accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

All communications relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications, specifically your ability to communicate in writing.

Communication for this process will be sent via email or via the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS). 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 must include an email address that accepts email 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.

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 supervisor/manager/employer will be required);
- Emergency Circumstances (verifiable);
- Operational Requirements (must be confirmed in writing by your supervisor/manager/employer);
- Pre-approved 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.

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.