Senior Guide-Interpreter

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

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.

Work environment

The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (OSGG) is the government agency that supports the governor general in delivering their mandate and in fulfilling their constitutional and traditional responsibilities. Most OSGG employees work at Rideau Hall, located at 1 Sussex Drive in Ottawa.

Rideau Hall is the official residence and workplace of the governor general of Canada. It is also a historic site with 180 years of history. The site, located within a beautiful park, is just minutes from downtown Ottawa. It is open to the public and welcomes more than 300 000 visitors each year who come to take part in the various activities offered.

The Visitor Services and Exhibits team manages and implements the public guided tours and interpretation program. This program gives Canadians the opportunity to learn more about the governor general’s roles and responsibilities and to discover the history, architecture and collections of the residence. All of our activities are offered free of charge to visitors.

The senior guide-interpreter performs a multitude of tasks related to operations and to the development of interpretation activities. We are therefore looking for a versatile person who is action-oriented and who can offer personalized customer service. The candidate must possess exceptional teamwork skills, be proactive and be able to work independently.

Intent of the process

The purpose of this selection process is to staff one (1) determinate position.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff identical or similar positions 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.

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

EDUCATION
Successful completion of an undergraduate program in history, social/human sciences, communications, political sciences, or any related field.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
E-1 Experience as a guide-interpreter in historical/heritage interpretation to a range of audiences.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
K-1 Knowledge of the practical application of heritage interpretation theories, methods and techniques.
K-2 Knowledge of the local tourism industry.

COMPETENCIES
COMP-1 Demonstrating integrity and respect.
COMP-2 Thinking things through.
COMP-3 Working effectively with others.
COMP-4 Showing initiative and being action-oriented.

ABILITIES
A-1 Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
A-2 Ability to apply a variety of interpretation techniques in the development and the delivery of presentation, tours, programs or activities.
A-3 Ability to develop and deliver training workshops on various themes or content interpreted during guided tours and other activities.
A-4 Ability to act as a mentor for the guide-interpreters (for example, giving training, workshops or observing and rating their performance during tours).
A-5 Ability to assist the Coordinator responsible for the delivery of visitor services, including occasional supervision of guide-interpreters (students).
A-6 Ability to do research in order to write reference or training documents.
A-7 Ready and willing to assist team members during the development or delivery of the Visitor Services Program (for example fulfill tasks at the reservation desk or assist with guide’s recruitment campaign).

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

ASSET - EXPERIENCE
AE1 - Experience taking reservations for an institution with a touristic or cultural vocation.

ASSET - KNOWLEDGE
AK1 - General knowledge of Canadian History.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

OTHER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
CE-1 Availability to work variable schedules.
CE-2 Availability to work during the week and weekends.
CE-3 Prepared to wear a uniform.
CE-4 Able to work inside and outdoors.

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

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.

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.