Policy Advisor **Permanent position**

Update: Please note the following: our intent is to staff 1 full-time permanent position rather than a full-time temporary position. A correction has been made to the intent paragraph.

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

AAFC is committed to diversity and inclusion and is proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s best diversity employers. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities or Women).

**Please note that our intent is to staff 1 full-time permanent position rather than a full-time temporary position. A correction has been made to the intent paragraph.**

Duties

We are looking for individuals with strong analytical thinking, creative, strategic, research and writing skills to work on planning, leading and developing regional and national strategic advice and recommendations on research, development and technology transfer initiatives that contribute to the identification and implementation of science-related departmental/branch plans and priorities including those related to Agricultural Clean Technology Sector Strategy. The work consists of preparing and reviewing briefing materials, and initiating and maintaining effective networks of expertise within Science and Technology Branch, across AAFC branches and across the department and with federal/provincial/ industry stakeholders to provide analyses and relevant advice for senior management. This position reports to the Director Research Development and Technology Transfer in the Atlantic Region.

Work environment

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, AAFC is proud to celebrate our achievement in creating a diverse, respectful, and positive workplace where all employees are valued and recognized for their unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff 1 full-time permanent position in Kentville, Nova Scotia (English Essential).

Although we are looking to fill 1 position, in the event that more than one candidate is found qualified, a pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures, linguistic requirements and security requirements within AAFC.

In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting, deployment, assignment or secondment opportunities.

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)

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in biological, agricultural environmental, applied or natural science with acceptable specialization* in economics, sociology or statistics.

*For the purpose of this process, the employmer has determined that to meet the requirements of the specialization candidates are required to have followed one or two courses in one of the three listed fields. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or education.

IF YOU HAVE FOREIGN CREDENTIALS, please follow the link below for information on how to obtain a degree equivalency. You must obtain an equivalency, at your own expense, in order to be considered for appointment into the public service.

Degree equivalency

Experience in conducting analysis of strategic issues and presenting options and recommendations to support senior management* decision-making.

Experience developing strategic approaches in a complex environment and providing advice on optimal processes to achieve them.

Experience in preparing written reports, presentations or other written briefing material for senior management*.

Experience working with tools, techniques and/or methodologies for analyzing data or information.

Experience in managing conflicting priorities across various concurrent responsibilities, and producing results under tight timelines.

Experience working in multidisciplinary teams with diverse reporting relationships.

*‘Senior management’ is defined as Director level and above.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Master’s degree from a recognized post secondary institution in biological agricultural or environmental science.

Ph.D from a recognized post secondary institution in a natural, biological, agricultural or environmental science.

Degree equivalency

Experience in working with agriculture sector stakeholders including industry, academia, federal government departments/agencies, provincial government departments, and/or national or international organizations.

Experience in partnering with other government organizations or private sector.

Experience in facilitating strategic sessions involving government and industry stakeholders.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Writing skills
Analytical thinking
Teamwork
Strategic Thinking
Interactive Communication

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

Knowledge of performance measurement and/or evaluation approaches.

Knowledge of current issues and priorities as they relate to Agriculture.

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Willingness and ability to travel occasionally.
Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime on short notice.

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

Applications submitted by email will not be accepted. You must apply on-line through www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/jobs/services/gc-jobs.html.

APPLICATION & CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact the email referenced below under “Contact Information”.

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

Communication for this process will be sent via email. 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 should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

Various assessment tools may be used, such as, standardized tests, interviews, references, board member knowledge, etc.

Recent and past performance evaluations may be used as part of the assessment. Accordingly, you may be required to submit a copy of your last two Performance Ratings/Evaluations as part of this selection process. Please be prepared to provide such documentation should it be requested from the selection board.

Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies such as random selection, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, may be used for the purpose of managing applications. Please note that although you may attain the established pass mark on any of the assessments used in this staffing process, management may decide to use a higher cut off score.

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.