Communications Officer (IS-03) / Communications Advisor (IS-04)

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 does this process work? Please read below to find out!

Step 1:
You submit your application and if selected for further consideration, your application will be screened to determine if you meet the Essential Education and Experience Qualifications. For all experience factors, ensure you answer the screening questions with enough details to allow hiring managers to fully understand the scope of your experience. It is your responsibility to provide clear and concrete details in your responses to each question. It is recommended that you describe the experience in specific terms, providing sufficient details so that the Assessment Board can clearly understand. Decisions on your further consideration may be based on depth and breadth of your experience. Note that this information may be validated against your resume. "See resume", or a similar response, is not an acceptable response to screening question(s).

We are aware that there are many questions to answer, keep in mind that efforts are rewarded. In fully answering all the questions for which you meet the criteria, you will significantly increase your chances for an opportunity and let managers know what you bring to the table.

Step 2:
If you were screened in, you will be contacted for further Assessment. The Assessment may occur in phases and could include written assessment(s), review of past work, interview and reference check(s). Assessments may be conducted virtually through email, telephone and/or videoconference. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that their computer and mobile equipment is in working condition before starting an assessment. As part of the assessment, reference checks may be sought. All applicants that move through to the Assessment phase will be advised of their outcome in the process.

Step 3:
Candidate selection is made and the selected candidate is advised.

Work environment

The Department of National Defence (DND) is the largest federal government employer, offering over 70 different types of civilian career opportunities. DND's role is to provide services and support to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in their operations and missions at home and abroad. As a civilian employee, you will be an essential part of the Defence Team. In this regard, the department fosters a work environment where employees have opportunities to grow, to learn, to progress in their careers and have job satisfaction over the long-term.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions on a permanent or temporary basis.

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:

Graduation from a recognized university with a degree in communications, journalism, or other discipline relevant to the position OR an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience.

*Incumbents of IS positions who do not possess the formal education prescribed are deemed to meet the university graduation standard based on their education, training and/or experience. They must be accepted as having met the minimum education standard whenever a bachelor's degree without any specialization is called for in a position classified as IS.
**For entry as an IS, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience may serve as an alternative to university graduation at the manager's discretion.

Degree equivalency

Experience:

IS 03 only:

Experience in writing and editing original media materials such as news releases, backgrounders, media advisories, talking points, brochures articles or speeches.

Experience in contributing to the development and implementation of communications plans.

IS 03 and IS 04:

Experience in providing communications advice and services to management, a government department or other organizations.

IS 04 only:

Experience in creating, writing, editing and coordinating the approval process for at least three (3) of the following communications products:
- News releases;
- Statements;
- Media response lines;
- Newsletters;
- Brochures;
- News articles;
- News summaries;
- Media analyses;
- Social media content;
- Digital communications plans or strategies;
- Video scripts or story boards;
- Visual communications products, e.g. infographics;
- Multimedia content;
- Web content and activities;
- Advertising and marketing content;
- Advertising or marketing plans/strategies;
- Communications plans or strategies;
- Strategic planning and issues management;
- Internal communication messaging and activities.

Experience in planning for or executing communications, marketing or digital activities or events.

Experience in providing advice to management on emerging communications issues.

Depending on the position being staffed, positions will also require:
• Experience in developing content for professional web and social media platforms.
• Experience in developing social media strategies or analyzing social media performance data.

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

IS 03 only:
Experience in Government purchasing, such as requesting quotes, preparing a Statement of Work and navigating the procurement process.

IS 03 and IS 04:
Experience in planning and executing projects or events.
Experience in marketing.
Experience in editing, revising or proofreading documents.

IS 04 only:
Experience working with stakeholders or community groups to further understanding of a department, its role, mandate and priorities.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB
Bilingual Imperative BBC/BBC
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC

Information on language requirements

Abilities:

IS 03 only:
Ability to develop communications products.
Ability to provide communications advice and services to a supervisor or client.

IS 03 and IS 04:
Ability to communicate effectively orally.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
Ability to work effectively under pressure.

IS 04 only:
Ability to synthesize complex information into communications products.
Ability to manage multiple communications projects simultaneously.

Personal Suitability:

IS 03 only:
Initiative

IS 03 and IS 04:
Effective interpersonal relationships
Creativity
Judgment
Dependability
Flexibility
Attention to Detail

IS 04 only:
Autonomy

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

IS 03 and IS 04:

Knowledge of trends and developments in communications.
Knowledge of federal government communications policies.
Knowledge of current DND/CAF priorities.

Ability to conduct research.

IS 04 only:

Knowledge of current DND/CAF communications issues.

Organizational Needs:
In support of achieving a diversified workplace, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following groups: aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, visible minorities and women.

Information on employment equity

Other Organizational Needs:
In support of Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE) initiative #24, consideration may be given to the spouses or common-law partners of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Willingness to travel occasionally.
Willingness to work overtime when required and with minimal notice.
Willingness to be included in after-hours duty schedule.

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 positions are located at Carling Campus 60 Moodie Drive (Ottawa, ON).

Our intention is to communicate with candidates via email. Candidates who apply on this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and to make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). We recommend adding the contact email at the bottom of the poster to your list of contacts. Failure to respond in a prescribed timeframe may result in elimination from this process.

Successful candidate(s) must meet and maintain the Conditions of Employment throughout their employment.

Preference may be given to candidates who are members of an Employment Equity group.

Random selection may be used to identify which applicants will be considered in this appointment process.

IS-03: $67,241 - $72,660
IS-04: $80,274 - $86,788

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.