Translators - 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.

There are two streams to this process. It is important that you clearly indicate which stream you are applying for.

Stream 1: Parliamentary Translation Directorate - Parliamentary Debates Division (Ottawa, Ontario).

Stream 2: Generalist Translation – Linguistic Services (various locations) and Parliamentary Translation Directorate – Parliamentary Committee Proceedings and Parliamentary Documents divisions (Ottawa and Gatineau).

Duties

Successful candidates will translate and revise a wide range of documents from English into French or from French into English from a number of federal government departments, including those working in the fields of security and defence, immigration and citizenship, social sciences and international affairs, and transportation and infrastructure as well as Parliament. A certain portion of the workload is done under tight deadlines.

Stream 1: The work is done in the evenings and sometimes at night. This is the translation, in real time, of the debates in both Houses of Parliament of Canada (Hansard).

Stream 2: Translation services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Some people may therefore be required to work on a rotational basis during the day, evening or night, including weekends.

Note: For positions at the Parliamentary Translation Directorate, employees are eligible for parliamentary leave (40 days) in addition to regular leave.

Work environment

Founded in 1934, the Translation Bureau is a special operating agency of Public Services and Procurement Canada. It supports the Government of Canada in its efforts to communicate with and serve Canadians in both official languages. It also plays a leadership role in standardizing the vocabulary used in the various spheres of federal government and parliamentary activity.

Positions at Linguistic Services can be carried out from any of our offices across Canada: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montréal, Québec, Moncton, Halifax. Positions at the Parliamentary Translation Directorate are available only in the National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau).

Candidates who accept a position are required to work in the office for at least the first year and can thereafter request to telework. Because of COVID-19, however, employees are required to work from home but may be called in to the office from time to time to translate classified material. You may also be required to work from the office once the pandemic is over.

Intent of the process

Stream 1 : The immediate need is for English to French and French to English translators. The positions are located exclusively in Ottawa, Ontario.

Stream 2 : The immediate need is for English to French translators.

The intent of this competition is to create and maintain an inventory to staff identical or similar positions within the Translation Bureau with various security and tenure requirements (permanent and temporary).

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

For both streams :
Education :

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in translation from English to French or French to English from a recognized postsecondary institution.

Degree equivalency

Experience :

Stream 1 :
Five years of full-time experience as an autonomous English to French or French to English translator in a fast-paced operational environment.

Stream 2 :
Two years of full-time experience as an autonomous English to French or French to English translator in a fast-paced operational environment.

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

Asset experience :

- Experience in the translation of texts on Canadian political and international current affairs.
- Experience translating for the Government of Canada, the Parliament of Canada or a Canadian provincial legislature.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative level P
For more information on level P - Technical or Specialized Language Skills, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/staffing/qualification-standards/relation-official-languages.html#specialized.

Information on language requirements

Competencies :

- Client service competency: Level 1
- Reliability
- Thinking things through
- Working effectively with others
- Showing initiative and being action-oriented
- Adaptability
- Effective interactive communication
- Written communication
- Commitment to continuous learning

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: Security clearance at the Secret level. Some positions may require a Top Secret clearance. The security clearance is not a factor at the screening stage but must be obtained before the start of work. If you do not have the required security clearance, the Translation Bureau will launch the process if you are successful in the competition.

Translation services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Some people may therefore be required to work on a rotational basis during the day, evening or night, including weekends.

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 you by e-mail and/or via your 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 frame, 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 exam and an interview will be administered, and reference checks may be sought.

Note that all written communication related to this competition (including your application) may be used to evaluate your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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 consider only candidates who have self-identified as members of employment equity designated groups (members of visible minorities, Indigenous 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.