Communications Advisor – Public Opinion Research

Update: UPDATE: Please note that the selection process has been amended to extend the closing date to April 12, 2021 - 23:59, Pacific Time.

Important messages

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is 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.

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).

Duties

Do you have in-depth experience conducting public opinion or market research? Do you see yourself working with a dynamic team and clients to convey public and stakeholder perceptions, as well as support important internal initiatives? The Public Opinion Research (POR) and Consultations Unit, Public Affairs Branch of AAFC is looking for a Communications Advisor and research lead for POR and online consultations projects. The successful candidate would:

• Oversee the design, coordination, and reporting of POR and online consultation projects.
• Manage projects and contractors’ work effectively to deliver high-quality research that meets decision makers’ needs and complies with Government of Canada policies.
• Provide advice and plans to support the strategic direction of POR and online consultations.
• Bring best practices in POR and consultations research methods, tools, and story-telling to the team and department.
• Contribute to public environment analysis and identification of trends.
• Foster collaboration with internal clients and partners to enable delivery of projects.
• Guide project work of junior-level employees.

Work environment

• Our department makes crucial contributions to the Government of Canada’s objectives – the agriculture and agri-food sector contributes to our everyday life by feeding us as well as our economy.
• Our teams of experts in various domains work on domestic and international markets, environmental sustainability, economy and science innovation.
• We are a science-based department with research centres across the country.

Here’s what you can look forward to if you join the Public Affairs Branch at AAFC:

• Friendly colleagues who strive for excellence
• An organization that values work-life balance and mental health
• Dynamic leaders who encourage innovation and trying new things
• Interesting research, files and content that matter to Canadians.

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.

As we carry on work during the COVID-19 pandemic, you will be welcomed virtually to our team. We’re taking advantage of technology such as, Microsoft Office 365 (M365) and MS Teams, and we will make sure you are set up to effectively and safely work remotely.

If you are interested in joining our team, please apply today!

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff one (1) term position for a duration of one (1) year in one of the locations listed at the top of the advertisement. Qualified candidates applying from one of these locations may be considered first.

A pool of qualified and partially qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures and linguistic requirements.

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

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.

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

• Recent* and significant** experience in providing input to public opinion or market research analyses, strategies or plans.
• Recent* and significant** experience in designing, coordinating and/or conducting public opinion or market research projects in public, private or not for-profit sectors.
• Recent* experience in preparing research summaries, reports, briefing notes, or presentations.

*Recent means within the last five years.
**Significant means experience that was a core part of the candidate’s employment for at least two years.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of research methods and current trends in public opinion research.

COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrating integrity and respect
• Thinking things through
• Working effectively with others
• Showing initiative and being action-oriented

ABILITIES

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects in a rapidly changing environment.

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

EDUCATION

Diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of public opinion research, marketing research, or survey research.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

• Recent* experience in preparing statements of work, proposals or contract specifications for research projects.
• Recent* experience using Microsoft Excel, SPSS, Q, R or S language, or other software tool for statistical analysis of opinion or marketing research data.
• Recent* experience using online survey software (e.g. SimpleSurvey, FluidSurveys, Voxco, etc.).
• Experience in researching the public environment and writing analysis reports.
• Experience conducting public opinion research or consultation interviews or focus groups.
• Experience leading public opinion or market research projects in public, private or not for-profit sectors.

*Recent means within the last five years.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of the Government of Canada Policy on Communications and Federal Identity, including the Directive on the Management of Communications.
• Knowledge of Government of Canada’s Directive on the Management of Communications: Mandatory procedures for Public Opinion Research.

AAFC recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. We are committed to achieving employment equity and developing a highly capable workforce that is representative of Canadian society. We encourage women (especially in non-traditional occupations), Indigenous peoples (Aboriginal peoples), persons with disabilities, and members of visible minority groups to apply and declare themselves as part of one or more of the Employment Equity groups as selection may be limited to candidates belonging to one or more of the groups.

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability and willingness to work overtime or adjust work schedule according to organizational needs on short notice.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Willingness and ability to work remotely.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status 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

APPLICATION AND CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION

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

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

If you are currently employed by the Government of Canada, please identify the following on your application: substantive group and level; employment status; Personal Record Identifier (PRI).

You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of your choice. Please indicate your preferred official language(s) in your application.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. You are responsible for ensuring accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. You should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

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. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. Asset qualifications may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process. Your responses to the screening questions must be provided in the application. When providing your information:

• You are responsible for providing appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification.
• It is not sufficient to simply state that the qualifications are “met” or provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. You must provide concrete, specific examples to illustrate how you meet each qualification. Include where and how you obtained the required experience, as well as the time period(s) in which you performed the functions of the position.

Failing to provide adequate information could result in your application being rejected. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or missing information.

Your résumé will be used as a confirmation of the examples you provide.

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

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

A random or top down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

Appointment decisions may be based on one or more of the following criteria:

• Matching of the individual’s experience or qualifications to the strengths and weaknesses of the work team.
• Matching of the individual’s experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed.
• Depth, breadth, type of work-specific experience.
• Level/degree of one or more competencies/qualifications.

You must provide proof of your education credentials.

For current Government of Canada employees, 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 the selection board request it.

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.