Advocacy Officer

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 submitting an application to this selection process, you will be prompted to answer screening questions concerning the essential education and experience qualifications and, if applicable, other (nonessential) qualifications.

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. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience and education described in the screening questions.


INSTRUCTIONS
When recording your examples, be sure you:
• Provide concrete, specific examples of actions that speak directly to the experience sought.
• Choose examples with sufficient complexity, impact and degree of difficulty that will allow you to illustrate to what extent and depth you have shown the behaviours expected for each qualification.
• Focus on what you did. In referring to an experience achieved in the context of a team, set your role apart from the role(s) of others.
• Please describe the achievements in the past tense. This will help to ensure that you are providing concrete examples, rather than making general statements (e.g. instead of saying “I work well within a team….” you can say “I worked well with a team when….”).
• Use action verbs when describing your experience i.e. lead, managed, organized, planned, prepared, informed, determined, etc.
• Provide all examples in sentence format.
• Each example must include when the example took place, background of each situation, what you did, how you did it, what your role was in the situation, and what was the outcome.

Work environment

Do you believe in the gold standard of service? Do you thrive on change and exciting new projects? Do you want to work for one of the Top 5 rated Best Federal Government Departments to work for according to Forbes? Then Veterans Affairs Canada is the place for you! For more information, please read the article found at https://www.forbes.com/canada-best-employers/#759891a4241f.

As an employer of choice, we provide a healthy and diverse work environment with flexibility in work hours, part-time work, in addition to several benefits (competitive salaries, paid leave, health and dental insurance, pension fund, etc.).

Prior to applying, we invite to watch the following video as it includes helpful tips on the application process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GW7P3g9hhI

The Bureau of Pensions Advocates is proud to be a nation-wide organization of lawyers serving Veterans, former and current members of the Canadian Forces and the RCMP and their families. The Bureau provides free legal advice and representation before the Veterans Review and Appeal Board for clients who are not satisfied with decisions regarding their disability benefits. The Advocacy Officers in the Bureau’s offices work alongside lawyers to serve clients on the phone and in person with medical-legal concerns. The work is rewarding and of particular interest to those who prefer a fast-paced environment requiring multi-tasking and empathy for the special group of clients we serve.

As an Advocacy Officer we review service records, medical reports, and interview clients in detail with regards to their disabilities. The information we extract can be sensitive and troubling. At times our clients can be triggered and heightened by going through the redress process and retelling their stories.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to appoint an indeterminate bilingual CCC/CCC PM—01 in Toronto, ON. A pool of qualified candidates may be created and used to fill similar permanent and temporary positions.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 2 references.

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

Education:
• Successful completion of Secondary School OR an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience*
* An acceptable combination is defined as the breadth and depth of experience which would normally be acquired with two (2) years of work experience in providing client service to internal or external clients.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• EX 1 – Experience using computer and data entry software programs such as the Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, electronic filing systems, etc.
• EX 2 – Experience drafting, formatting and proofreading various documents such as reports, letters and/or memos.
• EX 3 – Experience in providing various administrative support services in an office environment, which includes service to clients over the phone and in person.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

Abilities:
• AB 1 – Ability to communicate effectively*
• AB 2 – Ability to plan and organize work, establish priorities, and work effectively under pressure and with conflicting demands.
• AB 3 – Ability to conduct research and extract relevant information from a variety of source documents.

*Your ability to communicate effectively will be assessed by the responses you provide in this application

Personal Suitability:
• PS 1 – Initiative
• PS 2 – Dependability
• PS 3 – Effective interpersonal relationships

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

Assets:
• AE 1 – Experience as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
• AE 2 – Knowledge of Veterans Affairs Canada's clients and their common medical issues.
• AE 3 – Experience analyzing and interpreting medico-legal documentation.
• AE 4 – Experience in providing administrative support services in a quasi-judicial or legal environment.

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

Information on employment equity

Operational Requirement:
• Willingness and ability to work overtime as required.
• Willingness and ability to travel as required.

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

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email and contact information are maintained with the hiring board. All communication for this process will be sent by email and it is your responsibility to verify your messages regularly.

Education and/or Experience factors in the asset qualifications may be used for screening. Applicants should clearly demonstrate on their application if they meet any of the education and/or experience asset qualifications.

One or more asset qualifications may be used during the screening to manage the volume of applications.

Candidates will be asked to provide proof of their education credentials at a later date.

When you apply for this process, please keep in mind that most essential merit criteria (education, experience and competencies) will be assessed by the answers you provide in your online application. As a result, please ensure you allow yourself a significant amount of time to complete this application.

An interview and/or written exam may be administered.

Reference checks will be sought.

The Assessment Committee reserves the right to contact references other than those provided by the candidates (within the Public Service only) in order to adequately assess the candidates.

PLEASE NOTE: All information must be provided through the “apply online” application process. Do not fax, mail, email or drop-off a hard copy application as these will not be accepted. To apply in an alternate format due to disability, you must contact the email address indicated in the "Contact information" section below PRIOR to the Closing Date.

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.