IS-05 Speechwriter

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

EVERYONE IS WELCOME
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce with a diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds that represents Canada now and in the future. We are passionate about fostering a workplace where all people feel welcome, can reach their full potential, and contribute their unique perspectives and experience to the success of the team.

Our commitment to anti-racism: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/anti-racism.html

BE YOURSELF
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex (including gender identity and/or expression), national origin, sexual orientation, civil union or relationship status, disability, age, parental status, military service, or other status protected under federal law.

Duties

We’re looking for a talented speechwriter who can draft high-quality remarks that tell a story about what the government is doing and why. Ideally, we are looking for someone who can capture a speaker’s voice using language and tone that resonate with the intended audience.

Within a supportive team environment, you will:
• Write non-partisan remarks to support the activities and announcements of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, representatives of the Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary, as well as the Deputy Minister and Associate Deputy Minister.
• Provide strategic advice directly to senior officials.
• Work with other federal organizations and colleagues to research, review, develop and finalize high-quality remarks.
• Work on sensitive files that require discretion, tact, and attention to detail.

You will also be expected to work overtime as needed after hours and on weekends.

Work environment

WORK FROM WHERE YOU ARE
At IRCC and as a member of the team, you may begin your day writing a remarks to announce a new pathway to permanent residency, find yourself working on a video script to mark a significant day before lunch, and end your day drafting urgent remarks for a Late Show debate in the House of Commons.

You will work on a team where peer review and feedback is viewed as an integral part of the writing process. We consider advice from all team members and strategists – regardless of level – on each speech we write to help make sure that all of our work reflects the diversity of the Canadian public we serve.

Through daily interactions, you will also develop strong relationships with communications colleagues throughout the Branch, as well as advisors in Director General and Assistant Deputy Minister’s offices. You will be challenged to think through the complexities and nuances of any given topic so you can write remarks that reach and engage Canadians.

The broad range of subjects will give you the chance to build a wide network within the department and work with a variety of program and policy teams. If you’re looking to develop new skills and be pushed beyond your comfort zone, IRCC will help you grow and propel your career forward.

IN ORDER TO SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION, YOU MUST:
1. Submit your résumé.
2. Answer the pre-screening questions, which are part of the online application process.

When answering the pre-screening questions, you must provide concrete and detailed examples to clearly demonstrate when, where, and how you gained the experience needed to meet the qualifications. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. We’ll only use your résumé as a secondary source of information. If you don’t clearly demonstrate you have the required experience and education, we won’t ask for additional information and you may be screened out.

Intent of the process

We will create a pool of qualified or partially qualified candidates for future needs that could be used to staff similar positions within IRCC with various tenures (term, indeterminate), security requirements, and linguistic requirements.

We may appoint candidates by applying one or more of the following criteria:
• Breadth, depth and/or type of specific work experience
• Matching individual experience or qualifications to the strengths and/or weaknesses of the team
• Matching individual experience or qualifications to the specific duties of the position being staffed

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION
ED1. A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
EXP1. Experience in writing and coordinating communications products, including speeches, statements or messages, that support ministers or senior officials* for public events.
EXP2. Experience building collaborative working relationships with a variety of internal or external stakeholders in a client service environment.
EXP3. Experience providing strategic communications advice and recommendations to clients and senior officials*.

*Senior officials include top ranking members of an organization who are responsible for overall operations and performance within the organization. For those working in the Government of Canada, this definition includes officials at the Director General level or above.

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

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCY
BC1. Judgement / Analytical thinking
BC2. Values and Ethics
BC3. Cooperation and Collaboration
BC4. Client-service orientation
BC5. Effective Interactive Communication**
BC6. Focus on quality and details**

**Please NOTE that the merit criteria “Focus on quality and details” and ‘’Effective Interactive Communication’’ will be assessed with your application, as part of the screening process. Candidates who fail to meet this criterion will be eliminated from the selection process.

ABILITY
AB1. Ability to research, analyze and synthesize information from a variety of sources into speaking points.
AB2. Ability to write high quality communications products or content.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATION
EXPERIENCE
AEXP1. Experience writing about public policy issues and government programs.

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 to carry a government-owned mobile device during and outside working hours.

Willingness to work overtime, often 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

As part of this process, you can expect to:
• provide proof of your education credentials
• write an exam
• take part in an interview
• have your references checked

Please note that we will not acknowledge receipt of your application. We will only contact the candidates who meet the essential qualifications at the screening stage.

All communications related to this process, including email, may be used to assess your qualifications. We will send all communication through email or the Public Service Resourcing System. Please ensure your email address can receive email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email) and that you check your junk mail just in case. It’s your responsibility to keep your contact information up-to-date.

You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of your choice.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the departmental official (contact information below) in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures that must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, 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.