Operational Psychologist / Clinical Psychologist

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.

*We request candidates send the supporting documentation in relation to their education credentials to the contact email addresses listed on this poster.*

When submitting your application, you will also have to answer questions regarding the education, professional licensing, and experience requirements (both essential and asset qualifications).

Duties

There are 2 distinct positions and roles tied to the PS-4 Special Forces Psychologists:
1. Operational Psychologist: Operational psychology is an evolving capability in public safety organizations, including in the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. The main function of the operational psychologist is to act as a Subject-Matter Expert (SME) on topics including: the psychological assessment for the selection of special forces assaulters, operators, supporters and specialists, the psychological aspects related to high-risk and specialized training, the psychological factors involved in leadership assessment/development, and resilience/performance monitoring and program development/research.

2. Regional Clinical Psychologist: The main functions of the Regional Clinical Psychologist is to be the SME, Professional Technical Advisor and oversight of unit-dedicated mental health teams and services within their respective region. This includes the clinical care processes, mental health screenings, diagnostic assessments, psychotherapy and multidisciplinary treatment plans for rehabilitation, recovery and/or transition. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to contribute to the development and implementation of mental health prevention and psychoeducation efforts unique to Special Operations Forces.

Work environment

CANSOFCOM WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) produces high readiness and responsive special operations forces able to provide broad national and international security solutions. CANSOFCOM provides the Canadian Armed Forces the ability to deliver an effective counter-terrorism response domestically and abroad; access, understand and influence operational environments; and project rapidly deployable Special Forces in response to emerging or immediate threats to the nation.

Our vision is to always deliver quiet success when operationally tasked and to be a terrific place to work for our military and civilian Defense team members as we believe that the diversity of our work population enables our organization’s success.

Working as a special operations forces psychologist affords a unique opportunity to hold a vital psychology program leadership position in a dynamic operational setting, among other professionals from the medical, human performance, spiritual, and family domains.

https://www.canada.ca/en/special-operations-forces-command.html

Intent of the process

To establish a pool of pre-qualified psychologists for current and future CAF needs for PS-04 positions within operational units.

CANSOFCOM has the below positions to be filled immediately:
1) Petawawa (Ontario)
2) Ottawa (National Capital Region)
3) Trenton

A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions within the Department of National Defence with various tenures, various language requirements, various security clearances and various locations specific to the position being staffed.

Positions to be filled: 4

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 with a master's or doctoral degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in adult clinical psychology or equivalent (equivalence in education and training would be determined by the provincial registration/licensing body).

PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
Registered for autonomous practice with one of the Canadian provincial or territorial College of Psychologists. (Copy of license must be submitted with application).

Degree equivalency

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE
EX1: *Breadth of experience in conducting psychological assessments with adults, including cognitive, personality and emotional/ behavioral functioning evaluations for clinical (diagnostic) and non-clinical purposes (e.g. selection).

*Breadth of experience is defined as having performed, over a period of approximately two years or more as a licensed Psychologist, a range of the identified psychological activities.

EX2: *Breadth of experience in providing evidence-based psychotherapy to adults, for mild to significant psychological, personal, social or occupational issues.

EX3: *Breadth of experience in providing psychological consultation e.g., to third parties, managers, leaders).

EX4: Experience in the management of psychological/mental health programs or services.

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

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

COMPETENCIES
C1: Create vision and strategy: by informing analysis with a thorough understanding of the environment and by translating implementation strategies, objectives and direction into concrete activities.
C2: Collaborate with partners and stakeholders: by building and nurturing effective and collaborative networks and relationships with communities of practice, colleagues, and stakeholders.
C3:Achieve results: by informing decisions-making with sound understanding of context, data and evidence.
C4: Demonstrating Integrity and Respect
C5: Thinking Things Through
C6: Working effectively with others
C7: Showing initiative and being action-oriented

ABILITIES
A1: Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with different client groups
A2: Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
A3: Ability to analyze, identify issues and find viable solutions

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

Registered for autonomous practice and unrestricted practice of Clinical psychology with one of the Canadian provincial or territorial College of Psychologists. (Copy of license must be submitted with application)

AEX1: Experience providing and supervising evidence-based psychological assessments

AEX2: Experience providing and supervising evidence-based psychological practices (consultation, counseling, psychotherapy)

AEX3: Experience integrating theory, research findings and other information into psychological practice, reports, programs and policy development.

AEX4: Experience developing, implementing and evaluating psychological programs and services.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEED
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.

Willingness and ability to work overtime, as required.

The psychological services will be delivered both in person in the operational units and if needed, using tele-communications for psychological screenings and for tele-therapy from the workplace and from home.

Willingness and ability to travel on occasion to other operational garrison units in Ontario and to other provinces and countries (Please note that there is no deployment to high-risk mission areas for this position)

Hold a Valid Canadian Passport

Conditions of employment
Security - Secret Clearance (Please note that a Top Secret can be asked once in the position)

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

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 targeted groups when you apply.
Information on employment equity
1. At the discretion of the hiring manager, candidate applications may be subject to review by the DND Credentialing Committee.
2. You must provide the following information when submitting your application: Your resume.
3. Please identify clearly your Personal Record Identifier (PRI), your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or your application, if you are already an employee within the Public Service.
4. Our intention is to communicate with candidates via email. Candidates who apply on this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and have to make sure that this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. It is the candidate’s responsibility to provide any changes to their personal information to the contact person indicated on this job advertisement.
5. Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Candidates are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.
6. Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent. We will contact candidates when the preliminary screening-in /out process is completed.
7. Candidates’ qualifications, including suitability criteria, may be assessed by various personality tests, interview, role play, and/or references.
8. Please note that all notifications of consideration and notifications of appointment or proposals of appointment (immediate and future) related to this staffing process, will be posted on Jobs.gc.ca
9. Please note that all information received throughout the staffing process and all
communications relating to this process, including email correspondence, may be
used in the assessment of qualifications.
10. Employees whose substantive positions are at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for deployment and given priority.



We thank all those who apply.

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.