Spokesperson / AMENDED END DATE

Update: AMENDED END DATE

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

Are you a dynamic communicator with a passion for media relations? Do you find international files interesting and exciting?

A career at Global Affairs Canada could offer you a world of possibilities! Consider applying for this Spokesperson position at Global Affairs Canada!

HOW TO APPLY

You must submit your application using the "Apply online" function. Only applications submitted via this portal will be considered.

A cover letter is not required.

To apply for this position, you will have to fill out a screening questionnaire.

It is not sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. The assessment board cannot make any assumptions about your experience.

In your answers, you must provide clear and concrete examples for each criterion that demonstrate HOW, WHEN AND WHERE you acquired the education and experience (essential and asset qualifications).

Having the asset qualifications is not mandatory to apply to this process, however assets may be considered at a later time to select the right fit.

Failure to clearly demonstrate in the questionnaire how you meet the education and experience, may result in the rejection of your application. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

Résumés may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the experience questionnaire.

*Please note that your application will be used to assess your strong written communication.

Duties

Global Affairs Canada is looking for a self-motivated and passionate individual to join its team of dedicated professionals. You will work in a stimulating fast-paced environment where you will be communicating about Canada’s contribution to international development, trade and foreign policy.

In this position, you would:

• Act as a spokesperson and communicate with the media on behalf of the Department;

• Develop and deliver responses to queries from the media, and proactively communicate with both the media and departmental officials on unfolding issues and information;

• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to departmental officials and ministerial staff on media relations issues and products, including media strategies and responses to the media;

• Organize media events, including media conferences, interviews, briefings and other events in Ottawa, across Canada and overseas in collaboration with missions abroad.

Work environment

A career at Global Affairs Canada means contributing to Canada’s place in the world. It offers opportunities to work on fascinating issues with a network of dedicated and high-performing professionals in the National Capital Region, as well as across Canada and around the world.

The Media Relations team consists of up to 10 dedicated professionals located at 125 Sussex Drive, in Ottawa, Ontario. This is a place where you can enhance your skills, your network and your knowledge. This is a place where you can contribute to the global impact and positive difference Canada is making around the world.

Our organization offers a healthy, inclusive and diverse workplace where respect, teamwork, and collaboration are part of our culture, and where innovation is valued.
Global Affairs Canada is committed to promoting and supporting values such as equitable treatment, accommodation and an environment free from harassment and discrimination as well as encouraging and supporting employees to work at their full potential.

Intent of the process

The current intention of this selection process is to create a pool of qualified candidates to staff indeterminate and determinate with a language requirement bilingual imperative CCC/CCC in the coming months.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A response to a text question addressing the following:

• The first question will assess the following competencies criteria:
  • Problem-solving
  • Written Communication
  
  The second question will assess the following competencies criteria:
  • Collaboration
  • Written Communication
  
  The third question will assess the following competencies and personal suitability criteria:
  • Adaptability
  • Written Communication

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 or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Note: 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.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

• *Recent and **significant experience working as a media spokesperson and dealing with print, broadcast, as well as digital and web-based media;

• *Recent and **significant experience providing communications advice to ***management on sensitive issues pertaining to media relations;

• Experience planning and organizing media events, such as press conferences, media call-backs or technical briefings.

*Recent experience is defined as experience normally acquired with full-time performance of duties within the past five (5) years.

**Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for approximately two (2) years or more.

***Management is defined as director and above.

COMPETENCIES:

• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Workload, stress and time management
• Strong oral communication
• Strong written communication

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:

• Judgement
• Adaptability
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Initiative

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)

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

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

EXPERIENCE (ASSETS):

• Experience doing media interviews on camera, for radio, print or digital publications;
• Experience doing media relations outreach or preparing media strategies;
• Experience working with a minister’s office on media requests and newsworthy issues.

KNOWLEDGE (ASSETS):

• Knowledge of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity of the Government of Canada;
• Knowledge of the role and mandate of Global Affairs Canada.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

•Ability, availability and willingness to work overtime on short notice.
•Ability, availability and willingness to be on call during evenings and weekends.

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:
• take part in an interview; and
• have your references checked.

While we will not acknowledge receipt of your application, you will be contacted via email when the screening process is complete. 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 is your responsibility to keep your contact information up-to-date.

Please note that we will have to consider that you are no longer interested in participating in the selection process and/or that you have withdrawn your candidacy should you not provide us with an up-to-date email address and/or should you not have responded to an email sent to your attention for action by a specified date and time.
Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

Foreign educational credentials must be assessed by a recognized credential assessment service. If you have been educated outside of Canada, it is your responsibility to have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian educational standards. For more information, please see the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) at http://www.cicic.ca/927/identifytheorganization-responsible-forrecognition.canada.

Accommodations: In order to ensure that you are assessed in a fair and equitable manner in the next stages, please inform us if you require accommodation measures.

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.