Senior Business Officer

Important messages

Have you always been curious about the fabric of great communities? Have you always wanted to be a community leader, support community-driven interests and make Manitoba a great place to live and work? Well now is your chance! Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) is looking for senior business officers to increase our presence in Brandon and Thompson, Manitoba.

These are new positions where you will play a key role in supporting PrairieCan’s renewed emphasis and focus on community economic development. You will excel in this role if you have an in-depth understanding of the Manitoba economy and the roles economic development stakeholders play in the southern and northern Manitoba. These positions will appeal to those who are genuinely curious people, who can lead from behind just as well as out front. Someone who has a strong economic development network, who thrives in a fast-paced, flexible environment, and demonstrates a commitment to teamwork and positive relationships. We encourage all highly motivated individuals with excellent communication skills to apply!

Please note: as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are primarily working remotely for the time being. Interviews and related assessments will be conducted virtually throughout this staffing process. Applicants are responsible to ensure they have a reliable internet connection and access. If you are appointed to a position, PrairiesCan will provide tools and/or equipment to support remote work. As public health restrictions ease, the successful candidate will be expected to report to the PrairiesCan offices in Brandon and Thompson.

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 process, please contact Jamie Warywoda by email at . All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Duties

About the role:
As a Senior Business Officer, you will be expected to understand the evolving economic environment of your region and foster relationships that will help build on the community economic development priorities of rural (Brandon) and northern (Thompson) Manitoba. You will use your knowledge and networks to facilitate economic development through the following roles:

Investor - someone who can either provide access to PrairiesCan’s flexible, discretionary Grants & Contribution funds to capitalize on regional opportunities or identify other appropriate funding to support economic growth, job creation, improved economic competitiveness and support for economic transitions or recoveries.

Convenor – someone who is a trusted federal partner that understands local and regional circumstances and can make linkages within and outside of government to drive joint economic ventures.

Pathfinder – someone who connects entrepreneurs and economic development organizations with federal programming and services and increasing federal visibility in Prairie provinces.

Collaborator – someone who participates in the creation of strategic economic development opportunities by being part of planning, funding, service delivery partnerships and proactive information sharing.

Advisor – someone who provides insights into regional economic issues to inform national policy and program decisions, and contributes to the development of regional engagement strategies and advice to the federal government.

This role will appeal to someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is self-directed and able to manage several different files at a time, embraces challenge and works equally well independently or within a team.

Work environment

PrairiesCan is one of Western Canada’s best employers because of its support for employees, innovative workplace and ability to make a difference in the lives of Western Canadians.

At PrairiesCan, we care about what we can accomplish as a team and we also care about each other. We consistently rank as a top federal department in employee engagement. To sustain this high-performing culture, we hire top talent and provide an employment experience that brings out the best in people. We want to achieve great results for Canadians and we want to be the best at what we do.

Why Choose PrairiesCan:
• Work with amazing people who support each other
• Meaningful work that makes a difference to the country
• Excellent compensation package
• Flexible work arrangements
• Modern work tools and technology

PrairiesCan offices are open environments with well-regulated air quality, ergonomic sit- stand workstations, and a combination of natural and fluorescent lighting. The physical demands of this position include spending a significant amount of screen time on a computer or equivalent, as well as reading documents in digital and/or print media. This role will also involve meeting with stakeholders virtually by video or telephone, and in-person as COVID-19 public health measures allow.

Intent of the process

We will fill two permanent full-time vacancies; one position will be located in Brandon, Manitoba and the second position will be located in Thompson, Manitoba.

This process may be used for various tenures (including but not limited to term and indeterminate appointments, internal assignments, secondments, deployments, acting appointments, casual). The pool of qualified candidates may also be shared and accessed by other federal government departments.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter

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

Education:
• Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

At the manager’s discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience, may serve as an alternative to meet the education standard.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• *Significant experience working with diverse stakeholders to advance economic development initiatives or projects that build business capacity and resiliency within communities.
• Experience analyzing complex** economic development programs or issues, including preparing briefing materials and providing strategic advice to senior management.

*Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a minimum of three years.
**Complex issues are defined as economic issues that are ambiguous, poorly defined, and require input, expertise, and analysis from multiple sectors, organizations, or disciplines.

Knowledge:
• Knowledge of how PrairiesCan and other federal, provincial and regional/municipal economic programs/policies support economic development and diversification in Manitoba.
• Knowledge of key factors influencing the Manitoba economy (specifically rural and northern Manitoba), and of the current economic and business trends, opportunities and/or challenges in communities.

Competencies:
• Curiosity.
• Discretion.
• Demonstrating Integrity & Respect.
• Thinking Things Through.
• Analytical Thinking.
• Working Well with Others.
• Relationship Building.
• Showing Initiative & Being Action-oriented.
• Communication (Oral and Written).

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
• Graduation with a master’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with a specialization in a field related to the position.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
• Experience in administering grants and contributions programs and assessing results.
• Experience working with economic development networks in either southern or northern Manitoba.
• Experience working at a distance from colleagues and supervisors, managing day-to-day requirements of the position.
• Experience supporting the economic inclusion of Indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups in the economy.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining networks and partnerships with other levels of governments, post-secondary institutions, industry organizations, etc.
• Depth, breadth and scope of experience in any one or combination of the experience requirements.

Operational Requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work overtime when required.
• Willingness and ability to travel.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Conditions of employment

• Reliability security clearance.
• Mobility normally associated with a Driver Licence.
• Fully vaccinated for COVID 19 unless being accommodated based on a certified medical contraindication or a prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

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

Communication for this process will be sent via email. Applicants must check their email accounts frequently as there may be a deadline for responses. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

Depending on the number of applicants, the needs and/or Human Resources plans, 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, will be used for the purpose of managing applications.

Organizational Needs:
In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, visible minorities and women.

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.