Communications Advisor

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 only applying for a specific job, but also to a pool for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

No acknowledgement related to inquiries on the status of your application will be sent. If you are selected for further consideration, we will communicate directly with you.

Work environment

Global Affairs Canada is looking for self-motivated and passionate individuals to join its team of dedicated communications professionals. You will work for one of the strategic communications or media relations sections, which provide services to GAC’s ministers and to the department. This includes communications related to corporate and internal affairs, consular and emergencies services, and foreign affairs.

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.

Diversity and inclusion

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. GAC also offers an encouraging and supporting workplace where employees can work to their full potential.

Intent of the process

A pool of candidates resulting from this appointment process will be created and may be used to fill similar positions. Positions would have various linguistic profiles and/or requirements as well as tenures (indeterminate positions or specified-period positions, acting appointments, assignments/secondments) that may vary according to the position being staffed.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

You must submit your application using the “Apply online” function. Only applications submitted via the PSRS portal will be considered.

Please ensure that you plan for enough time to answer all the questions in the online application process.
*** If there are limitations or special circumstances preventing you from submitting your application via the PSRS online portal, you must contact the HR Advisor AND receive approval to apply via an alternate means PRIOR to the closing date.
***We are aware that there are a lot of questions to answer. This approach eliminates the need for a written exam and improves the overall efficiency of the selection process. If you answer all the questions for which you meet the requirements, you will significantly increase your chances of moving forward in the process. If you fail to answer all the questions, your application will be rejected.

TIPS FOR APPLICANTS
When answering the screening questions, ensure that you provide complete and thorough details of your experience, including dates. Do not assume that the screening board has any previous knowledge of your background, qualifications or work history. You must be specific and provide concrete examples/details for each experience element, as applications will be screened only on the information provided. Your application may be screened out of the competition if you fail to provide sufficient information.

Having the asset qualifications is not mandatory in applying under 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 requirements may result in the rejection of your application. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possibly missing information.

Résumés may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described in the experience questionnaire.
Please note: Your application will be used to assess the strength of your written communication skills.

Full-time teleworking from a home located in a city other than Gatineau or Ottawa may be considered as an option.

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 classified as IS are deemed to meet the minimum education standard whenever a position classified as IS calls for a bachelor’s degree without specialization.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

EX1: Experience in providing strategic advice to colleagues and senior management* in the field of communications or media relations

EX2: Experience in researching, writing and editing a range of communications materials targeted at a wide audience. (e.g. news releases, fact sheets, reports, strategies, briefing documents, feature articles, web and/or social media)

EX3: Experience in collaborating with internal and external stakeholders

EX4: Experience in monitoring and assessing the public or media environment and identifying trends that have an impact on communications

*Senior management is defined as director and above.

COMPETENCIES

COM1: Building and fostering client relationships

COM2: Workload, stress and time management

COM3: Effective interactive communication (writing and oral)

COM4: Adaptability and flexibility

COM5: Effective interpersonal relationships

COM6: Initiative

COM7: Judgement/analytical thinking

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC, CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

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

EXPERIENCE

AEX1: Experience in providing communications services within a federal, provincial, territorial and/or municipal government environment

AEX2: Experience working in an international context or on international issues

AEX3: Experience developing communications plans activities, or events in support of corporate or senior management* initiatives

AEX4: Experience in media monitoring or media analysis

AEX5: Experience working in media relations

AEX6: Experience providing advice to a minister’s office
*Senior management is defined as director and above.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

AND

• willingness and ability to be on call during evenings, weekends and holidays

• willingness and ability to travel

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

Both the Public Service of Canada and Global Affairs Canada are 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.
Priority may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to the designated employment equity groups.

As part of this process, you can expect to:
• take part in an interview
• 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.

TRAVEL RELATED TO THE SELECTION OR APPOINTMENT PROCESS
Please note that candidates (including employees of the Public Service) will not be considered to be in travel status or on government business and that travel costs will not be reimbursed. Consequently, candidates will be responsible for travel costs.

On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service.

As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation.

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.