Hearings Officer

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

All applications must be submitted electronically through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) on job.gc.ca. Please ensure you have a PSRS account profile. If you do not have a profile one must be created to allow you to:

• Modify your application/resume at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement;
• When applicable, answer screening questions highlighting the expected qualifications to the hiring manager;
• Verify the status of your application and notifications, at any time; and
• Obtain information through electronic notification of your assessment details and results.

If there are limitations or special circumstances preventing you from submitting your application via the PSRS online portal PRIOR to the closing date, you must contact the Selection Board prior to the closing date, and receive approval to apply via an alternate means.

By the closing date of the job advertisement Applicants must clearly demonstrate on their cover letter how they meet the education, essential experience and asset criteria (not to exceed 2000 words). Specifically, the cover letter must clearly explain how you meet the following: (1) Education; and (2) Essential experience (any 2 of the 4 requirements). Additionally, speak to any or all of the Asset qualifications that apply to you. Résumés will only be used as a secondary source to validate the information described within the cover letter. Candidates will be screened in/out of this process based only on the information provided on the cover letter and it will also be used to assess the ability to communicate in writing; point form is not acceptable and it will result in your application being rejected.

Please note that it is not sufficient to simply state that the requirement is met or to provide a listing of current responsibilities; rather, the applicant must provide concrete examples illustrating the activities they have actually performed and how those activities meet the requirement. Applicants will not be screened in merely by virtue of occupying a position in which the work description meets/met the experience criteria. THE ASSESSMENT BOARD CANNOT INFER WORK EXPERIENCE. APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR MISSING INFORMATION. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the selection board of any pre-approved leave, vacation, travel plans, etc. throughout the duration of the process in order to facilitate scheduling. Such notification should take place prior to the leave, vacation, travel plans, etc. Should a candidate be unavailable on the scheduled testing or interview date(s) due to illness, he/she must advise the board and a medical certificate will be required.

Duties

• Prepares, conducts, and manages the litigation and settlement of assigned cases dealing with entry, removal, Convention refugee status, sponsorship and other appeals.
• Argues for the continued detention of persons who are a danger to the public, unlikely to appear for immigration proceedings, or cannot establish their identities and may present a risk to national security or have been complicit in grave violations of human rights.
• On behalf of the Minister, decides to consent in law or in all the circumstances of the case where appropriate to negotiate the resolution or settlement of cases with legal or lay counsel and the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
• Reviews and Evaluates IRB decisions and, where appropriate, recommends further action such as the judicial review of IRB decisions, presents appeals by the Minister, and collaborates with Department of Justice lawyers in the preparation of cases with legal or lay counsel and the IRB.
• Provides advice and guidance to CBSA and Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) staff with respect to technical, legal and procedural matters concerning proceedings before the IRB; mentors, and provides guidance to new officers and other staff.

Work environment

The work is usually performed in an open office environment and at hearings sites that may be located in federal prisons and provincial correctional centres.

Note that at this time partial telework is being supported, with hearings being conducted virtually, but this is under review and may change on short notice.

Often hearings are highly charged and contentious, requiring contact with hostile people who may become violent. There is daily exposure to distressing case facts, material of a disturbing nature and politically sensitive issues.

There is a requirement for keyboarding when preparing written submissions, maintaining case files, preparing correspondence and developing case documents.

Concentration is required during prolonged reading of and reviewing of written materials and research materials. Physical effort is required to stand during hearings before the IRB for periods of approximately 3 hours at a time, and to lift and carry document briefs and case files to and from hearings sites.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates will be established to staff this and similar positions in various locations within CBSA.

Indeterminate Federal employees at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for deployment or appointment.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

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 or diploma from a recognized university or college in any of the following fields: Law, Law and Society, Criminology, Justice System Administration, or Legal Studies.

Note: If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your degree and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards through a recognized credential assessment service. *Please see the Degree Equivalency link for further information.

*Proof of education and education equivalency (if applicable) must be provided prior to appointment. Education equivalency if required, is the responsibility of the candidate to obtain.

Degree equivalency

Experience:

Experience in at least two (2) of the following four (4) essential experiences:

• Recent* experience administering or enforcing legislations and/or regulations.
• Recent* experience researching and preparing documentation for presentations before a judicial or quasi-judicial tribunal.
• Recent* experience researching, analyzing and evaluating information such as the legal, economic or political conditions and/or current or past events in foreign countries.
• Recent* experience presenting before a judicial or quasi-judicial tribunal.

Notes: Recent experience is defined as the experience normally acquired over two (2) years within the last five (5) years.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
Bilingual Imperative (CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

Competencies:

• Oral Communication
• Written Communications
• Dependability
• Interpersonal Skills

Abilities:

• Analyse issues and select evidence to develop legal and factual interpretations and supporting documents; and make persuasive submissions on fact(s) and law(s) and to contest allegations.

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

Asset Qualifications:

• Law Degree from a recognized University

Degree equivalency

• Membership in good standing in a Law Society of one of the Provinces or Territories of Canada

• Experience working in the Federal Public Service

Organizational Needs:

• To address under-representation of Employment Equity groups, preference may be
given to qualified individuals of the Employment Equity designated groups;
• Placement of affected CBSA employees;
• Placement of CBSA employees who are registered in the CBSA Internal Placement
Process (IPP) System is an organizational priority that may impact appointments from
the pool of successful candidates.

Operational Requirements:

• Work overtime and/or be available on standby, as required;
• Possession of a valid unrestricted glass G Driver’s License;
• Operate a government vehicle, as required;
• Rotate through Hearings Officer positions in Toronto and Mississauga;
• Carry and use a cell phone, smartphone or other electronic devices.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

All conditions of employment must be met and maintained throughout the tenure in the position:
• Obtain and maintain a Top Secret level of security clearance, if required;
• Work in a correctional or detention facility environment;
• Travel as required (in Canada);
• Accept deployment or series of work assignment within the District or Region.

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.

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

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.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

A written and/or online exam may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

A role play may be administered.

References may be sought.

Top-down selection may be used during the assessment at any phase of the assessment process. This means that among those who met the required level or pass mark for the qualification, only those who have the top scores will be given further consideration. Candidates will be informed, should top-down selection be applied at any phase of the assessment process.

Proof of education and education equivalency (if applicable) must be provided prior to appointment.

Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/. It is the responsibility of the candidate to obtain the Education equivalency if required.

For this selection process, our intention is to communicate regularly with candidates by e-mail. Candidates who apply to this selection process must provide a valid e-mail address and ensure this address is functional and accessible at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. It is recommended that candidates regularly monitor their junk/spam folder as well.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the selection board of any pre-approved leave, vacation, travel plans, etc. throughout the duration of the process in order to facilitate scheduling. Such notification should take place prior to the leave, vacation, travel plans, etc. Should a candidate be unavailable on the scheduled testing or interview date(s) due to illness, he/she must advise the board and a medical certificate will be required.

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.