Business Officer and Senior Business Officer

Important messages

Economies worldwide are facing immense and unique challenges and western Canada is no exception. Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), formerly Western Economic Diversification, is in the business of creating opportunity. PrairiesCan invites governments, communities, industry, and other partners to work together differently and seize opportunities to position the west for success over the next ten years. The health and economic challenges posed by COVID-19 make this work important now more than ever.

This is an essential time for our organization. We are seeking to support western Canadians, and the Canadian economy through this challenging time by engaging our partners in new ways to grow and diversify the western economy.

We’re looking for a motivated individual who embraces change, can adapt to new business styles, has a demonstrated track record for excellence in partnership building, and can deliver results.

Perhaps most importantly, we’re looking for individuals who have a sincere willingness to advocate for, and support economic growth in, western Canada.

PrairiesCan is committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome all applicants and strongly encourage candidates to self-declare if they belong to an Employment Equity designated group (i.e. Indigenous Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities or Women).

PrairiesCan is also 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 Allison Higgins by email at . All information received in relation to a request for accommodation will be kept confidential.

Work environment

As a member of the PrairiesCan team you will be part of a tight group of highly motivated and collaborative colleagues working across departments and with external partners to make a difference in the prairies; economy. Although the team is located across Canada, they do not let distance get in the way of them building an integrated and supportive team culture. Prairies Economic Development Canada is an excellent place to work - confirmed by the 2020 Public Service Employee Survey.

The team and department are undergoing positive and significant change, and as a result, you will have the task of increasing buy-in and determining how to move forward together. This position provides essential secretariat support to co-ordinate departmental and cross-departmental activities, and facilitate executive-level decision making. You will also be called upon to develop, coordinate, and bring forward executive-level briefing materials.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to fill 4 term positions, initially for 18 months, with the possibility of extension. There are 3 positions at the CO-01 level, and 1 position at the CO-02 level. Applicants are welcome to apply for both levels within the same application.

A pool of qualified candidates (fully assessed or partially assessed) may be established and used to staff similar positions at this group and level. This process may be used for various positions and tenures within Prairies Economic Development Canada (including but not limited to indeterminate appointments, term appointments, internal assignments, secondments, deployments, acting appointments, casual), security requirements, language requirements and conditions of employment.

Positions to be filled: 4

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.

Note:
Indeterminate incumbents of positions in the CO group on June 21, 2021, who do not possess the education prescribed above, are deemed to meet the minimum education standards based on their education, training and/or experience. They must be accepted as having met the minimum education standard whenever this standard is called for when staffing positions in the CO group.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
For both levels (CO-01 and CO-02):
• Maintaining collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Applying legal analysis in relation to contracts and creditor’s rights to protect the interest of the lending institution.
• Providing advisory or implementation services in one or more of the following areas:
o business insolvency;
o business financing;
o business restructuring;
o bankruptcy or receivership;
o collection of loans.

Experience:
CO-01 Only – Business Officer
• Using and assessing information obtained from corporate registries and credit reports.
• Providing operational and implementation analysis and recommendations to management

Experience:
CO-02 Only – Senior Business Officer
• Analyzing financial statements or other financial information to determine financial sustainability of organizations.
• Negotiating contract amendments and monitoring progress throughout the reporting and repayment portion of a project.
• Developing and sustaining collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Providing strategic advice and recommendations to senior management including the preparation of Briefing materials or related documentation.
• Resolving repayment challenges with clients that are under financial stress.
• Significant experience ** with interpretation of complex legal issues in relation to contracts and creditors’ rights. and application.

**Significant experience means the depth and breadth of experience normally gained by performing a wide range of related and complex activities for at least four (4) years.

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

Asset Qualifications
Experience:
(CO-01 and CO-02)
• Engaging diverse and/or niche stakeholder groups.
• Experience in delivering or developing initiatives through Grants and Contributions programs.
• Banking or related credit provision/collection.
• Experience with the GX financial reporting system (WD legacy Grants and Contribution tracking system).
• Experience with analysing complex legal and financial documents to identify key issues for reporting and action.
• Advanced experience with the use of database sourced information including Power BI and advanced Excel based analysis and reporting.

Notes:
• The depth, breadth and scope of experience in all of the experience requirements will be assessed.
• Asset qualifications will be applied based on unit needs at the time of hiring.

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

Various language requirements
• English Essential
• Bilingual (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Knowledge:
CO-01
• Understanding of registered security in prioritizing debts
• Contract law and how it is implemented
• Credit management approaches
• Understanding of the context of economic development lending
• Methods of calculating the allowance for doubtful accounts (ie bad debts)

CO-02 (in addition to CO-01)
• Advanced knowledge of business legal structures including Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and publicly and privately traded corporations
• Advanced knowledge of accounting methodologies used in corporate financing
• Advanced knowledge of lending security

Competencies:
• Showing initiative and being action-oriented.
• Retaining focus during periods of conflicting demands.
• Strategically focused
• Working effectively with others.
• Thinking things through (e.g. critical thinking, judgment, and innovation).
• Demonstrating integrity and respect.
• Excellent oral communication.
• Excellent written communication.
• Effective negotiation skills

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

Asset Qualifications
Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to obtain cooperation from challenging clients.
• Ability to remain strategic in the course of negotiations involving high profile problem accounts.

Organizational Needs:
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 apply and indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups.

Operational Requirements:
• Willingness and ability to travel within Canada.
• Willingness and ability to work overtime.

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment :
• Reliability security clearance.
• Class 5 Driver’s license or mobility to the degree normally associated with a driver’s licence.
• Fully vaccinated for COVID 19 unless 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

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.

TIPS FOR APPLICANTS:
When answering the screening questions ensure that you provide complete and thorough details of your experience. 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. Failure to provide sufficient information may result in your application being screened out of the competition.

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).

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.