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

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.

Link to Policy: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2021/10/backgrounder-covid-19-vaccine-requirement-for-the-federal-workforce.html
Link to Announcement: https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=32694

DFO recognizes that the diversity of its employee population contributes to its strength and integrity. Selection may be limited to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with a disability, and visible minorities.

Self-declaring. Because you count.

By completing the Employment Equity section in your application, you help create a Public Service that is diverse, inclusive and representative of identities, cultures, perspectives and experiences that make up Canada.

Duties

Here are some of the main tasks that you might be asked to perform in a day as a communications advisor:
• Develop strategic communications plans to advise and support various clients and senior management;
• Write and edit creative and innovative communication products;
• Coordinate challenging projects and diverse communication activities to inform different audiences;
• Translate organizational priorities into compelling and engaging messages.

Work environment

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) leads the management of Canada’s fisheries and the safeguarding of Canadian waters. The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), a Special Operating Agency within DFO, is responsible for services and programs that contribute to the safety, security, and accessibility of Canada’s waterways

Headquartered in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the Maritimes Region Communications Branch plays a vital role in supporting DFO Maritimes Region’s strategic outcomes and priorities through a wide range of external and internal communications activities that respond to the information needs of the Department and the Canadian public.

The Communications Branch contributes to the Maritimes Region’s policy and program development by understanding and interpreting the public environment and by communicating Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Coast Guard issues, programs, and priorities to Canadians and employees.

We ensure that communications are effectively managed, well-coordinated, and reflect the government’s key priorities. The communications management function ensures not only that the public receives Government of Canada information but also that their views and concerns are considered in the planning, management, and evaluation of policies, programs, and services.

Intent of the process

The immediate need of this selection process is to staff one (1) English position on a temporary basis. A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various tenures, linguistic requirements, security requirements, conditions of employment and locations within the federal public service.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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 with a specialization in communications, public relations, journalism or a field relevant to the duties of the position

Notes:
1. Based on 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.
2. At the manager’s discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience, may serve as an alternative to the minimum education standard.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE
- Experience providing communications advice to senior management on complex issues
- Experience in developing and implementing communications strategies in response to high-profile issues and/or to promote and inform audiences of policies, programs or activities
- Experience in developing, or managing the development of, communications products such as, but not limited to, communications strategies, media lines, news releases, social media content, internal messages, etc.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

ABILITIES AND SKILLS
- Ability to communicate effectively orally
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing
- Ability to perform under pressure with conflicting priorities and tight deadlines
- Ability to plan and implement communications initiatives
- Ability to analyze the internal or external environment for the development of communications strategies
- Ability to negotiate and influence others

PERSONAL SUITABILITY
- Thinking things through
- Client service orientation
- Effective interpersonal skills
- Dependability
- Initiative

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE
- Experience in coordinating media requests and managing related approvals
- Experience providing media relations training, or preparing spokespeople for media interviews
- Experience in coordinating public and/or internal communications in a science-based or operational organization
- Experience in using MS Teams or another unified communication and collaboration platforms to inform audiences of policies, programs or activities
- Experience in providing communications advice in support of internal programs
- Experience in managing internal communications activities, including live and virtual events
- Experience in coordinating intranet and/or internet content

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: Indigenous peoples, Persons with a Disability, Visible Minorities, and Women

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Willingness and ability to work overtime with short notice
- Depending on the position to staff, the following condition of employment could apply:
• Willingness and ability to travel

Conditions of employment

- Various security requirements: Reliability, Secret

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

When applying for this process, you will be asked to answer screening questions in which you will be asked how you meet the essential education and experience qualifications as well as asset qualifications. Please note that stating that the requirement has been met, and/or listing past or current responsibilities, does not represent adequate substantiation. Rather, you must provide concrete examples that clearly illustrate how you meet the requirement. Résumés may be used as a secondary source to validate the qualifications described. Comments such as "refer to my resume" will not be accepted. Failure to provide this information in the requested format may result in your application being rejected.

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to the conclusion of the process, may be used for evaluation purposes, including the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

A top-down approach based on experience, assessment results and/or selection decision, may be used at any point during this process, in order to determine the number of candidates to be further considered.

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.

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.