Policy 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 Annoucement: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/news/2021/10/backgrounder-covid-19-vaccine-requirement-for-the-federal-workforce.html

Duties

Stream 1 - Policy Advisor (Dartmouth, NS)
The Policy Advisor in the Policy Research Division will be responsible for developing high quality (comprehensive, professional, strategic) research, analysis, and advice in the form of immediate briefs, issue notes, briefing notes, scenario notes, presentations, and/or other products on regional or departmental policies and priorities; for coordinating input from internal and/or external groups for the development of products such as issue notes, scenario notes, and briefing notes prepared within the work unit or, in some cases, other units (e.g., headquarters, other regions); for planning and executing professionally run meetings, including the development of high-quality agendas, minutes, and other required documents; for leading work to achieve set results towards the completion of larger projects, which includes conducting work strategically to achieve benchmarks on time and within scope; for professionally leading project teams; and for professionally supervising Division team members. The Policy Advisor in the Indigenous Relations and Partnership Hub will have the same duties but in the context of departmental consultations, engagement and partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations.

Stream 2 - Policy Advisor (Dartmouth, NS and Vancouver, BC)
The Policy Advisor will be responsible for researching and analyzing current practices of the federal government in defining, establishing, and monitoring Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and other marine conservation areas and provide advice on how social sciences (across various disciplines) could enhance evidence-based decision-making and adaptive management with respect to the consideration of social, cultural and economic factors. The position will also support DFO’s efforts at the national level to develop indicators, protocols and strategies to consider social, cultural, and governance aspects in MPA monitoring plans, for example, by assisting in scaling the national indicators to the regional and site level, and assisting in the collection, consolidation and analysis of social and cultural information. The Policy Advisor will also work with departmental economists to consider the integration of social, cultural and governance information in community profiles, socio-economic analysis and cost-benefit analyses.

Intent of the process

For Stream 1, the immediate intent of this process is to staff term or indeterminate positions at the EC-05 level with English essential and bilingual imperative language profiles in the Policy and Economics branch of DFO’s Maritimes Region, which is based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

For Stream 2, the immediate intent of this process is to staff term positions at the EC-05 level with English essential language profiles in the Policy and Economics branches of DFO's Maritimes Region, which is based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and DFO's Pacific Region, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

For all streams, a pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff identical or similar positions with various tenures, language requirements and various security requirements within DFO.

In your application, you will be asked to identify which stream you wish to apply to. You may apply to more than one.
• STREAM 1 – EC-05: Policy Advisor in the Policy Research Division and the Indigenous Relations and Partnership Hub, English essential and bilingual imperative
• STREAM 2 – EC-05: Policy Advisor (in social sciences), English essential

Positions to be filled: 4

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A response to a text question addressing the following:

• If applying for Stream 2, your preferred working location.

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

EDUCATION - All Streams
- Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in economics, sociology or statistics
Note: Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE – All Streams
• Experience providing advice or exhibiting leadership in one of the following fields: policy, economics, sociology or other social science, and statistics.
• Experience conducting research and analysis of government projects, programs and policies.
• Experience managing projects including establishing timelines, deliverables and/or performance measurement criteria.
• Experience engaging with representatives from government departments, Indigenous communities, coastal communities, non-profit organizations, and/or fishing and other industry associations.

EXPERIENCE – Stream 2 only
• Experience conducting social science research and analysis related to the environment, e.g., marine, coastal, natural resources.

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

Various language requirements
English essential
Bilingual imperative (BBB/BBB and CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

KEY LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES - All Streams
• Promote innovation and guide change
• Create vision and strategy
• Mobilize people
• Uphold integrity and respect
• Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
• Achieve results

ABILITIES - All Streams
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information and develop recommendations

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

EDUCATION
• Master's degree or a PhD from a recognized university in fields related to the position being staffed (this could include Indigenous studies, political science, public administration, environmental policy, marine studies, intergovernmental relations, or other social sciences and humanities).

EXPERIENCE
• Experience in establishing or refining processes, guidelines or frameworks.
• Experience establishing relationships, consulting, or negotiating with at least two of the following: public entity, Indigenous community or organization, industry association, non-government organization, or academic institution.
• Experience in supervising personnel.
• Experience in writing briefing documents for management such as briefing notes, project proposal submissions, and/or presentations.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
• In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates who self-identify as belonging to one of the following employment equity groups: Women, Visible Minorities, Persons with Disabilities, Indigenous Peoples.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Willingness and ability to travel within Canada
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work overtime

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

Candidates must clearly demonstrate in the screening questions how they meet the education and experience criteria listed in the essential and asset qualifications (other 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 attached resume" will not be accepted and may result in your application being rejected. Failure to provide this information in the requested format may result in your application being rejected.

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.

Throughout this selection process, you are encouraged to demonstrate how any relevant volunteer work (e.g., working on committees, union activities, employee networks, community work, etc.) has contributed to the development of your experience, skills, personal suitability, etc., as they relate to this position.

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.