Senior 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

The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is dedicated to building and promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, representative of Canadian society. All candidates who believe they are qualified are encouraged to apply, including Black, other racialized and Indigenous peoples, women, persons with disabilities and persons of the LGBTQ2+ community.

Individuals who identify with the LGBTQ2+ community and have any questions concerning their potential candidacy in this selection process are encouraged to send an email to the following mailbox: . This mailbox is confidentially managed by a person of the LGBTQ2+ community.

Canada continues to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the country’s largest employer, the Government of Canada is committed to playing a leadership role by further protecting the health and safety of public servants and the communities where they live and work across Canada. Vaccination is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians and protect the broader public health. As of October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada requires public servants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Accommodation requests will be assessed on a case-by case basis and will be limited to employees who are unable to be vaccinated due to a certified medical contraindication, religion or any other prohibited ground of discrimination as defined in the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA).

Work environment

OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR ONE OF CANADA’S TOP 100 EMPLOYERS IN CANADA!

Take advantage of a dynamic opportunity within Employment and Social Development Canada, the second-largest federal department with over 36,000 employees! You could work in a forward thinking, transformative service delivery department that includes Service Canada and the Labour Program, and one which has played a key role in the economic and social wellbeing of Canadians during the pandemic. Learn more about the Department, one of the top 10 employers of the National Capital Region and winner of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers Award: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/recruitment.html

Your new ideas and fresh perspective can make a difference in the services provided to Canadians. See for yourself how you could contribute to helping Canadians: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/results/stories.html

What we can offer you:
• Being one of the largest departments in the Government of Canada, we offer many opportunities to be challenged, to develop and to make an impact!
• We value our employees by creating a healthy work environment.

Don’t take our word for it; listen to the testimonials of our employees: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/campaigns/recruitment/career-testimonials.html

The positions are located in Gatineau. Telework agreements may be possible based on operational realities and at management's discretion.

Intent of the process

A pool of partially qualified candidates may be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions with various tenures, various language requirements (English or French essential, Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB, Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC) and/or security requirements, according to the position being staffed within Employment and Social Development Canada.

Positions to be filled: 3

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.

Notes:
1. Based on their 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:

EX1: Experience in developing communications strategies.
EX2: Experience in writing/editing communications products.
EX3: Experience in providing strategic advice to stakeholders and/or management (definition as manager level and above) related to communications projects.
EX4:Experience in managing high-profile and sensitive communications files.

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of strategic communications and a broad range of communications techniques and leading practices, including the Government of Canada Policy of Communications and Federal Identity.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB
English or French

Information on language requirements

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE
AE1: Experience in Strategic Communications functions, including leading on communications plans and/or strategies to support Cabinet decision-making, such as Memoranda to Cabinet (MCs) or Treasury Board submissions.
AE2:Experience in issues management.
AE3: Experience in media relations.
AE4: Experience in social media.
AE5: Experience planning/managing events and/or other communications activities.
AE6:Experience in supervising staff or leading a team.
AE7: Experience in marketing and/or advertising.
AE8: Experience in working with internal translators and editors and external service providers to provide quality translation and editing.

COMPETENCIES
C1: Demonstrating integrity and respect.
C2: Strong interpersonal skills.
C3: Showing initiative and being action-oriented.
C4: Working effectively with others.
C5: Thinking things through.

ABILITIES
AB1: Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
AB2: Ability to communicate effectively orally.
AB3: Ability to manage multiple projects, often on tight deadlines.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Willingness to work overtime, sometimes on short notice.

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment
Various security profiles:
Reliability Status security clearance
Secret security clearance

Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status or have a supported accommodation measure based on a medical contraindication, religion, or any other 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

Reference checks will be conducted.

An interview will be administered.

A written test will be administered.

Recent and past performance agreements may be used as part of the assessment. Please be prepared to provide such documentation if the selection board requests it.

An assignment, secondment or acting appointment requires the approval of your supervisor.

Indeterminate employees at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for deployment. If no deployment is made, applicants from other groups and levels will be considered in the advertised appointment process.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications or the organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

The application of the Asset Qualifications, random selection and/or top down selection may be used at any stage of the selection process. Please note that achieving a pass mark on any of the assessments used does not mean you will move forward in the selection process. Management may decide to use a cut-off mark that is higher than the pass mark on any evaluation used throughout the process.

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

Please clearly identify your substantive group and level and your employment status on your résumé and/or application form.

Please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) is included in your application.

You must provide proof of your education credentials. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. For more information, please click on “Degree Equivalency” in the Education section above.

You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of your choice.

Candidates must provide a VALID EMAIL ADDRESS. You may be informed of the following steps of the process by email if successful. Please take the necessary actions in order to have access to your email service for the duration of the process.

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.