Passionate about the English language? Join our team of Second Language Assessors!

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

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

The screening board cannot make assumptions about your experience. When responding to screening questions, please be sure to clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience criteria. In order for your application to be retained, you must provide concrete examples about your work experience and explain relevant responsibilities that you had and/or actions that you took.

Please note that your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, throughout the entire process may be used in the assessment of qualifications and competencies.

Asset qualifications could be used at the screening stage. Please ensure that your application clearly indicates how you meet these qualifications.

You will only have one chance to submit your application in this selection process. Be sure to do so when you are 100% ready!

Duties

What is the Oral Language Assessment (OLA)?
The OLA is a staffing tool used by departments and agencies to assess a person’s proficiency in their second official language. It is a key step in the hiring process within the federal government. This service is offered to departments and agencies by the Public Service Commission.

Second Language Assessors administer approximately five (5) assessments per day on a fixed schedule. The job involves extensive interaction with a wide spectrum of public servants and members of the general public, whether they be a judge, a military member, a policy analyst or a customer service agent. The assessments take place mainly over MS Teams from home but also in person based on operational requirements. Your ability to use good judgement, to listen and to analyze will constantly be put to use. You will be called upon to foster a testing environment where candidates are at ease demonstrating their language proficiency.

Work environment

Do you have a passion for the English language? Do you enjoy working with clients and being attentive to clients’ needs?
Apply for a job today to join a great team of colleagues at either of our two work locations.

Our Gatineau office...
Situated at 22 Eddy Street, in the heart of downtown Gatineau, our building is easily accessible and close to downtown Ottawa. Our employees have access to showers, changing rooms and reserved spaces for bicycles, which is ideal for those wishing to travel to work by bike, or simply go running or walking on the nearby bike paths.

Our Montreal office...
Situated in downtown Montreal, our building sits in the heart of the entertainment district, surrounded by hundreds of restaurants and cultural activities at any given time. Working here will give you the work-life balance you want. Conveniently connected by two subway lines and the largest underground city in the world, everything you want is only steps away.

Intent of the process

This process is anticipatory. A pool of qualified candidates will be established through this process to staff positions at the Public Service Commission (PSC) in Gatineau and in Montreal. It may also be used to staff identical or similar positions with various tenures in the future within other federal organizations in the National Capital and Montreal Regions.

The Second Language Assessor (English) position is a hybrid position, combining both telework and some office presence. You will be required to report to the Gatineau or Montreal office and work on-site as required by operational needs.

Candidates who do not reside in these areas will be required to relocate within 12 months of the effective date of their appointment. A temporary full-time telework agreement may be considered during this period but you will be required to work from the Gatineau or Montreal office when necessary, on a hybrid model, when this initial telework agreement ends.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION:
Graduation with a degree* (already obtained OR will be obtained by June 30, 2022) from a recognized post-secondary institution with an acceptable specialization** in education, linguistics, translation, literature, communications, journalism, psychology, sociology or some other specialty relevant to the position.

*Degree: A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, as established by educational authorities.

**This may also be obtained through any Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years’ experience teaching English as a first or second language.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:
Experience interacting with a diverse clientele to provide personalized quality service*.
*Refers to offering a service customized to each client in response to his or her needs.

Experience in the field of languages or English as a second language (for example, but not limited to teacher, translator, writer, editor, or pedagogical advisor).

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

Bilingual - Imperative (PPP/BBB)
*The PPP/BBB language profile for the position of Second Language Assessor requires the advanced professional level (P) in English in reading, writing and oral communication, and the command of French as a second official language at an intermediate level for the same skills.

The P proficiency levels in English will be assessed using job specific proficiency tests (written and oral). The test of the advanced P level in oral communication assesses individuals' ability to communicate effectively and in an accessible and understandable way to a broad range of second official language testing candidates.

The applicant’s second official language will be assessed using the Public Service Commission (PSC)'s Second Language Evaluation tests.

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

COMPETENCIES:
- Reliability
- Judgement
- Interpersonal skills
- Client service orientation

ABILITY:
- Ability to conduct structured interviews

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

ASSET EXPERIENCE:
Experience conducting qualitative interviews*.
*This may include interviews in the context of academic research, language proficiency exams, focus groups, hiring interviews, journalistic interviews, or any other type of qualitative interview.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Successfully passing the Second Language Assessor certification program.

NOTE:
Candidates who have successfully completed all the steps in the selection process may be invited to participate virtually in a 3-4 week training session to obtain their certification. Candidates who obtain their certification will be offered either a full-time indeterminate (permanent) or determinate (term) position at the PSC in Gatineau or Montreal.

Maintenance of Second Language Assessor certification is essential to the position.

The willingness to relocate.

Tests

PSEE - Test of Judgement UIT

Applicants must complete the Public Service Entrance Exam: Test of Judgement Unsupervised Internet Test as part of the screening for this selection process. This test assesses the judgement required for solving problems in work-related situations. You will have 75 minutes to complete the test. You must complete the test before you submit your application for this position.

For more information, please consult: Public Service Entrance Exam - Test of Judgement Unsupervised Internet Test

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

A random selection may be used at certain stages of the assessment.

Please note that if travelling is required for participating in the various steps of the selection process, the associated travel costs will be assumed by the applicant.

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.