Senior Communication Officer

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

Everyone is welcome

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, without exception. The PSC is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce with a diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds that represents Canada now and in the future. We are passionate about fostering a workplace where all people feel welcome, can reach their full potential, and contribute their unique perspectives and experience to the success of the team.

If you are a motivated professional with a keen interest in working with diverse clients and partners focused on innovation and creativity, you should be part of our communications team at the Public Service Commission of Canada (PSC). Your mission at the PSC will be to promote the work of the Commission to help build tomorrow’s public service that is based on excellence and is representative of Canada’s diversity. We are looking for talented and passionate candidates to be our next communications expert. Don’t miss your chance if you believe in developing an authentic and inclusive dialogue with government employees and the Canadian public from coast to coast, because we need your input, your ideas and your talent.

The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills, excellent writing skills and the ability to develop engaging communication strategies and products for a variety of audiences. A typical workday can be very varied and fast-paced, so someone who can adapt to unexpected situations and handle pressure well will be considered ideal for the job.

Please ensure that your work experience is clearly detailed in your resume and that you provide the following information:
1) Name of department or organization
2) Job title, level and duration.

You must submit a complete application, including screening questions and your curriculum vitae.

Pre-screening questions:
When answering the pre-screening questions, you must provide specific examples to clearly demonstrate how you meet the qualifications. We can’t make any assumptions about your experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties is not enough. Instead, provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when,
and how you gained the experience. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Your resume will be used to evaluate the assets if needed.

Your application will be used to assess your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Duties

The Senior Communications Advisor is responsible for working closely with a variety of internal and external stakeholders and be involved in many exciting projects.

At the PSC, you would work in an environment where you will:
• Be part of a team of high performers as well as engage on social media, media relations, parliamentary affairs, corporate or executive communications;
• Develop strategic communications plans to support various clients, partners and PSC senior management;
• Provide advice on communications strategies and emerging issues;
• Lead interdepartmental project teams in the delivery of major communications initiatives and projects;
• Manage the development of communications products, activities and services to support the achievement of the Agency objectives.

Work environment

At the Public Service Commission of Canada, we foster a healthy, modern, diverse and inclusive workplace. We have been recognized for our efforts to create and maintain an outstanding work environment. Forbes magazine has named us one of Canada’s top employers for 2021. Join a great team!

The Public Service Commission (PSC) is a small organization with a broad mandate: to protect a merit-based, non-partisan public service that serves all Canadians. The well-being of our employees is part of our commitment and we value diversity and the use of both official languages. You’ll enjoy a healthy work-life balance, and flexible work arrangements are available.

Intent of the process

The intent is to staff one (1) indeterminate position with an imperative bilingual CBC/CBC profile.

Depending on workspace availabilities, the duties of the position could be performed from any Public Service Commission office (Halifax, Montreal, National Capital Region, Toronto, or Vancouver). On a case-by-case basis, a full-time telework arrangement could be considered from anywhere in Canada. However you might be required to report to the designated workplace on an ad hoc basis. Should the current telework environment no longer apply and based on operational needs you may be required to report to work to the designated workplace.

A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions on an indeterminate or term basis with various linguistic requirements/profiles and/or security requirements within the public service.

By applying to this process, you consent to the sharing of your personal information with other departments interested in filling similar positions.

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)

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

ESSENTIAL EDUCATION

A degree* from a recognized post-secondary institution.

* 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.

** 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

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

EX1. Experience* in providing advice to senior management at the Director level or above on complex and sensitive files as a communications specialist.

EX2. Experience* in developing communications plans addressing complex** communications issues that may impact public perception or reputational risks.

EX3. Experience* in managing or leading communications projects or initiatives from concept design to approval and delivery.

EX4. Experience* in the development of a variety of communications products with a view to enhance the visibility of corporate-wide initiatives or private organizations or non-profit. This would include products targeted to a wide audience such as news releases, media lines/responses, questions and answers, articles for a corporate newsletter, web content, social media products, promotional material, speeches or other relevant products.

* We are looking for experience similar to the kind normally gained in performing a wide range of relevant tasks on a full-time basis in a sizeable business environment, ideally for a cumulative period of three (3) years or more, but equivalent experience gained in a shorter period may be accepted. The depth and breadth of experience will be taken into consideration in assessing the applications.

**Complex is defined as an issue involving multiple programs and/or stakeholders, and/or technical or policy related.

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

ASSSET EDUCATION

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field related to communications.

Degree equivalency

Candidates do not need to meet all asset experience criteria. However, these qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Asset experience will be considered acceptable when the candidate has performed a wide range of relevant tasks on a full-time basis in a sizeable business environment, ideally for a cumulative period of one (1) year or more, but equivalent experience gained in a shorter period may be accepted. The depth and breadth of experience will be taken into consideration in assessing the applications.

ASSET EXPERIENCE

EX(A)1. Experience supervising communications and/or public affairs officers and their work.

EX(A)2. Experience in media relations, responding to media enquires or acting as a spokesperson.

EX(A)3. Experience in parliamentary affairs including providing parliamentarians with relevant and timely information, monitoring relevant standing committees’ meetings and preparing briefs on parliamentary issues for senior management.

EX(A)4. Experience in internal communications including, but not limited to, planning and coordinating events, in-person or virtually.

EX(A)5. Experience in managing web communications.

EX(A)6. Experience in coordinating marketing or advertising campaigns.

EX(A)7. Experience in coordinating public opinion research activities.

EX(A)8. Experience in developing and evaluating social media campaign.

EX(A)9. Experience in coordinating creative services including leading the work of graphic designers, videographers and photographers.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES

CP1. Strategic thinking
CP2. Judgement
CP3. Showing initiative and being action oriented
CP4. Result oriented
CP5. Working effectively with others
CP6. Client service oriented
CP7. Promote innovation and guide change

ABILITIES

A1. Ability to lead communications initiatives or projects
A2. Ability to work effectively under pressure within tight deadlines
A3. Ability to communicate effectively in writing
A4. Ability to communicate effectively orally.

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

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

To achieve its mandate, the Public Service Commission is committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce that is representative of the Canadian population. For example, preference may be given to qualified candidates who have self-identified as Indigenous persons, visible minorities, persons with disabilities and/or women.

We encourage you to indicate on your application if you belong to one of these designated groups.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Consent and ability to work overtime on short notice.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another 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.

The application of asset qualifications, random selection or top-down selection can be used at any stage of the selection process. Please note that achieving a passing score on one of the assessments does not mean that you will proceed to the next stage in the selection process. Management may decide to use a cut-off score higher than the pass mark for any assessment used in 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.