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

OUR COMMITMENT

We are focused on building a workplace that has people from a diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds at its heart. We want to make sure that all people have the support to reach their full potential and can actively contribute to the success of the team.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, colour, religion, sex (including gender identity and/or expression), national origin, sexual orientation, civil union or relationship status, disability, age, parental status, military service, or other status protected under federal law.

Our Department’s commitment to anti-racism recognizes the presence of racism in Canada and our own organization, and outlines our resolve to advance racial equity for our employees and our clients. We know that we need to do more to build a workforce that represents Canada’s diversity, at all levels, because that will lead to better decisions and policies, improved outcomes for newcomers, and a stronger country for all Canadians.

To help us build a diverse team, we strongly encourage you to tell us if you identify as an Indigenous person, a Black or other racialized individual, someone with a disability, a woman, or a member of one of the LGBTQ2+ communities.

NOTE: We understand the phrasing above is not perfect and doesn't speak to the individual attention that each group deserves. As we focus on the big picture of addressing racism, we are following the language used by the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat. To read more: www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/anti-racism-engagement/anti-racism-strategy.html.

Duties

We’re looking for Senior Communications Advisors with a variety of different skill sets, including, but not limited to, internal or external/strategic communications, issues management, public opinion research, advertising, media relations, editing and translation, web publishing, ministerial events, social media, and creative work (graphic design, videos, animation, etc.).

While specific duties will vary from team to team, we are looking for people who are curious and eager to learn, who enjoy taking initiative and thinking through situations from all sides, who can provide constructive feedback to team members of all levels, and who appreciate the value of working with others to improve the quality of their work.

You will be called on to advise senior management, analyze complex issues, and think of how your work relates to the work of others, at Transport Canada and across the Government of Canada.

Work environment

When you work with Transport Canada, you can make a real difference. The work we do has a direct impact in the lives of Canadians and travellers—whether that is on a plane, boat, train, in a car or kayak, or on the future of transit like high frequency rail. Our vision is of a safe, secure, green, innovative, and integrated transportation system that supports trade and economic growth, a cleaner environment and the well-being of Canada’s middle class.

Our team is spread out across the country with offices in Moncton, Dorval, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, and our teams are comprised of employees from all over the country.

We care about your well-being and provide an open, inclusive, and respectful workplace. Our cultureconsists of an environment of dedicated professionals whosupport each other, prioritize teamwork, curiosity, and continuous learning. We have competitive benefits, flexible work schedules, and teleworking options to help you maintain work-life balance.

As a Senior Communication Advisor at Transport Canada, you put Canadians first—ensuring open, timely, accessible communications in both official languages, and help ensure our transportation system is safe and secure, using your plain language writing skills and reaching your target audiences.

Why choose Transport Canada? Simple. We offer a challenging work environment that gives you the opportunity to learn and thrive as a communications professional, and we regularly provide advancement opportunities.

Ready to help keep Canadians safe and secure? To roll-up and innovate your sleeves? Transport Canada is looking forward to hearing from you!

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to establish a pool of fully or partially qualified candidates to fill current and future staffing needs. This pool of candidates may be used to staff similar positions of various tenures (casual employment, term or indeterminate) at Transport Canada.

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
Degree from a post-secondary institution OR an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or related experience.

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
EXP1. Significant* experience providing advice to management** regarding communications activities and issues.

EXP2. Significant* experience writing a variety of communications products for a public audience or for employees of an organization.

EXP3. Significant* experience building collaborative working relationships with internal or external partners.

* Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for approximately 2 years.
** Management generally refers to someone at the director level or above.

COMPETENCIES
C1: Collaborate with partners and stakeholders
C2: Achieve results
C3: Focus on quality and details
C4: Judgement and analytical thinking
C5. Values and ethics

ABILITIES
A1: Ability to communicate effectively orally
A2:Ability to communicate effectively in writing
A3: Ability to provide strategic advice and make recommendations on complex*** communications issues
A4: Ability to analyze and synthesize information from different sources

***Complex or sensitive communication files, projects or initiatives include characteristics such as the following: multidimensional, confidential, impacting several partners or stakeholders or that could yield potential for significant media or employee interest.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY
PS1: Dependability
PS2: Flexibility

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

Various language requirements

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

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

EDUCATION
AED: A university degree from a recognized university in an acceptable specialization in communications, public relations, journalism, computer science, translation, or related field relevant to the position.

Degree equivalency

ASSET EXPERIENCE
AEX1. Experience planning, coordinating, and managing public events for senior executives or ministers.

AEX2. Experience developing advertising or marketing strategies or campaigns.

AEX3. Experience performing comparative reviews of French texts based on the English texts from which they were translated, or providing professional translation services.

AEX4. Experiencing in media relations, including developing responses to media inquiries and coordinating their approval with senior executives.

AEX5. Experience providing strategic advice to senior management on public opinion research or consultations and public engagement.

AEX6. Experience managing and designing public opinion research or consultations.

AEX7. Experience analyzing and interpreting data, synthesizing information, and writing reports of findings.

AEX8. Experience developing statements of work and supervising contractors’ work related to Public Opinion Research.

AEX9. Experience planning, coordinating, and managing projects related to videos, graphic design, publishing, and/or exhibit and promotional materials.

AEX10. Experience managing staff, including performance management and delegation of duties.

AEX11: Experience in managing complex or sensitive* communication files, projects or initiatives.

AEX12: Experience in developing and being the primary coordinator for effective web communications plans and/or web products and collaborating with coders, programmers, and subject matter experts.

AEX13: Experience in writing social media content and analyzing and reporting on social media analytics.

AEX14: Experience writing communications products, such as, but not limited to: news releases, key messages, communications plans/strategies/approaches, marketing plans, email marketing messages, advertising proposals, social media posts, videos, graphics, web content, media call responses, communications implications, speeches, and/or internal messages to staff.

AEX15 Experience with an internal or corporate communications team.

** Management generally refers to someone at the director level or above.
***Complex or sensitive communication files, projects or initiatives include characteristics such as the following: multidimensional, confidential, impacting several partners or stakeholders or that could yield potential for significant media or employee interest.

Asset Experience is defined as depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of those duties on a regular basis for a period of approximately 2 years. However, a shorter duration may be considered based on demonstrated complexity and diversity of work handled, scope of work, and/or level of direct responsibility for a wide variety of complex files and/or projects.

Transport Canada is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. Qualified candidates who self-declare as a member of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples or persons with disabilities could be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance - Security: Reliability and Secret Status (depending on position being staffed)

Willing and able to travel in Canada
Willing and able to work flexible hours
Willing and able to work overtime on short notice
Willing and able to keep abreast of the latest trends and innovations in communications
Willing and able to attend employer directed training as required

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

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 person may be appointed to the position even though he/she does not meet any or all of the asset qualifications, operational requirements or organizational needs. However, meeting one or more of these qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

As part of this process, you can expect to:
• provide proof of your education
• write an exam
• take part in an interview
• have your references checked
• be assessed for additional qualifications, based on the position being staffed

Any information provided by candidates, including communications, résumé and answers to screening questions, may be used to assess the ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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.

For this selection process, our intention is to communicate with applicants by e-mail for screening/assessment purposes (including issuing screening results, and sending invitations for written tests and interviews).

Acknowledgement of receipt of applications will not be sent.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

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.