Commerce Officer Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities ($79,516 to $113,222)

Important messages

At AAFC we strive to maintain a workforce that is representative of the Canadian population we serve. In our efforts to increase this representation, we have targeted this staffing process to persons living with disabilities.

We encourage you to self-declare during the online application process by selecting the appropriate box under the Employment Equity (EE) section. Please note that you must complete this questionnaire if you wish to be considered for these opportunities. To complete the questionnaire, you must be a member of an EE group, and select Collection Purpose 1 to be considered for job opportunities where belonging to an EE group is a condition for eligibility, or a screening or selection criterion specifically targeting EE groups.

Consider the following when deciding if you can self-declare as a person living with disability:

A person living with a disability has long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric and/or learning impairment, and:

1. considers themselves to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, or,
2. believes that an employer or potential employer is likely to consider them to be disadvantaged in employment by reason of that impairment, and includes persons whose functional limitations owing to their impairment have been accommodated in their current job or workplace.

AAFC is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. To that end, we strongly encourage you to advise us if you require any accommodations, whether at this stage of the process or later. AAFC is committed to providing relevant accommodations to any candidate that requires it to ensure that you can comfortably and effectively complete this process in the most efficient manner possible.

If you require an accommodation at any time during the application or evaluation process, please contact the Collaborative Staffing team at:

All information received will be kept confidential within the hiring process.

If you are interested in contributing to the work of our department, we encourage you to apply!

Duties

We are looking for individuals interested in leading program management, delivery and development within the agriculture and agri-food industry in Canada. Specifically, we are looking to staff the following types of positions:

► Commerce Officers in the Finance and Claims area: These individuals would be responsible for priorities such as:
• Conduct financial analyses to determine project viability, track project funding and re-payments and make recommendations on the payment or non-payment of claims.
• Work with clients and stakeholders to help them through the process and better understand any areas of question.
• Analyze trends to provide high level financial summaries/reports to management.
►Commerce Officers in the Program Development and Delivery area: These individuals would be responsible for priorities such as:
• Assess applications and proposals to provide recommendations for approval.
• Establish terms and conditions of agreements; monitor compliance to those agreements; and report on challenges, risks and successes.
• Interact with clients in a review and challenge function to determine robustness of applications / financial plan and progress of their projects.

Other positions may also be staffed using this process.

Work environment

At AAFC, we strive to create an environment where diversity and inclusion are at the forefront and where employees are motivated, inspired, and given the opportunity to innovate. To that end, we have several diversity, equity and inclusion networks dedicated to ensuring that we continue to grow as an inclusive, respectful and diverse workplace. To foster a culture of inclusion, understanding and respect, all employees are encouraged to participate in network activities regardless of affinity or identity. AAFC also offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation leave, pension plan and benefits.

Supports specific to persons living with disabilities include:

-The Persons with Disabilities Network (PwDN): a safe space to share experiences, obtain support and drive culture change. It strives to actively promote disability inclusion by identifying barriers, raising awareness, and supporting government initiatives that promote accessibility confidence. The PwDN helps transform AAFC's workplace culture, policies and programs towards an accessibility-first mindset.

-The Accessibility Passport: a new Government of Canada tool being introduced to all departments that keeps track of what accommodations you need. It is a document you can update as needed and is fully owned by the employee (you choose how much of it you want to share and with whom). The purpose of this tool is to avoid the need to renegotiate workplace accommodations with new managers or when changing jobs within the government.

Intent of the process

This selection process will be used to fill immediate and future vacancies, in various Commerce Officer positions located across Canada. Full-time permanent and temporary positions may be staffed using this process.

Positions to be filled: 6

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in a field relevant to the duties of the position.

Indeterminate incumbents of positions in the CO group on June 21, 2021, who do not possess the education prescribed above, are deemed to meet the minimum education standards based on their education, training and/or experience. They must be accepted as having met the minimum education standard whenever this standard is called for when staffing positions in the CO group.

Degree equivalency

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

Various language requirements
This inventory will be used to staff positions with various linguistic profiles, including English essential, French essential and bilingual.
For bilingual positions only, you must be able to work in English and in French (Reading, Writing and Oral proficiency). To be considered bilingual, we are looking for language profiles of BBB/BBB or higher (if you aren't sure what that means, visit the Information on language requirements).

Information on language requirements

The following competencies and abilities are essential qualifications and are required for all positions.

Abilities:
• Ability to research and analyze sector information to develop strategies or options.
• Ability to present recommendations to various audiences.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

Competencies:
• Demonstrating Integrity and Respect.
• Thinking Things Through (Reasoning and Judgment).
• Working Effectively with Others.
• Showing Initiative and Being Action Oriented.
• Adaptability.

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

The following are asset qualifications; while they are not essential for the job nor this application, managers may consider them when making a hiring decision after the process is complete.

•Experience in program development or delivery.
•Experience determining project viability and/or assessing project proposals.
•Experience in developing project plans, monitoring progress and reporting on results.
•Experience processing financial claims.
•Experience in conducting in-depth financial and business analysis of complex business development proposals and/or reports including assessing risks, viability and ability to repay.
•Experience in leading and supervising staff.
•Experience preparing briefing materials on complex issues for key decision makers.

Selection will be limited to members of the following Employment Equity group: Persons with Disabilities.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

In order to be appointed, Reliability Status security clearance OR Secret security clearance will be required, depending on the job you are being hired for. You will be expected to maintain this clearance throughout the duration of your employment.

Other information

Assessment Information / Stages of the Process:

Stage 1: Application:
Indicate how you meet the self-declaration, area of selection and education qualification. You will also need to provide Yes/No responses for the asset qualifications.

Stage 2: Written Exam:
Candidates will be invited to complete a timed take home exam. The written exam will assess components that are deemed essential for the job:
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to research and analyze sector information to develop strategies or options.
• Thinking things through.

Stage 3: Competency Exercise
An assessment package will be sent to candidates via email asking them to describe professional achievements that best highlight how they have displayed the following competencies essential for the job:
• Showing Initiative and Being Action Oriented.
• Working Effectively with Others.
• Adaptability.
• Demonstrating Integrity and Respect.
Candidates will have the option of completing this exercise orally or in writing.

Stage 4: Interview
Candidates will be invited to a virtual interview. The interview will be designed to assess:
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to present recommendations to various audiences .
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
All candidates that qualify at this stage will be asked to provide proof of education, proof of citizenship and fill out an experience questionnaire.

Stage 5: Establishment of a Qualified Pool
All qualified candidates will be placed in a pool. Once the pool is established, AAFC hiring managers will contact individuals being considered for specific appointments.

Again, please do not hesitate to let us know if you require any accommodations at any or all of the stages of the process. We want to give you every opportunity to succeed!

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.