Legal Translators

Important messages

Giving you the best chance to succeed!
At Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) we are committed to running inclusive and barrier-free recruitment processes.

If you have a limitation that may impact your performance at any steps of the assessment process (such as during a written test or an interview), you may request an accommodation. Assessment accommodations are designed to remove barriers, and to ensure that candidates with limitations can fully demonstrate their abilities. Should you wish to be accommodated, please direct your inquiry to the contact identified at the bottom of this poster. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

For more information on assessment accommodation visit the following website: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html

Duties

The candidates selected will be required to translate and revise, from English into French or from French into English, a variety of legal documents from various federal departments and agencies, for example, the Department of Justice, The Supreme Court of Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, the Courts Administration Service, and Transport Canada.

The Translation Bureau is seeking to fill legal translator positions to translate documents in the following fields (non-exhaustive list): commercial law, copyright, administrative law, constitutional law, criminal law, Aboriginal rights, family law, tax law, civil law, maritime law, labour law, national and international agreements, and contract law.

Work environment

⭐We are One PSPC!⭐
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) helps the Government of Canada serve Canadians. With a strong focus on quality customer service, we provide innovative common services such as real estate and building management, purchasing, banking, pay and pensions, and translation to other government departments, agencies and boards. By providing these centralized services to departments and agencies, we enable them to focus on what they do best: providing their programs and services to Canadians.

At PSPC, we are committed to achieving a competent, representative workforce that reflects the diversity of the Canadian population. We work hard to create a welcoming, respectful and inclusive workplace through a variety of programs and initiatives. In fact, we have been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for the fifth year in a row and here is a list of some of our diversity and inclusion achievements:
• five diversity networks
• a task force on anti-racism, workplace culture and equity
• a national reconciliation and Indigenous engagement unit
• an ombudsman for mental health (the first such position within the federal public service)
• an accessibility office
• a gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) centre of expertise
While many programs and initiatives have already been implemented in line with our commitments to diversity and inclusion, we aim to get better! That’s why we invite you to be part of the change by joining an organization where individual differences are recognized, valued and respected. Be part of the solution!

Founded in 1934, the Translation Bureau is a special operating agency of Public Services and Procurement Canada. It supports the Government of Canada in its efforts to communicate with and serve Canadians in both official languages. It also plays a leadership role in standardizing the vocabulary used in the various spheres of federal government activity.

The Translation Bureau aims to be a centre of excellence in language services. The foundation of its modernized vision rests on several initiatives, including strengthening employee wellbeing; improving service quality; reaching out to professional associations, universities and clients; planning and managing resources effectively; and conducting research and development in automatic translation and artificial intelligence.

Positions can be attached to any of our offices across Canada: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Gatineau, Montréal, Québec, Moncton, or Halifax. Telework is subject to the manager’s approval. Note, however, that teleworkers may be required to work in the office from time to time, depending on operational requirements.

Intent of the process

Create a pool of partially or fully qualified candidates to staff identical or similar positions within the Translation Bureau with various security and tenure requirements (permanent and temporary).

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

✔ A bachelor’s or master’s degree in translation (from English to French or from French to English) from a recognized postsecondary institution.
OR
✔ A degree in the legal field* and a specialization** in translation from English to French or from French to English from a recognized postsecondary institution.

*Please refer to the “Duties” section for examples of fields relevant to the position.
**The specialization in translation may have been obtained through one or more certificates consisting of a total of 30 credits in language transfer and 15 credits in related courses.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

✔ Two years of full-time experience in English-to-French or in French-to-English legal translation.

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

ASSET WITH REGARD TO CERTIFICATION

✔ Member of a professional association of translators in Canada.

ASSET WITH REGARD TO EXPERIENCE

✔ Experience translating legal documents for the Government of Canada.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative level P
For more information on level P—Technical or Specialized Language Skills, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/treasury-board-secretariat/services/staffing/qualification-standards/relation-official-languages.html#specialized.

Information on language requirements

COMPETENCIES

✔ Client service competency: Level 1
✔ Reliability
✔ Thinking things through
✔ Working effectively with others
✔ Showing initiative and being action-oriented
✔ Adaptability
✔ Effective interactive communication
✔ Written communication
✔ Commitment to continuous learning

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

In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates, who, at the time of application, self-declare* as belonging to one of the following designated Employment Equity groups: Women, Indigenous (Aboriginal) Peoples, Persons with Disabilities and Members of Visible Minorities.

* We therefore encourage you to self-declare during the online application process by selecting the appropriate box under the Employment Equity section.

For further details, please refer to the “Other information” section.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

✔ Various security requirements: Security clearance at the Reliability, Secret and Top Secret levels. The security clearance is not a factor at the screening stage.

Translation services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Some people may therefore be required to work on a rotational basis during the day, evening or night, including weekends. A work schedule that does not correspond with the normal work week or other special work arrangements may also be necessary.

The collective agreement provides for various premiums when employees are required to work evenings or weekends. For more information, please consult the following link: https://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/agreements-conventions/view-visualiser-eng.aspx?id=26.

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

We will contact you by e-mail and/or via your GC Jobs account. Please ensure that your e-mail address is valid and accepts messages from unknown users. It is your responsibility to regularly check your e-mail and GC Jobs account for all communications regarding this selection process. Should we contact you and you fail to reply within the designated time frame, your application may not be given further consideration.

The selection board cannot make assumptions about your education and experience. When answering the screening questions, it is not sufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past responsibilities. Rather, you must provide concrete examples with significant details to explain when, where and how you acquired each qualification. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

A written exam and an interview will be administered, and reference checks may be sought.

The selection board may, at any point during the selection process, use random selection or apply asset criteria to select candidates for the next phase of the assessment.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

This process may be used for employment equity appointments. In these cases, we may consider only candidates who have self-identified as members of employment equity designated groups (women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities), depending on the position to staff.

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.