Careers in Administrative/Program Support

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

All applications must be submitted electronically through the Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) on jobs.gc.ca. Please ensure you have a PSRS account profile. If you do not have a profile, one must be created to allow you to:

• Modify your application/resume at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement;
• When applicable, answer screening questions highlighting the expected qualifications to the hiring manager;
• Verify the status of your application and notifications, at any time; and
• Obtain information through electronic notification of your assessment details and results.

If there are limitations or special circumstances preventing you from submitting your application via the PSRS online portal PRIOR to the closing date, you must contact the Selection Board prior to the closing date and receive approval to apply via an alternate means.

Please note that it is not sufficient to simply state that the requirement is met or to provide a listing of current responsibilities; rather, the applicant must provide concrete examples illustrating the activities they have actually performed and how those activities meet the requirement in the screening questions. Applicants will not be screened in merely by virtue of occupying a position in which the work description meets/met the experience criteria. THE ASSESSMENT BOARD CANNOT INFER WORK EXPERIENCE. APPLICANTS WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FOR INCOMPLETE OR MISSING INFORMATION. It is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the selection board of any pre-approved leave, vacation, travel plans, etc. throughout the duration of the process in order to facilitate scheduling. Such notification should take place prior to the leave, vacation, travel plans, etc. Should a candidate be unavailable on the scheduled testing or interview date(s) due to illness, they must advise the board and a medical certificate will be required.

Work environment

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is the first point of entry for travelers and goods arriving to Canada. We are, in effect, the face of Canada. The CBSA was established in December 2003. Its creation integrated border functions related to customs, immigration, enforcement, and food, plant, and animal inspection. Today, we are the second-largest law enforcement organization in the country.

While the environment in which we operate continues to evolve, the CBSA's dual mandate remains the same. We support both national security and economic prosperity by preventing the entry of those travelers or goods posing a potential threat to Canada while at the same time facilitating the flow of people and legitimate goods across the borders.

Why work for us? It’s simple:

1. Our mandate is unique;
2. We offer a variety of interesting and challenging opportunities;
3. We take your professional development to heart.

*Successful applicants will be expected to physically attend offices in the Greater Toronto Area Region. This is not a remote work position.*

Please note that some positions may report to a Hamilton location, however it is not guaranteed at this time. Therefore, candidates should be prepared to report to one of the other two work locations.

Intent of the process

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is looking for talented candidates to staff various administrative support services positions at the AS-02 level. The intention is to create a regional pool of candidates who meet the essential qualifications for positions at the AS-02 level across the Greater Toronto Area Region.

If you qualify in this selection process, you will be placed in a pool of qualified candidates accessible to all hiring managers who have vacancies to fill within the Greater Toronto Area Region.

Indeterminate federal employees at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for deployment or appointment.

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 secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives (see Note 1)

Notes:
1. The employer-approved alternatives to a secondary school diploma are:
o A satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma; or
o An acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Candidates who already meet both of the following criteria must be accepted as meeting the secondary school diploma requirement:
a. Candidates who have achieved a satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma; and
b. Candidates who have been appointed or deployed for an indeterminate period to a position in the AS classification.

The opportunity to be assessed by at least one of the two employer-approved alternatives must be offered to candidates who have not previously met the secondary school diploma requirement.

2. Acceptable experience and/or training in a field relevant to positions in the AS classification is required when the education qualification specified for the position being staffed is a secondary school diploma or approved employer alternatives.

Note: If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards through a recognized credential assessment service. Please see the Degree Equivalency link for further information.

Degree equivalency

Experience:

EX1: Recent and significant* experience providing administrative AND program support**.

EX2: Recent and significant* experience researching, coordinating and analyzing information from various sources.

EX3: Recent and significant* experience in preparing and reviewing correspondence, written documents, or reports for accuracy and completeness.

*Recent and significant is defined as being continuous for approximately one (1) year (12 consecutive months) within the last five (5) years

**Administrative support is defined as: managing agendas; scheduling and organizing meetings/teleconferences; inputting, maintaining and extracting administrative, human resources and/or financial data; procuring office equipment and supplies; maintaining a filing system or other related duties.
Program support is defined as: interpreting and providing advice on financial, human resources or administrative policies and procedures to management; conducting research and analysis of client requests and developing options and making recommendations for solutions or actions to be taken on program activities.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential, Bilingual Imperative - BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

Competencies:
• Resilience
• Results Orientation
• Ability to Work in a Team
• Analyze issues and make recommendations
• Integrity
• Interpersonal Skills

Abilities:
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

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

Education:
Graduation with a degree/diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in the field of Information Management/Technology, Finance, Human Resources or Legal.

Degree equivalency

Asset Experience:

AE1: Experience working within the Canada Border Services Agency.
AE2: Experience working within the Canadian Federal Public Service.
AE3: Experience providing administrative support services in an executive’s office (director level or above), including but not limited to managing an executive’s calendar, organizing meetings/events, and coordinating and preparing meeting material.
AE4: Experience working in the field of human resources.
AE5: Experience working in the field of pay, pension and benefits.
AE6: Experience in the procurement or contracting of goods or services.
AE7: Experience in the administration and coordination of staffing files.
AE8: Experience using advanced functions in Microsoft Excel such as pivot tables and advanced formulas.
AE9: Experience in the analysis and reconciliation of financial data.
AE10: Experience using a financial management system (i.e. SIGMA, SAP, Oracle).
AE11: Experience analyzing AND processing Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) files.
AE12: Experience interpreting, applying, or enforcing legislation and regulations
AE13: Experience in financial reporting or in coordinating and tracking a budget, expenditures, invoices and/or financial contracts.
AE14: Experience creating graphical presentations using software such as Adobe Creative Suites (i.e. Photoshop, Illustrator).

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Organizational Needs:
• To address under-representation of Employment Equity groups, preference may be given to qualified individuals of the Employment Equity designated groups;
• Placement of affected CBSA employees;
• Placement of CBSA employees who are registered in the CBSA Internal Placement Process (IPP) System is an organizational priority that may impact appointments from the pool of successful candidates.

Operational Requirements:
• Undertake job-related travel as required (sometimes on short notice);
• Work overtime and/or be available after hours on call back or standby, as required (sometimes on short notice);
• Carry and use various communication devices;
• Operate a government vehicle

Conditions of employment

• Obtain and maintain an Enhanced Reliability security clearance as per CBSA Security Standards.
• Possess a valid driver’s license or the personal mobility to the degree normally associated with possessing a valid driver’s license (for some positions).

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

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

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.

The assessment board may assess qualifications using telephone interview, in-person interview, virtual interviews, written tests, references or a combination of these or other assessment methods.

Top-down selection may be used during the assessment at any phase of the assessment process. This means that among those who met the required level or pass mark for the qualification, only those who have the top scores will be given further consideration. Candidates will be informed, should top-down selection be applied at any phase of the assessment process.

Proof of education and education equivalency (if applicable) must be provided prior to appointment.

Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/. It is the responsibility of the candidate to obtain the Education equivalency if required.

For this selection process, our intention is to communicate regularly with candidates by e-mail. Candidates who apply to this selection process must provide a valid e-mail address and ensure this address is functional and accessible at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. It is recommended that candidates regularly monitor their junk/spam folder as well.

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.