Benefits Program Officer, Appeals Officer

Update: Please note the closing date for this advertisement is now November 29, 2022.

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

🌟Diversity and Inclusion is important to us at VAC!

Veterans Affairs Canada is committed to building a diverse workforce that is representative of the Canadian population through equitable and accessible employment practices. We strive to achieve an inclusive and open work environment that embraces a variety of perspectives where accessibility is a central pillar to all. These qualities help us make a positive impact in the lives of our increasingly diverse clientele, in a workplace where everyone’s contributions are valued.

Veterans Affairs Canada is seeking talent from a wide range of communities, identities, and backgrounds. We value the experience of diverse groups of women, men, and gender diverse people. Using a Gender-based Analysis Plus lens, we recognize that there are multiple characteristics that intersect and contribute to our social and professional identity. These include race, ethnicity, religion, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, education, veteran status, and more. The interaction between these factors has a positive influence on how you, as an employee, help us develop, implement, and deliver the services and benefits we provide. We are committed to establishing a workplace culture that is accessible by design to ensure that all employees are fully supported to flourish in their roles.

We welcome members of equity seeking groups to apply and recognize that the current Employment Equity Act does not fully encompass all equity seeking group members. If you are a member of the groups indicated in the Employment Equity Act, we respectfully request that you self-declare during this process. These groups include women, aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities and members of a visible minority community.

📢Ready to Apply? Here’s how to do it! 📢

1. Click on - apply online - at the bottom of the screen!

2. Give yourself the best chance to succeed! If you require any assistance, or for information on how to apply in an alternate format due to a disability, please contact the email address indicated in the "Contact information" section below prior to the Closing Date.

3. You will be prompted to answer questions concerning the essential education and experience qualifications and, other qualifications.

4. Tips for responding to questions:
▶ When responding please clearly demonstrate HOW, WHEN, and WHERE each qualification was met and provide examples.
▶ Choose examples with sufficient complexity, impact and degree of difficulty that will allow you to illustrate to what extent and depth you have shown the behaviours expected for each qualification.
▶ Each example should include when the example took place, background of the situation, what you did, how you did it, what your role was in the situation, and what was the outcome.

Work environment

EVERYONE IS WELCOME: Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is committed 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.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to create a pool or partially assessed pool of candidates to fill similar or identical positions with various language profiles, durations (term, indeterminate, assignment, secondment, acting appointment and deployment) and conditions of employment in Veterans Affairs 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:
ED1 - A secondary school diploma or employer-approved alternatives.*

* Employer-approved alternatives to a secondary school diploma include:
- A satisfactory score on the Public Service Commission test approved as an alternative to a secondary school diploma; or
- An acceptable combination* of education, training and/or experience.
* An acceptable combination is defined as completion of two years secondary school, with two years of relevant job-related experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
EX1 – Experience in gathering and analyzing information and preparing written documents.
EX2 – Experience in the interpretation or application of legislation or policy.

Abilities:
AB1 – Ability to communicate effectively orally.**
AB2 – Ability to communicate effectively in writing.**
AB3 – Ability to prioritize, organize and manage a workload.**
AB4 – Ability to analyze and problem solve.**

**Please note: These abilities will be assessed within the application.

Personal Suitabilities:
PS1 – Judgement***
PS2 – Client Service Orientation***

***Please note: These personal suitabilities will be assessed within the application.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
French Essential
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC

Information on language requirements

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

Experience:
AE1 – Experience as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces.
AE2 – Experience in adjudicating benefits or services for government programs.
AE3 – Experience working in a Health Services environment.
AE4 – Experience working with medical terminology.
AE5 – Experience working with legal terminology.
AE6 – Experience working with Veterans Affairs Canada programs, services or benefits.
AE7 – Experience working in National First Level of Appeals.
AE8 – Experience working in Diminished Earnings Capacity.
AE9 – Experience working in Benefit adjudication and processing.
AE10 – Experience working in Benefit Operations.
AE11 – Experience working in the Veterans Affairs Canada Client Service Delivery Network (CSDN) or GCcase systems.

Organizational Needs:
In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates who self-identify as belonging to one (1) of the designated employment equity groups under the Employment Equity Act: women; Aboriginal peoples; visible minorities; persons with disabilities.

Operational Requirements:
Willingness and ability to work overtime as required.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status

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

📢 Assessment Format 📢

Step 1: Online application questions
▶ When you apply for this process you will be assessed on most essential merit criteria (education, experience and competencies) by the answers you provide in your online application. As a result, please ensure you allow yourself a significant amount of time to complete this application.
▶ You must meet the essential education and experience qualifications to move forward to the assessment phase.

Step 2: Assessment
▶ You are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of your choice, and you will be asked to indicate your preferred official language of correspondence in your application.
▶ An interview may be administered.
▶ Reference checks, as well as reviews of past performance appraisals, may be conducted.
▶ You will be asked to provide proof of education credentials at a later date.
▶ A new Public Service Commission unsupervised language test of reading and written expression for Levels B or C may be used to assess candidates second language evaluation as part of this process.
Link to further information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/second-language-testing-public-service.html

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email and contact information are maintained with the hiring board. All communication for this process will be sent by email and it is your responsibility to verify your messages regularly.

Education and/or Experience factors in the asset qualifications may be used for screening. Applicants should clearly demonstrate on their application if they meet any of the education and/or experience asset qualifications. One or more asset qualifications may be used during the screening to manage the volume of applications.

PLEASE NOTE: All information must be provided through the “apply online” application process. Do not fax, mail, email or drop-off a hard copy application as these will not be accepted. To apply in an alternate format due to disability, you must contact the email address indicated in the "Contact information" section below PRIOR to the Closing Date.

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.