Policy Subject Matter Expert / Research Subject Matter Expert (Anticipatory)

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

How to Apply:

Please do not submit a covering letter. Screening will be based on responses to the screening questions, so read them carefully and provide complete answers that demonstrate the depth and breadth of your experience.

In order to be considered, your responses to the screening questions must clearly explain how you meet the essential education and experience requirements otherwise you will not be screened into the next phase of the process. Candidates will not be contacted to seek missing or incomplete information. Provide specific and concrete examples of your work history as it relates to each essential experience requirement and any applicable assets. Really focus on what you did! Your résumé will be used to validate your examples.

As this process will be used to fill multiple positions, additional qualifications (asset qualifications, operational requirements) may be used in the screening of candidates and/or to choose from among qualified candidates for specific positions. If you have any of those qualifications, please answer "yes" to the relevant question in your application and ensure you clearly demonstrate with specific and concrete examples how you meet the qualification.

Duties

For the Policy Subject Matter Expert Position, we are looking for someone who can play a leadership role in helping elevate FCAC’s policy voice and impact, with a particular focus on open banking, payments, fintechs, and the digitalization of finance in general.

As the Policy Subject Matter Expert, you will:

• Provide strategic subject matter expertise to the development, integration, and implementation of FCAC’s strategic policy research, analysis and data-driven policy innovation functions.
• Contribute to the development of major policy frameworks and provide strategic policy advice and recommendations on emerging market conduct and consumer protection issues within the financial services sector in Canada for review by the Director, Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner.
• Operate cross-functionally to monitor and assess progress towards FCAC’s Strategic Plan and works collaboratively with other financial regulatory partners to advance policy and policy research proposals to support our mandate.
• Contribute to the onboarding and development of Strategic Policy Officers and Research Policy Officers.

The Policy Subject Matter Expert must ensure their advice are appropriately and objectively supported and documented by strong empirical frameworks and evidence, and that recommendations are consistent with FCAC’s mandate.

For the Research Subject Matter Expert Anticipatory Position, we are seeking a team player with strong leadership and relationship-building skills who can play a key role in helping to elevate FCAC’s research voice and impact, with a particular focus on strengthening consumer financial resilience and financial wellbeing and building strong relationships with key research stakeholders.

As the Research Subject Matter Expert, you will:

• Provide strategic research advice and recommendations to the Managers, Director and Deputy Commissioner on emerging issues in the consumer protection, financial literacy, financial wellbeing and financial resilience fields.
• Provide strategic subject matter expertise and leadership on the implementation of FCAC’s National Financial Literacy Strategy and Measurement Plan, including onboarding new stakeholders in adopting the Measurement Plan and analyzing outcome results submitted to FCAC.
• Contribute to the development of the next National Financial Literacy Strategy.
• Operate cross-functionally to monitor, assess, and report progress on FCAC’s National Financial Literacy Strategy, Measurement Plan, Strategic Plan, and Business Plan.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external ecosystem stakeholders to advance research proposals to support FCAC’s mandate.
• Contribute to the onboarding and development of new team members within the Branch.

The Research Subject Matter Expert must ensure their advice is appropriately and objectively supported and documented by strong empirical frameworks and evidence, and that recommendations are consistent with FCAC’s mandate.

Work environment

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is a separate agency established in 2001 to protect consumers by supervising federally regulated financial entities and strengthening the financial literacy of Canadians. Today’s financial marketplace is complex, global and constantly in flux. Likewise, FCAC must be innovative and agile to remain a trusted authority in financial consumer protection.

Financial consumer protection is an integral part of the Government of Canada’s oversight of the financial sector. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) ensures Federally Regulated Financial Entities (FRFEs) comply with consumer protection measures, promotes financial education and raises consumers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities.

FCAC is a small separate agency subject to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA). We have our own unique classification system (RE and REX) with relevant equivalencies noted above and we offer the same pension as the core public administration. In addition, as an FCAC employee, you will benefit from:

• a competitive salary;
• eligibility for performance pay at all classification levels within the organization;
• a comprehensive benefits package including: Health and Dental Plan; Disability benefits; Life insurance;
• a minimum of four (4) weeks of vacation leave per year;
• a hybrid workplace with options for telework*;
• a broad range of learning opportunities; and,
• a strong support for employee wellness and mental health including access to the confidential employee assistance program.

*The designated workplace for this position is located in downtown Ottawa, Ontario.

Our people are our strength and we're looking for highly engaged and talented professionals to join our team!

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to staff two positions on an indeterminate basis.

STREAM 1: POLICY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT. There is an immediate need to staff this position.

STREAM 2: RESEARCH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (ANTICIPATORY). The staffing of this position is anticipatory.

Preference may be given to applicants who are members of one or more of the following employment equity groups: Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of a visible minority group.

This selection process may be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates, which could be used to staff similar or identical positions for various locations, linguistic requirements, security profiles and tenures.

Indeterminate Government of Canada employees at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered for deployment.

Positions to be filled: 2

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

EDUCATION (APPLICABLE TO BOTH STREAMS):

Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in economics, sociology, law, psychology, finance, statistics, or another relevant field.

Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training, and experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR BOTH STREAMS:

E1. Significant** experience establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships with multiple stakeholders to advance organizational priorities.
E2. Recent* and significant** experience serving as a subject matter expert, as well as advising and briefing senior management (director or above).

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR STREAM 1: POLICY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT:

E3. Recent* and significant** experience developing and implementing policy recommendations.
E4. Recent* and significant** experience leading research analysis and drafting policy papers, policy-related briefings and presentations on financial sector issues.
E5. Experience interpreting and applying legislation, regulations and guidelines in a regulatory context.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR STREAM 2: RESEARCH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (ANTICIPATORY):

E6. Recent* and significant** experience developing and implementing research projects.
E7. Significant** experience developing and implementing research plans, leading research analysis, drafting research reports, and providing briefings or presentations on financial literacy, financial wellbeing, or consumer protection issues.
E8. Significant** experience applying research methods and behavioural science principles to design, develop and implement behavioural interventions and experiments to strengthen financial decision-making, financial behaviours, financial confidence or financial knowledge.

Notes:
*Recent experience is defined as having acquired the experience within the last 3 years.
**Significant will be evaluated in terms of depth and breadth of activities, complexity and diversity of work performed, and level of autonomy in dealing with these issues.

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

FOR STREAM 2: RESEARCH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (ANTICIPATORY):

Graduation with a Masters degree or PhD from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in economics, psychology, finance, statistics, sociology, law, or another relevant field.

Degree equivalency

FOR STREAM 1: POLICY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT:

AQ1: Experience in policy development related to the digitalization of finance, open banking, and payments systems.

AQ2: Experience with financial consumer protection issues and matters of interest within the financial services market.

AQ3: Experience leading and managing projects.

AQ4: Experience with experimentation or novel or innovative policy approaches.

AQ5: Experience managing complex datasets to inform evidence-based decision-making in a regulatory environment.

FOR STREAM 2: RESEARCH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (ANTICIPATORY):

AQ6: Experience collecting, analyzing, interpreting and reporting on complex datasets to inform evidence-based decision-making.

AQ7: Experience leading and managing projects.

AQ8: Experience reviewing and approving research projects and proposals and providing oversight and guidance to junior team members.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Willingness and availability to work overtime.

Willingness and availability to travel.

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

English or French

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR BOTH STREAMS:

Knowledge of the financial services sector, including emerging issues, products, and services.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR STREAM 1: POLICY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT:

Knowledge of regulatory bodies that form part of the oversight of the financial sector.

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR STREAM 2: RESEARCH SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT (ANTICIPATORY):

Knowledge of financial wellbeing, financial literacy and consumer protection research and issues.

COMPETENCIES AND ABILITIES REQUIRED FOR BOTH STREAMS:

Create Vision and Strategy
Mobilize People
Uphold Integrity and Respect
Collaborate with Partners and Stakeholders
Promote Innovation and Guide Change
Achieve Results

Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to communicate effectively orally

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

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

Unless a request for accommodation has been made, we will only accept on-line applications received via the jobs.gc.ca site. There are some benefits associated with applying online: Applicants can create a profile and retrieve stored application(s) (personal information, covering letter and résumé) previously submitted and modify them, if necessary, before submitting the application.

Please identify clearly your Personal Record Identifier (PRI), your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application form.

Applicants can modify their application/résumé at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.

Candidates invited to an interview will be required to provide proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript (original documents only).

Various assessment tools may be used in this selection process such as: written tests, performance assessments, interview, reference checks etc. All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence may be used in the assessment of qualifications identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position.

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

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.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies such as random selection, top-down approach and/or establishing cut-off scores to determine who will continue in the staffing process, may be used for the purpose of managing applications. Please note that although you may attain the established pass mark on any of the assessments used in this staffing process, management may decide to use a higher cut off score.

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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.