Seeking talented Senior Public Affairs Professionals

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 may 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

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) is looking for strong communications professionals with strategic minds who can build collaborative relationships to fill key positions in the Public Affairs Branch.

At FCAC, the Public Affairs Branch is at the centre of it all. Responsibilities include developing plans and strategies, providing strategic advice, coordinating activities and developing products.

The Public Affairs Branch plays a pivotal role in helping FCAC fulfill its mandate to protect Canadians in their dealings with financial institutions. The Public Affairs Branch develops excellent partnerships with the Agency’s program, regulatory and research functions. In addition, we interact regularly with senior management and work in concert with other government departments.

FCAC is a small independent federal agency that offers a stimulating work environment. From regulating the banks to educating consumers on managing their finances and researching the latest in consumer behaviour, FCAC is an organization with a growing profile where everyone contributes to achieving results.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy building outstanding relationships with team members and internal partners, and are looking for an interesting and rewarding opportunity in public affairs, this is the job for you.

The Public Affairs Branch consists of 2 divisions that are broken down into 2 teams along with Stakeholder relations:

Communications and Marketing:

• Marketing and Digital Communications
• Communications and Media Services

Consumer Services and Information

• Consumer Information
• Consumer Services Centre

Work environment

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 four (4) positions on an indeterminate basis:
STREAM 1: 2 x Senior Communications Advisors
STREAM 2: 1 x Senior Consumer Information Officer
STREAM 3: 1 x Digital Marketing Strategist

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 staff similar or identical positions with various linguistic profiles and requirements, security profiles, and tenures.

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

Volume management strategies may be used at any time during this selection process.

Positions to be filled: 4

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 ALL STREAMS

Graduation with a degree from a recognized university in a field related to the position, such as communications, journalism or public relations, or an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

APPLICABLE TO ALL STREAMS

E1: Significant* and recent** experience providing strategic advice and recommendations to Senior Management (Director-level and above) as well as internal clients/partners on high-profile and/or complex*** public affairs matters

E2: Significant* and recent** experience developing and coordinating the implementation of communications and/or marketing and/or project plans for high-profile and/or complex*** public affairs initiatives

E3: Significant* and recent** experience developing a wide variety of communications and marketing products, such as news releases, key messages, questions and answers (Qs and As), video scripts, infographics or web content for high-profile and/or complex*** public affairs initiatives

E4: Significant* and recent** experience developing collaborative and effective relationships with various internal partners/clients within a government department/agency or large-scale organization/corporation

Definitions:

*Significant experience is defined as the breadth and depth of experience normally associated with full-time performance of duties for a period of at least three (3) years.

**Recent experience is defined as experience acquired within the last five (5) years.

*** Complex is defined as an issue or initiative involving multiple areas within an organization and/or stakeholders, and/or that is technical, policy or regulatory-related.

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

APPLICABLE TO ALL STREAMS

Experience working in or with the financial services industry

Experience in project management

Stream 1

Significant* experience in media relations, including developing and coordinating responses to media enquiries

Experience coordinating corporate requests, including gathering input and preparing reports

Experience in internal communications such as developing plans and products, writing intranet content, and managing internal events

Stream 3

Experience managing large-scale advertising campaigns, including media buys

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Willingness and ability to respond to urgent requests outside of working hours and to periodically work overtime on short notice

Willingness and ability to travel to attend meetings, events or conferences

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC
Bilingual imperative CBC/CBC

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

STREAM 1:

Knowledge of strategic communications and a broad range of communications techniques and tactics

STREAM 2:

Knowledge of plain/clear language principles and their application to the development of web content and information resources for the public

STREAM 3:

Knowledge of best practices in digital marketing and a broad range of marketing techniques and tactics

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES

APPLICABLE TO ALL STREAMS

Ability to coordinate public affairs activities

Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple files with tight deadlines

Ability to communicate effectively in writing
Ability to communicate effectively orally

Demonstrating integrity and respect
Thinking things through
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action-oriented

APPLICABLE TO STREAM 1 AND 3

Ability to develop communications and marketing strategies and supporting products

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

Stream 2

Knowledge of consumer issues related to financial products and services

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance - Reliability, Secret

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 an accommodation has been granted, applications must be submitted through the jobs.gc.ca site. There are some benefits associated with applying on-line: Applicants can create a profile and retrieve stored application(s) (personal information and résumé) previously submitted and modify them, if necessary, before submitting the application.

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.

Please clearly indicate this by including your substantive group and level in your CV.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

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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.