Senior Communications Advisor

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

Second language may be assessed at the first phase of the assessment process. Please note that if you do not meet the second language requirements your application will not be considered further in this selection process

It is your responsibility, as a candidate, to clearly demonstrate that you meet each of the screening criteria. Please note that it is not sufficient to state that you meet the required qualifications, or to list your current qualifications. It is necessary to provide concrete examples that demonstrate how you meet the requirements. If you do not provide sufficient examples and details, your application may be rejected because the assessment committee will not have the necessary information to determine whether you meet the qualifications or not. Your résumé will only be used to confirm your employment history and will not be used to complete your answers to the screening and text questions. You will also need to provide references that will allow us to validate the information you provide for each of the essential and asset experiences.

***IMPORTANT***
The answers you will provide to the essential qualifications (education, work experience, abilities and competencies) questions will be used to evaluate your ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Should there be a large number of applicants, asset qualifications could be invoked. Therefore, if candidates have one (or many) of the asset qualifications, candidates should also describe in their answers how they meet this (these) qualification(s) following the instructions provided for each question.

Work environment

Based on direction from Treasury Board on prescribed presence in the workplace, the Correctional Service Canada (CSC) is transitioning to a hybrid work model which will allow most employees the opportunity to work a combination of telework and on-site (there is currently a minimum requirement of working in the office 3 days a week at CSC), subject to operational requirements. When answering the application question, please only select the cities from which you are willing to physically work.

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates (fully or partially assessed) will be established and used to staff similar positions at this group and level of various tenures (e.g. acting, assignment, deployment, secondment, term, permanent) within Correctional Services Canada (CSC) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Given the potential use of the selection process and the subsequent pool established by hiring managers, we encourage all those interested by a communications position at this level to apply.

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

A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.

Based on their education, training and/or experience, indeterminate incumbents of positions in the IS classification are deemed to meet the minimum education standard whenever a bachelor’s degree without specialization is called for in a position classified as IS.

At the manager’s discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience, may serve as an alternative to the minimum education standard.

EXPERIENCE

• Recent* and significant** experience providing strategic communications advice to executive management on complex*** communications files.

• Recent* and significant** experience in developing and implementing communications plans or media strategies.

• Recent* experience managing communications issues involving multiple clients / partners.

• Recent* and significant** experience in developing communications products for at least three (3) of the following:

 Internal messages
 Media lines
 Media responses
 News releases
 Social media content
 Web/intranet content
 Graphic design
 Video production

* Recent is defined as experience acquired within the past five (5) years.
** Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of work experience that would normally be acquired by performing these functions over a period of approximately two (2) years or more.
*** Complex issues are defined as including at least two (2) of the following characteristics: multidimensional, sensitive, confidential, affecting many partners, precedent setting, or having major impact on an organization or the public service.

Degree equivalency

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual Imperative: BBB/BBB
Bilingual Imperative: CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of project management methodologies.
• Knowledge of communications tactics and tools.
• Knowledge of Government of Canada context and priorities.

ABILITIES

• Ability to manage competing priorities under tight timelines.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize information.
• Ability to provide strategic advice.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY

• Judgement
• Attention to detail
• Dependability
• Client service orientation
• Teamwork

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness and ability to work overtime on short notice as per operational requirements.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Canada.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Secret security clearance

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

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in managing high-profile public issues.
• Experience in planning, coordinating, and managing projects related to videos, graphic design, publishing or promotional material.
• Experience in managing complex*** or sensitive communications files, projects or initiatives.
• Experience in writing social media content including analyzing and reporting on social media analytics.
• Experience in the development and implementation of advertising plans.
• Experience in internal or corporate communications.
• Experience in media relations.
• Experience in speech writing.
• Experience in web publishing.
• Experience in leading a team.

*** Complex issues are defined as including at least two (2) of the following characteristics: multidimensional, sensitive, confidential, affecting many partners or stakeholders, precedent setting, or having major impact on an organization or the public service.

Degree equivalency

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

Depending on the number of applicants, CSC's needs and HR plans, volume management strategies such as, but not limited to, top-down approach, cut-off scores, random selection and/or assessment may be used for the purpose of managing applications/candidates.

If you are a Government of Canada employee, an assignment, secondment, or acting appointment requires approval of your supervisor.

Applicants are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language(s) of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

The Assessment Committee reserves the right to contact references other that the ones submitted by the candidates (only within the Public Service) if found necessary, in order to make a suitable assessment of the candidates.

All the information collected during the selection process, from the time of application until the end of the process will be used to assess the candidates.

Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid email address and make sure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

Applicants should check their email regularly. Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent.

We will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

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.