Counsel

Update: The definition for strategic and Complex were added.

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

Work environment

Come work for the federal government’s first independent regulatory body: the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).

An important mission: The Canadian Transportation Agency is a small organization (about 300 people) with an important mission – to advance Canadians’ economic and social well-being by:

• Helping to keep the national transportation system running efficiently and smoothly;
• Protecting the fundamental right of persons with disabilities to accessible transportation;
• Providing consumer protection for air travelers.

A great place to work:
We are committed to creating a healthy and respectful workplace. Our small size encourages dialogue and collaboration – both between managers and employees, and through inter-branch networks and tiger teams. You will have the opportunity to get to know and collaborate with many colleagues across the Agency.

The Canadian Transportation Agency has a new workspace reflecting high standards of accessibility. We are located in the heart of Gatineau (60 Laval), with easy access to fitness facilities, public transportation and restaurants. We offer hybrid working arrangements (a mix of in-office and virtual work) in our new building. Specific work arrangements will be discussed with the manager based on the position and operational needs.

Intent of the process

The intent of this selection process is to staff determinate or indeterminate positions. A pool of qualified candidates could be created to staff future positions with various tenures (indeterminate, determinate, deployment, acting, and assignment/secondment) with similar requirements, various language requirements and profiles and various security requirements.

Results of this staffing process may be used for similar positions in the Agency and other departments and agencies in the federal government.

Positions to be filled: 3

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION:
-Membership in good standing of the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada.

EXPERIENCE:
-Significant* experience in providing strategic** legal advice to clients, as a legal counsel, on complex*** issues relating to administrative tribunal proceedings or in respect to regulatory matters.

NOTES:
*Significant is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed the duties for approximately three (3) years within the last seven (7) years.
**Strategic refers to legal advice that addresses and takes into account all considerations relevant to the specific context of the client such as the political environment, competitive landscape, operational requirements, policy objectives, realities of a specific industry, short to long term opportunities, challenges or risks.
***Complex is defined as involving multiple competing issues raised in a delicate or highly sensitive context, involving multiple parties, or dealing with novel questions of law.

-Significant* experience, as a legal counsel, in administrative or regulatory law.

NOTES:
*Significant is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed the duties for approximately three (3) years within the last seven (7) years.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
-Knowledge of administrative or regulatory law.

ABILITIES:
-Ability to provide advice to senior officials on administrative law issues, including on procedural matters raised in Agency proceedings;
-Ability to develop and present legal positions on litigation cases;
-Ability to analyze complex legal issues involving multi-dimensional issues including to develop options in partnership with internal partners and in consultation with external stakeholders;
-Ability to maintain a consistently high level of productivity in an environment of numerous competing demands;
-Ability to communicate effectively orally;
-Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
-Showing initiative and being action-oriented;
-Innovate and take informed risks;
-Working effectively with others;
-Thinking things through.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE:
-Recent* and significant** experience, as a legal counsel, in one or more of the following fields of law or practice: transportation law, constitutional law, indigenous law, human rights law, regulatory law, labour law, or litigation;

-Recent* experience working as a lawyer for an administrative tribunal or a government body that investigates complaints or issues complex regulatory authorizations.

-Recent* experience in providing legal support to an administrative tribunal as counsel during a public hearing.

-Recent* experience representing an administrative tribunal or a government body before the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada or Superior Courts of the provinces or territories or federal administrative tribunals.

-Recent* experience representing clients before the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada or Superior Courts of the provinces or territories or federal administrative tribunals.

-Recent* experience with the federal regulatory development process.

-Recent* experience providing advice on the application of the Canada Transportation Act.

NOTES:
*Recent is defined as within the last seven (7) years.
**Significant is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with having performed the duties for approximately three (3) years.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status 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

A written examination may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

Please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) is included in your application (for internal candidates).

Please identify clearly your substantive group and level and your employment status on your resume and/or application form (for internal candidates).

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

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE:

It is your responsibility, as an applicant, to clearly demonstrate how you meet each factor of the screening criteria (Experience) for all Essential and applicable Asset Qualifications and that adhere to the stipulated format. Please note that it is not sufficient to simply state that the qualification is "meet" or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. You must provide concrete examples which clearly demonstrate how you meet each factor of the screening criteria (Experience) for all Essential and applicable Asset Qualifications.

The Asset Qualifications contained in the Statement of Merit Criteria may be used as a screening tool. Candidates must meet all of the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position. A candidate may be appointed to a position even though he/she does not meet any or all of the asset qualifications or operational requirements. However, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users, including users from outside the Public Service (some email systems block these types of email).

Indeterminate employees at the same group and level or equivalent could be considered for deployment. If no deployment is made, applicants from other groups and levels will be considered in the advertised appointment process (for internal candidates).

Results of this staffing process may be used for similar positions in the Agency and other departments and agencies in the federal government.

Pass marks will be established for each qualifications. However, achieving the pass mark is not a guarantee of an appointment or that candidates will be put through the next stages of the assessment process. Cut-off scores and/or top-down approach may be used at any stage of the staffing process if there are a sufficient number of candidates to meet anticipated staffing needs.

All of the information collected during the selection process, including behaviour and communication, from the time of application until the end of the process, may be used to evaluate candidates.

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.