Communication Assistant/Communication Officer

Update: Please note the closing date for this advertisement is now April 5, 2023.

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

Veterans Review and Appeal Board 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 Review and Appeal Board 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, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of a visible minority community.

When submitting an application to this selection process, you will be prompted to answer screening questions concerning the essential education and experience qualifications and, if applicable, other (non-essential) qualifications.

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.

Candidates may not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience and education described in the screening questions.

Work environment

Everyone is welcome:
Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) 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 experiences 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 Review and Appeal Board.

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:
A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.*

*An acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience is defined as: post-secondary education in a related field and experience providing communications support services.

Note: 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.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
Stream 1: IS-02
EX1 - Experience in writing and editing communications products or briefing materials.
EX2 - Experience in conducting research and providing recommendations.
EX3 - Experience in responding to requests for information from the general public or internal clients.

Stream 2: IS-03
EX1 - Experience contributing to or implementing communications plans in support of organizational initiatives, programs or services.
EX2 - Significant* experience in researching, writing and editing communications products, which may include, but are not limited to: news releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, speeches, social media content, intranet or web content, media lines, or marketing/promotional material.
EX3 - Experience developing and implementing online content, including social media, in support of organizational goals and priorities.

*Significant experience means at least two years of accumulative experience.

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

Various language requirements
English Essential
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB
Bilingual Imperative CBC/CBC
Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC

Information on language requirements

Abilities:
AB1 - Ability to communicate effectively orally
AB2 - Ability to communicate effectively in writing*
AB3 - Ability to work effectively under pressure with tight deadlines and conflicting demands
AB4 - Attention to detail

*Please note: This ability will be assessed within the application.

Personal Suitability:
PS1 - Judgement
PS2 - Effective interpersonal skills

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

Asset Qualifications:
AE1 - Experience as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces
AE2 - A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in communications or public relations
AE3 - Experience in social media planning and scheduling using various scheduling platforms/tools
AE4 - Experience in writing speeches for senior management
AE5 - Experience in employee/internal communications

Organizational Needs:
The Veterans Review and Appeal Board is committed to maintaining a representative workforce reflective of Canadian society. In support of achieving a diversified workforce, qualified candidates who self-declare in a staffing process as members of Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of a visible minority and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.

Operational Requirements:
- Must be willing to work occasional overtime evenings and weekends, sometimes with little or no notice
- Must be willing to use a mobile device

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

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.

Candidates will be asked to provide proof of their education credentials at a later date.

Candidates may be asked to provide proof of Canadian Citizenship at a later date.

When you apply for this process, please keep in mind that most essential merit criteria (education and experience) will be assessed 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.

An interview and/or written exam will be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

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.

The Assessment Committee reserves the right to contact references other than those provided by the candidates (within the Public Service only) in order to adequately assess the candidates.

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.