Communications Specialist / Media Specialist / Web Specialist

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

Duties

• Communication Specialists with the RCMP are responsible for developing, writing and editing a wide range of communications products for units within the RCMP and for external partners and clients. These products could include: speaking notes, news releases, communications plans, web content, articles, social media content, etc. Communications Specialists will also be required to provide strategic advice, guidance and planning to clients for various meetings, events and projects.

• Web Specialists with the RCMP are responsible for maintaining the RCMP’s internal and external websites. This includes developing, writing, editing and publishing content for a wide range of units within the RCMP. Web Specialists will also be required to provide strategic advice, guidance and planning to clients on web-related services, as well as various other topics and projects. The role may occasionally include writing products to support RCMP priorities. These products could include: speaking notes, news releases, communications plans, articles, social media content, etc.

• Media Specialists with the RCMP are responsible for developing, writing and editing media relations products for division-level media activities. These products could include: speaking notes, news releases, media availabilities, holding lines and tactical-level communications plans. The Media Relations Specialist would be expected to help identify potential emerging issues, monitoring ongoing issues and be able to provide succinct and well-reasoned advice in a relatively short timeframe.

Work environment

The Alberta RCMP Strategic Communications Unit is a fast-paced, work environment where no two days look the same! The unit provides communications assistance to all levels of the Alberta RCMP including all units and detachments. The 24 positions in the unit provide a wide range of services for both internal and external audiences including media relations, social media management, strategic advice, crisis communications, communications planning, web support, video productions, and graphic design.

Intent of the process

This process will initially be used to staff four indeterminate positions including: two English Essential positions in Edmonton, AB, one English Essential position Grand Prairie, AB and one bilingual position in Edmonton, AB. A pool of qualified candidates may be established and may be used to staff similar positions with various language requirements and various tenures within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta (i.e. indeterminate, term, deployment, acting, assignment and secondment). Locations of similar positions may include, but are not limited to Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Leduc, Airdrie, Lloydminster, and St. Paul in Alberta. Therefore we encourage all those interested to apply.

Should a Civilian Member (CM) be found qualified and selected for appointment, the appointment will not result in a change of status to the Public Service (PS) category for the CM. Information regarding the CM appointment will be sent to all applicable candidates who are within the area of selection and participated in the advertised 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)

All Streams:
A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution or an acceptable combination.
Acceptable Combination:
3 years of experience combined with 5 courses in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or related field.

Degree equivalency

All Streams:
Ex1 - Experience in providing strategic communications advice to senior managers or clients within an organization.

Stream 1 and 2 – Communications Specialist and Media Specialist only:
Ex2 - *Recent and significant experience in researching, writing and editing a variety of communications products (such as: communications plans and strategies, news releases, media lines, information sheets, feature articles, brochures and reports, as well as material for the web).
Ex3 - Experience in managing communications, publishing or marketing programs/services within a social media platform.
Ex4 - Experience with mainstream media and social media monitoring.

Stream 2 – Media Specialist only:
Ex5 – Recent and significant experience working as a journalist in a media environment.
Ex6 – Experience in pitching stories to editors and developing journalistic content (such as: interviews, speaking notes, articles/features/stories).

Stream 3 – Web Specialist only:
Ex7 - Experience in managing communications and publishing for a website.
Ex8 - Experience with monitoring and responding to email and web based comments.
Ex9 - Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Dreamweaver, Photoshop, etc.).

*Recent and significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience that would normally be acquired by a person in a position over a period of at least 2 years in the last 3 - 5 years.

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

All Streams:
AQ1 - A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution specializing in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations or other related field.
AQ2 - Experience in crisis communications.
AQ3 - Experience using advanced analytical tools for social media and web.

Stream 3 – Web Specialist only:
AQ4 - Experience with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
AQ5 - Experience using the Web Experience Toolkit (WET).

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

Various language requirements
All Streams:
English Essential

Stream 1 – Communications Specialist only:
Bilingual Imperative – BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements

All Streams:
K1 - Knowledge of basic communications theory and principles.
K2 - Knowledge of current communications and marketing practices and techniques including web writing and social media.

Stream 1 and 2 – Communications Specialist and Media Specialist only:
K3 - Knowledge of media relations.

Stream 3 – Web Specialist only:
K4 - Knowledge of HTML and CSS.

All Streams:
A1 - Ability to communicate effectively orally.
A2 - Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
A3 - Ability to multi-task.
A4 - Ability to research, analyze and summarize information.
A5 - Ability to work effectively under pressure.

All Streams:
PS1 - Demonstrating Integrity and Respect.
PS2 - Working effectively with others.
PS3 - Thinking things through.
PS4 - Showing initiative and being action-oriented.

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

All Streams:
OR1 - Willing and able to travel for work and/or training purposes, using various modes of transportation.
OR2 – Willing and able to work overtime and to adopt flexible work hours as per operational requirements.
OR3 – Willing and able to occasionally be on standby and to be called back to work afterhours and weekends.
OR4 – Willing and able to obtain and maintain a valid provincial driver’s license.
OR5 – Willing and able to work in a busy police environment, including exposure to unsettling and/or graphic material.

Conditions of employment

All Streams:
Top Secret security clearance
Those selected must meet and maintain the above condition of employment throughout their employment.

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

Volume management strategies may be used.

All communication relating to this process, including email correspondence and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

We will communicate with applicants by e-mail. Applicants who apply to this selection process must include in their application a valid e-mail address and ensure this address is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CANDIDATE TO ENSURE ACCURATE CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AND UPDATED AS REQUIRED.

Your responses to the screening questions will be used as the primary source in determining whether you meet the screening requirements. If you do not fully complete the screening questions as instructed, you may be screened out.

Only online applications are accepted. All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System.

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.