Senior Communications Officer

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

ACOA prioritizes an inclusive, equitable and safe work environment. This means that ACOA highlights equity and inclusion in all steps of the selection process. Our aim is to have a workplace that welcomes visible and invisible forms of diversity.

ACOA is an equal opportunity employer which encourages women, Indigenous people, members of visible minorities and persons with disabilities to apply for employment.

ACOA is gradually increasing access to our various offices. A combination of work from home and work in the traditional worksites is the current norm (hybrid work). There is an expectation for employees to attend the office at a minimum 2-days each week.

Duties

• Plan and coordinate public events involving senior officials and multiple stakeholders.
• Develop and implement communication products or services for internal and external audiences.
• Write and revise speeches and communications products such as media advisories, news releases, media lines, video scripts, social media and or web content.
• Provide communications advice and formulate recommendations to management on regional communications issues.
• Issues management and media relations as required.

Work environment

If you are an experienced communicator eager to take on new opportunities and experiences, this could be the perfect job for you.

You will be joining an Agency where communications is valued at the executive table. We will provide you with the opportunity to apply your writing and strategic communications skills while working in a fast-paced, supportive team environment.

The team includes communications practitioners who work to promote economic development in Atlantic Canada. You would be based in ACOA's Cape Breton Office, and your manager would be based in Halifax, where the majority of the team is located. We come from dynamic backgrounds and are at various stages in our careers. Currently there are three former journalists, three Mount Saint Vincent University public relations grads, a singer who performs regularly in Halifax and Cape Breton, a marathon runner and a round-the-world sailor. Most importantly, we are an inclusive and welcoming team who would appreciate your interests and your experiences.

Intent of the process

This process will be used to staff one indeterminate position at ACOA Nova Scotia, in the region of Cape Breton.

A partially qualified pool of candidates may be established to staff similar positions with different tenures (indeterminate and/or determinate) and different bilingual imperative linguistic profiles (bilingual imperative BBB/BBB, bilingual imperative CBC/CBC) within the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in all offices as well as other departments within the public service.

At-level opportunities (deployments, assignement, or secondment) may be considered through this process.

Positions to be filled: 1

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 group are deemed to meet the minimum education standard whenever a college diploma or a general bachelor’s degree is required for an IS position. At the manager’s discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience may serve as an alternative to the minimum education standard.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
- Experience in developing and implementing communication strategies.
- Experience in managing events. (on site and/or virtually)
- Experience in writing/editing communication products.

COMPETENCIES:
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Judgement
- Creativity
- Written and oral communication

ABILITIES:
- Ability to develop communication products, (i.e. strategies, plans, news releases, backgrounders, speeches, media lines, Q&As)
- Ability to prioritize.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to quickly synthesize information from a variety of sources into communication products in
clear, simple, evocative language.

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

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
In support of achieving a represented workforce for current and future organizational needs, consideration will only be given to candidates self-declare as belonging to one or more of the following Employment Equity groups: Members of visible minorities, Indigenous Peoples, or Persons with disabilities. We encourage you to indicate if you belong to this designated group by completing the employment equity section in your application.

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

English essential
Official languages proficiency will not be assessed for entry to the pool. Candidates entered in the pool will have an opportunity for assessment of their official languages proficiency if and when they are considered for an appointment.

Information on language requirements

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

EDUCATION ASSETS:
A degree with specialization in communications, journalism, marketing or public relations OR an acceptable combination of education, training and experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE ASSETS:
- Experience in social media best practices.
- Experience providing digital communications advice to clients and management.
- Experience in media relations (traditional and/or digital media) and knowledge of local media landscape.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Willingness to work overtime, sometimes on short notice.
• Willingness and ability to travel, as required.
• Must have a valid driver's license or personal mobility to the extent normally associated with the possession of a driver's license.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

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

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their application online via the jobs.gc.ca site, as you must complete the screening questions in which you must clearly demonstrate how you meet the education and experience criteria listed in the essential qualifications and asset qualifications.

Failure to provide a complete application consisting of both the screening questions answers and a resume, may result in your application being rejected.

You are entitled to participate in the staffing process in the official language of your choice.

You must provide a valid email address to which you wish to receive communication regarding this staffing process. You must ensure that you check your email account including spam, promotion or other folders regularly as there may be a deadline for responses. If you respond past the deadline, you risk being removed from the staffing process.

Persons who cannot apply online or persons with disabilities preventing them from applying online are asked to inform the contact persons responsible for this process prior to the closing date. You may also review jobs open to the public through INFOTEL at 1-800-645-5605.

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.