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

We employ a practice of shortlisting candidates according to asset qualifications. This means we may not interview all candidates who meet the experience criteria.

Work environment

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) follows the common hybrid work model direction from the Office of the Chief Human Resource Officer. This mode is common across the federal public service and consists of work on site at least 2–3 days each week, or 40–60% of a regular work schedule.

🐟 Why work with us?
For the fourth year in a row, DFO received special recognition as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People and as the overall Top Employer for the National Capital Region (NCR). This special award confirms that DFO stands out nationally as a desired place to work, to learn and to build a successful long-term career.

🐟 Who we are?
DFO leads the management of Canada’s fisheries and the safeguarding of Canadian waters. The Canadian Coast Guard, a Special Operating Agency within DFO, is responsible for services and programs that contribute to the safety, security, and accessibility of Canada’s waterways.

🐟 Come join us!
Are you looking for a new challenge in an organization that encourages innovation and new ideas? If so, DFO is the place to be!

Intent of the process

The intent of this selection process is to staff several open positions in the DFO communication directorate as well as to establish a pool of qualified candidates on an anticipatory basis with various linguistic requirements for all the locations listed above.

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 at the hiring 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:
EX1 - Recent* and significant** experience in developing communications products and planning or coordinating communications initiatives or activities.
EX2 - Recent* and significant** experience in providing communications advice to management*** on internal or external communications issues or products.
Ex3 - Experience working collaboratively with one or more of the following such as: clients, other government departments, provincial or territorial agencies, partners or stakeholders, indigenous communities, NGO’s, private sector.

*Recent experience is defined as experience normally associated with performance of duties within the past five (5) years.
**Significant experience is defined as the depth and breadth of experience normally associated with the performance of a wide range of complex activities related to this task, normally acquired approximately over a two (2) year period.
***Management is defined as Manager level and above

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Experience
AEX1 - Experience working in strategic communications
AEX2 - Experience working in internal communications
AEX3 - Experience working in media relations
AEX4 - Experience in coordinating virtual or in-person events
AEX5 - Experience working in advertising and marketing AEX6 - Experience in conducting public opinion research or consultations
AEX7 - Experience working in digital or web services
AEX8 - Experience working in social media
AEX9 - Experience working in multimedia (video production and/or graphic design)
AEX10 - Experience supervising staff

Operational Requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work overtime with short notice.
• Willingness and ability to be on standby during off-duty hours, if required.
• Willingness and ability to travel across Canada, if required.

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

Various language requirements
Bilingual imperative (BBB/BBB)
Bilingual imperative (CBC/CBC)
French essential
English essential

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
K1 - Knowledge of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and the Directive on the Management of Communications.
K2 - Knowledge of current and emerging issues or trends in communications and how they relate to the department.

Competencies:
C1 - Demonstrating integrity and respect
C2 - Working effectively with others
C3 - Showing initiative and being action-oriented
C4 - Thinking things through

Abilities:
AB1 - Ability to communicate effectively orally.
AB2 - Ability to communicate effectively in writing.
AB3 - Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a rapidly changing environment.
AB4 - Ability to brief management on complex communication issues or projects.

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Secret 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

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ASSESSMENT
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Candidates must meet all the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

You may be assessed using a variety of assessment tools, such as, but not limited to: standardized tests, written exams, interviews, simulation exercises, reference checks, recent and past performance evaluations, self-assessments, candidate achievement record, etc.

Please note that your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, throughout the entire process may be used in the assessment of qualifications and competencies.

You must provide proof of your education credentials. If you were educated outside of Canada, you must have your certificates and/or diplomas assessed against Canadian education standards. For more information please click on “Degree Equivalency” in the Education section above.

LEAVE/ABSENCES DURING THIS SELECTION PROCESS: It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the Departmental contact of any pre-approved leave throughout the duration of the process in order to facilitate scheduling of evaluations. One (1) alternate date will be possible only if requested for the following reasons: 1) Medical reasons with doctor’s certificate 2) Death in your immediate family 3) Confirmation of pre-approved travel plans or training plans (made before the advertisement posting date) 4) Religious reasons or 5) Participation in an assessment for another selection process.

Please note that achieving the pass mark on any of the assessments used does not mean you will move forward in the selection process. Management may decide to use a score that is higher than the pass mark on any of the evaluations used throughout the selection process. Management may also decide to use top-down selection at any stage of the process.

Management may choose to invoke an asset(s) at any point of the process.

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OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
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Persons are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred official language in their application.

Official language proficiency could be assessed and required solely upon appointment. Each candidate can only undergo SLE testing one time within the context of an appointment process. Also, a person who initially failed linguistic testing could be introduced into the pool of qualified candidates during the pool’s validity period if he/she is assessed again through another selection process or following linguistic training.

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COMMUNICATION
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It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. Please provide a valid e-mail address as all correspondence will be sent via e-mail.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your email and contact information are maintained with the hiring board AND in your Public Service Resourcing System (PSRS) account. As all of the communication for this process will be conducted via the email address provided in your application AND via your PSRS account, it is your responsibility to ensure that you check for messages regularly. Failure to respond to key messages may result in your being eliminated from this process.

If you need to communicate with us during any stage of this process, please indicate the selection process number in the subject field of your email.

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OTHER INFORMATION
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Please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) is included in your application.

Acknowledgement 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.