Advocacy 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

Veterans Affairs Canada 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 Affairs Canada 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 (nonessential) qualifications.

It is not sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Rather you must clearly demonstrate how, when, and where the qualification was met through substantiation by examples.

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.

Instructions:
When recording your examples, be sure you:
• Provide concrete, specific examples of actions that speak directly to the experience sought.
• 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 must include when the example took place, background of each situation, what you did, how you did it, what your role was in the situation, and what was the outcome.

Duties

The Bureau of Pensions Advocates is proud to be a nation-wide organization of lawyers serving Veterans, former and current members of the Canadian Forces and the RCMP and their families. The Bureau provides free legal advice and representation before the Veterans Review and Appeal Board for clients who are not satisfied with decisions regarding their disability benefits. The Advocacy Officers in the Bureau’s offices work alongside lawyers to serve clients on the phone, virtually, and in person with medical-legal concerns. The work is rewarding and of particular interest to those who prefer a fast-paced environment requiring multi-tasking and empathy for the special group of clients we serve.

Work environment

Everyone Is Welcome: Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) 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 experience 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 Affairs Canada.

The immediate need is to staff 5 positions in Edmonton, AB, Victoria, BC, and/or Vancouver, BC.

Positions to be filled: 5

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Education:
ED1 - Secondary School diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience*

*An acceptable combination is defined as the breadth and depth of experience which would normally be acquired with two (2) years of work experience in providing client service to internal or external clients.

Degree equivalency

Experience:
EX1 - Experience using Microsoft Office, or other similar software, which could include drafting, formatting, proofreading, converting into PDF documents, etc.
EX2 - Experience in client service and resolving client issues by telephone, email or in person
EX3 - Experience coordinating, scheduling and monitoring meetings

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

Abilities:
AB1 - Ability to communicate effectively in writing*
AB2 - Ability to orally communicate
AB3 - Ability to plan and organize work, establish priorities, and work effectively under pressure and with conflicting demands*
AB4 - Ability to conduct research and extract relevant information from a variety of source documents using digital tools*

*These abilities will be assessed through the online application.

Personal Suitabilities:
PS1 - Initiative
PS2 - Dependability
PS3 - Effective interpersonal relationships
PS4 - Ability to empathize

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

Experience:
AEX1 - Experience as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces
AEX2 - Experience analyzing and interpreting medico-legal documentation
AEX3 - Experience in providing administrative support services in a quasi-judicial or legal environment
AEX4 - Experience in the delivery of mental health and social services and/or working in a related field
AEX5 - Experience using GCDocs, Foxit or ICE

Knowledge:
AK1 - Knowledge of Veterans Affairs Canada's clients and their common medical issues

Organizational Needs:
In support of achieving a diversified workforce, consideration may be given to candidates self-identifying as belonging to one of the following Employment Equity groups: Indigenous peoples, Persons with a disability, Visible Minorities, Women.

Operational Requirement:
• Willingness and ability to work overtime and travel as required
• Ability to work remotely and provide adequate broadband internet

Conditions of employment

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, experience and competencies) 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 may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

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.