Senior Counsel

Important messages

On-line applications are strongly encouraged in order to take advantage of the many benefits of using the electronic recruitment system. Some of the benefits for applicants are as follows:

• modify your application at any time BEFORE the closing date;
• when applicable, answer screening questions highlighting the expected qualifications to the hiring manager;
• verify the status of your application and notifications, at any time; and
• obtain information through electronic notification of your assessment details and results.

If you are unable to apply online or require accommodation for any reason, please contact Emily Enei before the closing date.

Work environment

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is a national organization, and part of the core federal public service, with regional offices across the country in nearly every province and territory.

The Nunavut Regional Office of the PPSC is located in Iqaluit, Nunavut and has a small satellite office in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories which serves the Western Nunavut communities. In Nunavut, the prosecution of Criminal Code offences (such as assaults and homicides) in each of Nunavut’s 25 remote communities is our primary work; we also prosecute drug, regulatory, and territorial offences.

As a Senior Counsel working in our offices, you will join a dedicated team in a collaborative environment that is highly supportive of professional development and training as well as work life balance. You will have ample opportunity to use your advocacy skills, as Senior Counsel are expected to litigate approximately 60% of their time; you will also have extensive opportunity to mentor and share your expertise with more junior counsel. You will quickly gain a breadth of knowledge and experience as you work on a variety of prosecutions, from the most serious Criminal Code offences to fishing infractions. This is an opportunity to get to know the people, land and wildlife in Canada’s territories. Your sense of adventure will captivate you as you travel to remote communities and experience the diverse beauty of this arctic wonderland. Living in the North, you will be on the edge of the Arctic Circle where you will enjoy nearly 24 hours of sunlight during the summer. In the winters, the skies will be lit up by the aurora borealis. There are many activities available to active nature lovers, such as dog sledding, cross-country skiing, backpacking, and bird watching. In Iqaluit, you will experience Canada’s newest and largest territory. Stone monuments like inukshuks and inunnguaqs guide travelers to the spectacular tundra surrounding the city. You will increase your knowledge and understanding of Inuit culture at the Unikkaarvik Visitor Centre and Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum or take in Inuit culture first hand at a Throat Singing event or Drum Dancers. In Yellowknife, you can take in the spectacular surroundings on the Cameron River Falls Trail, learn about Yellowknife’s history at the Northern Frontier Visitors Centre or take in a show at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.

Also, the Federal Public Service offers competitive compensation packages. In addition to your regular salary, you will be entitled to a comprehensive benefits package, isolated post allowance, and vacation travel assistance. Some of these enticing advantages are ones you will only see in a Northern community!

We are seeking focused, friendly, forward-thinking professionals. If you want to make a difference working as part of a tight-knit team, come and join us!

Intent of the process

A pool of qualified candidates may be established from this process and may be used to staff similar positions at Public Prosecution Service of Canada in the Nunavut Regional Office with varying tenures (such as indeterminate, specified period) according to the position to be staffed.

NOTE:
In the event that an employee of the public service is qualified through this process, he/she may be considered for acting or assignment/secondment opportunities. The approval of his/her substantive supervisor will be required before acting/assignment/secondment is offered.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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.

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

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION
Eligibility for membership in the Bar of Nunavut.

EXPERIENCE
- Significant* experience leading, or in taking on a leadership role in a criminal litigation team, in the conduct of ill-defined and complex litigation.
- Experience in coaching and mentoring others on matters relating to criminal investigations and litigation.

*Significant is defined as experience associated with a broad range of progressively increasing complexity of criminal litigation over a six (6) year period accumulated within the past twelve (12) years.

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

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in a cross cultural environment, particularly in Aboriginal communities.
- Experience working in a northern environment.
- Ability to speak Inuktitut.

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Requirement to travel which may include assignments on short notice and for extended periods.
- Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours which may include working evenings, nights and weekends based on operational needs.

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

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE
- Knowledge of the role and practices of Crown Counsel in the conduct of criminal litigation.
- Comprehensive* knowledge of criminal law and procedures including knowledge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its relevant case law.

*Comprehensive is defined as having broad and extensive knowledge with insight in the strategic application of the law.

ABILITIES AND SKILLS AND PERSONAL SUITABILITY
- Specialized Skills and Knowledge (such as understanding one’s role, legal skills and legal knowledge)
- Professionalism (such as professional conduct, professional fortitude, service orientation and self assessment)
- Judgement (such as decision making, critical thinking, and adaptability)
- Practice Management (such as file management and law practice standards)
- Communicating effectively (such as verbally, in writing and by listening attentively)
- Interpersonal Relationships (such as building relationships and emotion management)
- Leadership (such as coaching and mentoring, influencing others and teamwork)

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

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS
- The organization is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. Qualified applicants who self-declare as members of a visible minority group, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and/or women may be selected for appointment to fulfill organizational needs.
- Persons self identifying as Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement.

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Reliability and Security: Secret
- Member in good standing in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada.
- Must be a member, in good standing, of the Law Society of Nunavut within 100 days of appointment.
- Applicants must be willing to be assigned to other types of work at the same group, level and tenure within the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Assignment of work may be made within or between the various teams of counsel within the office and will be based on operational considerations and will not require relocation of residence.
- Medical clearance
- All conditions of employment must be met and maintained throughout the tenure in the position.

Other information

A written examination may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

A simulation/situational exercise/role play may be used for assessment.

Reference checks may be sought.

Other sources of information (such as performance agreements, work samples, board member knowledge, etc.) may be used to assess the criteria identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

Selection board members may consider any information obtained throughout the selection process to assess the criteria identified on the Statement of Merit Criteria.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Please ensure that your Personal Record Identifier (PRI) is included in your application if you have one.

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

Candidates MUST meet each ESSENTIAL qualification and conditions of employment to be appointed to a position, and MAY be required to meet any/all ASSET qualifications, operational requirements and/or organizational needs, depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed. Management may choose to use one or more Asset Qualifications at the pre-screening stage to determine the number of applicants who will advance to the following stage of the selection process.

Appointment decisions may be based on organizational needs. We therefore encourage candidates to self-declare their membership to any of the following employment equity groups: visible minority, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, women, or Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement, should the organizational need be invoked during the appointment process.

You will be required to provide proof of your education credentials and, if applicable, occupational certification, at the time of assessment. Foreign educational credentials must be assessed by a recognized credential assessment service (http://www.cicic.ca/415/credential-assessment-services.canada).

Candidates must include in their application a VALID E-MAIL ADDRESS, and are responsible that it is functional at all times and accepts messages from unknown users.

The rates of pay are from $121,156 to $152,433 plus Isolated Post Allowances.

Employees within the Public Service at the same group and level or equivalent may be considered first for deployment. If no deployment is made, the other applicants will be considered in the advertised appointment process.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.