Communications and External Relations Officer (3 Streams)

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 will only accept on-line applications received via the jobs.gc.ca site.

All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. Following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line:
→Applicants can create a profile and a resume that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time
→Applicants can modify their application/resume at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement
→Applicants can verify the status of their applications, at any time
→Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results
→For some jobs, applicants will find important information, namely the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria that are only available when applying on-line

To submit an application on-line, please select the button "Apply Online" below.

Persons who are unable to apply on-line must contact the person listed below prior to the closing date.

An assignment or an acting appointment is a temporary resourcing option. The approval of your substantive manager will be required before an offer can be made.

Duties

Provide Field Unit level communications services to engage the public, partners and stakeholders in understanding, appreciating and supporting the natural and cultural heritage places managed by Parks Canada.

Under the coordination of the Manager, the External Relations team develops and implements communications strategies and tools to engage the public, partners and stakeholders in understanding, appreciating and supporting the natural and cultural heritage places managed by Parks Canada;
They maintain relationships with a variety of external stakeholders such as representatives of the media, tourism and boating industries, municipalities, Aboriginal communities and common interest groups.
They monitor the various media platforms, prepare responses to media requests as well as to questions, complaints and comments from interest groups and citizens;
They develop content for the Field Unit's websites and social media, write articles and newsletters;
They prepare and implement promotional campaigns and marketing strategies to publicize and promote the historic sites, activities and services offered by the Field Unit;
They assist in the preparation of briefing notes for senior management and presentation materials for various audiences, and act as advisors to the various Field Unit departments on communications, public relations, promotion and marketing.

Work environment

You might be wondering why you would come to work for the Parks Canada Agency? To join a team of passionate people who care about the protection and presentation of Canada’s outstanding natural and cultural resources through a system of national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites in all regions of Canada.

Parks Canada is a federal government agency responsible for the protection and presentation of Canada’s outstanding natural and cultural resources through a system of national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites in all regions of Canada.

The Quebec Waterways unit manages five historic canals stretching from Montreal to the St. Lawrence, Richelieu and Outaouais rivers. These canals are situated in three important tourism regions in the province and also have numerous collaborations with important stakeholders and partners.

• Carillon Canal National Historic Site
• Chambly Canal National Historic Site
• Lachine Canal National Historic Site
• Saint-Ours Canal National Historic Site
• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue Canal National Historic Site

Intent of the process

This process will be used to fill indeterminate (permanent) positions and to create a list of qualified candidates for future employment opportunities for the same position level, various tenures and language requirements.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

Contact information for 3 references.

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

EDUCATION
Degree from a recognized university in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, tourism or any acceptable combination of education and experience.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE

Stream 1: Partnering, Engagement & Communications Officer
→ Recent* and significant** experience working with communities, partners and stakeholders to attain mutually beneficial objectives
→Recent* and significant**experience developing, executing, and managing strategies, plans, or programs related to stakeholder and partner engagement
→Experience in implementing strategies using a variety of communication methods for engagement and/or consultation purposes

Stream 2: Promotions Officer IV
→Recent* and significant** experience in planning and implementing marketing campaigns
→Recent experience* in ad buying and product placement across a variety of conventional and digital communications platforms.
→Experience in project and budget management
→Experience using social science data to assess market and audience needs and interests for planning and leading the implementation of tourism related promotions
→Experience advising management and employees on the use of various marketing strategies to promote locations, activities and/or services

Stream 3: Public Relations and Communications Officer IV
→Experience providing advice to management on strategic and operational communications and media relations
→Recent* and significant** experience developing, writing and implementing communications strategies and plans
→Experience researching, analyzing, and popularizing data and information to produce communications tools for a broad audience
→Experience with media relations
→Experience in planning and organizing formal media and stakeholder events, including associated logistical requirements
→Experience writing and editing communications products, including press releases, briefings, Q&As

* “Recent experience” is defined as having acquired a minimum of two (2) years’ experience within the past six (6) years.

** “Significant experience” is defined as the depth and scope of experience normally acquired in full time performance of these duties for a minimum of two (2) years.

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

Bilingual - Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills

________________________________________________________________________________
KNOWLEDGE

Stream 1: Partnering, Engagement & Communications Officer
→Knowledge of issues and trends that influence external relations
→Knowledge of the best practices and trends for engaging partners* and stakeholders** to support corporate objectives

*Partner refers to an organization with whom you are in a working relationship. This working relationship is based on mutual benefit and a clear agreement that sets out shared goals and objectives and the terms of the arrangement. Partners can be from the not-for-profit sector (such as NGOs, academia, cooperative associations etc.), other governmental organizations (OGD) and the for-profit sector.
**Stakeholder refers to individuals or groups representing all sectors of Canadian society that have an interest in, or influence upon your actions and directions. Stakeholders self-select their level of involvement. Stakeholders may have a geographic sphere of influence or they may have a virtual constituency, with no actual geographic locations.

Stream 2: Promotion Officer IV
→Knowledge of issues and trends affecting external relations
→Knowledge of current principles, practices, trends and issues in marketing, trip planning, consumer promotion and tourism industry relations

Stream 3: Public Relations & Communications Officer IV
→Knowledge of issues and trends affecting external relations
→Knowledge of the news media in Canada
→Knowledge of a broad spectrum of communication media tools and techniques including planning and delivery

________________________________________________________________________________
ABILITIES

→Excellent ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
→Ability to take charge of a project, to set priorities, to handle several tasks at the same time, and to meet short deadlines
→Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams
→Ability to analyze documents and reports, assess implications pertaining to communications and make recommendations to management, managers and employees
→Ability to draft communications products, deliver services, and advise in communications

________________________________________________________________________________
PERSONAL SUITABILITY

→Makes things happen
→Personally connects with people
→Takes responsibility
→Exercises sound judgment

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

ASSET CRITERIA

Stream 1: Partnering, Engagement & Communications Officer
→Recent work related experience in the tourism industry, especially in establishing and maintaining good relationships with organizations in tourist destination

Stream 2: Promotions Officer IV
→Experience in planning and implementing digital promotional campaigns (Google and Facebook)
→Work related experience in the tourism industry, especially in establishing and maintaining good relationships with organizations in charge of promoting tourist destination

Conditions of employment

→Reliability Status security clearance
→Willingness to wear a Parks Canada uniform
→Willingness to work irregular hours, overtime, weekends and/or statutory holidays and provincial holidays, when required
→Obtain and maintain a valid Driver’s License
→All Parks Canada Agency employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground of discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act

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

The Public Service of Canada is committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection and appointment processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to this process, please advise the Parks Canada representative 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.

In accordance with paragraph 8(2)(a) of the Privacy Act, information or material, whether provided directly by the candidate or otherwise obtained by the selection board, used during the selection process for the purpose of assessing a candidate may be used as part of the selection review and recourse processes. Such relevant information may be provided to third parties, such as other candidates or their representatives, who have a legitimate reason to be aware of that information.

The Parks Canada Agency is established as a separate employer in the Federal Public Service under the Financial Administration Act. Persons appointed to the Agency continue to be part of the Public Service. The Parks Canada Agency operates under its own human resources framework outside of the Public Service Employment Act and in line with values of fairness, competence and respect, and its operating principles.

Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

Please submit your completed application, including all of the above-mentioned documentation. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

Reference checks will be sought.
An interview will be administered.
A test may be administered.

Travel cost for individuals who are not Federal Public Servants will not be covered.

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

***On November 8th, 2021, the Parks Canada Agency announced the details of its vaccination requirement for all employees.

As per the Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for Parks Canada Agency, employees must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate, determinate (term), casual, as and when required, and student hiring (full-time, part-time and seasonal). Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to ensure terms and conditions of employment are met, the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete a vaccination attestation form.

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

Contact information