Policy Officer - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Work environment

Working at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD provides opportunities for a career that is global in scale, offering a wealth of international perspectives that increase professional skills and expand cultural perceptions. A career with us demands commitment, but in exchange we offer a dynamic work environment, and possibilities to develop your abilities and enhance your knowledge. Working with us means contributing to Canada's place in the world. We are a worldwide network of professionals working in Ottawa, across Canada and around the world. We have a network of 174 missions abroad, and five regional offices across Canada. Our network includes upwards of 11,000 employees, including over 5000 locally engaged staff. Whether you are working at headquarters, at one of our regional offices, or abroad, a career with DFATD is a career without borders.

We offer: challenging and rewarding work; unparalleled professional development; opportunities to learn a foreign language, to live, work and travel across Canada and to live, work and travel abroad; flexibility to specialize or diversify your professional direction; membership in a motivated and results-oriented professional team; opportunities to make a difference, in Canada and abroad; and competitive compensation, including pension and health benefits.

Intent of the process

DFATD's recruitment campaign is being conducted to meet immediate workforce needs while DFATD continues to review its workforce due to amalgamation. This review may lead to adjustments for Policy Officers at the EC-04 occupational group and level.

Positions to be filled: 10 confirmed, 10 anticipated.

Positions to be filled: 20

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)

EDUCATION:

Graduation with a university degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in Economics, Sociology or Statistics by June 30, 2016.

NOTE: Candidates applying to the EC-04 positions must always have a university degree. The courses for the specialization do not necessarily have to be part of a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

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

EDUCATION:

Graduation by June 30, 2016 with a bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one (1) of the following areas of study :
- Anthropology
- Development Studies
- Economics
- Finance
- Geography
- History
- International Development
- Law (e.g. LL.B., B.C.L., J.D., LL.L.)
- Political Economy
- Political Science
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Statistics

OR

Graduation by June 30, 2016, with a Master's Degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one (1) of the following areas of study :
- Business
- Business Administration
- Commerce
- Economics
- Finance
- Global/International Relations
- International Development or Studies
- International Trade
- Law
- Political Science
- Sociology

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

Experience can usually be demonstrated through paid or volunteer work, student employment and/or scholastic activity or achievement.

Areas of Specialization

TRADE POLICY AND NEGOTIATION
- Experience in researching, analyzing or developing international trade policy issues, legislation, regulations or agreements.
- Experience in preparing briefing notes, decks, reports or communications materials, or in coordinating negotiations, in relation to international trade policy issues.
- Experience in working in a field related to economics, international trade, or international relations.
- Experience using Advanced Microsoft Excel, including charts, logical/mathematical, trig/statistical and other formulas, defined names, consolidation, connections to external data, pivot tables, macros, watch window, VBA.

GLOBAL ISSUES AND DEVELOPMENT
- Experience in conducting research in support of policy development or program development activities.
- Experience in providing advice or information to management on issues related to development in developing countries, or countries in transition or conflict-affected and fragile states.
- Experience representing an agency or department on working groups, committees, or international bodies.
- Experience in analyzing data and policy information.
- Experience working with Canadian or international organizations/institutions concerned with international development, including civil society, and the private sector.
- Experience working or researching in a developing country.

STRATEGIC POLICY
- Experience working in Canadian or international non-governmental development organizations or in international development organizations, preferably in the field.
- Experience in researching or analyzing international development policy issues.
- Experience in building relationships with other donors (private sector, civil society organizations or international organizations).
- Experience in financial sector development, investment or privatization.
- Experience with Canadian and International organizations, Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal, federal, provincial and territorial government departments, and/or other organizations in Canada with a role/mandate on Arctic and Circumpolar issues.

Other language:

- Working ability in one or more of the following languages may be considered an asset: Arabic, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
- Fluency in another language spoken (other than the languages mentioned above).

Candidates indicating a working ability in these languages may be tested by the Department as part of the hiring process.

Operational Requirements:

- Mobile positions
- Periodic travel, accross the country and abroad
- Willingness to work overtime (as required)

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

Abilities and Skills:

- Effective Interactive Communication (including writing skills)
- Ability to use reasoning skills to solve problems

Personal Suitabilities:

- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Client Focus
- Cross-Cultural Sensitivity
- Focus on Quality and Details
- Initiative
- Interpersonal Relations and Respect
- Judgement
- Networking and Alliance Building
- Teamwork and Cooperation

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

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

- Mobility is a condition of employment Policy Officers: Mobile employees are required to be assigned successively to various positions at headquarters in the National Capital Region. Mobile employees are required to accept assignments which normally are of a three (3) year duration.
- Periodic travel, including internationally.
- Willingness to work overtime (as required).

Tests

Applicants must successfully write Public Service Entrance Exam (PSEE).

Other information

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.

Contact information