Foreign Service 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 Foreign Service Officers at the FS-01 occupational group and level.

Special note: The classification, as well as the majority of related duties and responsibilities, for Management Consular Officers (formerly MCO AS) have now been integrated into the FS 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 an applied college degree from a recognized post-secondary institution by June 30, 2016.
OR
Graduation with a Bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in any area of study by June 30, 2016.

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 or master's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in one (1) of the following areas of study :

1) Agriculture Economics
2) Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies
3) Bioresource Management
4) Business Administration
5) Commerce
6) Conflict Resolution
7) Economics
8) Engineering (General)
9) Environmental Management, Science or Studies
10) Finance
11) History
12) Human Rights
13) Infrastructure Protection and International Security
14) International Business and Management
15) International Development
16) International Relations or Studies
17) International Trade
18) Law Degree (e.g. LL.B., B.C.L., LL.L., J.D.,LL.M.)
19) Natural Resources Management
20) Peace and Disarmament
21) Political Science
22) Project Management
23) Public Administration
24) Social Geography
25) Sociology
26) Sustainable Development

OR

Graduation by June 30, 2016 with a Master's Degree in any area of study from a recognized post-secondary institution (e.g. MBA, MPA, MDev, etc).

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:

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

- Experience within the last 5 years in working or studying abroad. (Please indicate months/years per location).
- Experience within the last 5 years in working or studying abroad in a developing country or country in transition. (Please indicate months/years per location).
- Experience in analyzing or advocating policy or policy issues.
- Experience in working in a client/service delivery environment.
- Experience in leading a team, a project or a group.
- Experience in working in a field related to one or more of the following:
1. Agriculture
2. Business or commerce
3. Economics
4. Engineering
5. Environment
6. Finance
7. International development
8. International trade
9. International relations
10. Law
11. Science & technology
12. Project management
13. Public administration
14. Consular services
15. Emergency management
- Experience in negotiating (private or public sector, international, federal/provincial, or between other levels of government).
- Experience in consulting and engaging with stakeholders (industry, civil society, NGOs, academia).
- Experience in working or volunteering in activities related to international cooperation or international development.

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:

- Willingness to accept assignments in different locations in Canada or abroad, sometimes on short notice.
- Willingness to travel periodically, across 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 (CCC/CCC)
ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE INFORMATION :

For individuals meeting bilingualism requirements, the entry-level salary for Foreign Service Officer (FS-01) is $61,156.

Individuals requiring language training before their appointment as a Foreign Service Officer (FS-01) could be hired on an "ab initio" status and paid an annual allowance of $48,925 during their training.*

*To be appointed as a Foreign Service Officer candidates must meet all essential qualifications including the official language proficiency requirements (Level CCC/CCC, imperative staffing). Selected applicants who meet the essential qualifications except the official language proficiency requirements may be hired on an "ab initio" status, meaning the applicant could be hired but not as an employee under the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA). "Ab initio" hires would undergo full-time language training (maximum of 52 weeks) and be eligible for an appointment as a Foreign Service Officer upon successful completion of the language training program. This means that the applicant will have successfully passed the language test and have acquired the required official language proficiency levels (CCC/CCC). Ab initio hires who do not attain the language proficiency level (CCC/CCC) within the time allowed (maximum 52 weeks) will be considered withdrawn and not eligible for an appointment to Foreign Service Officer through this external advertised process.

It is important to identify yourself as bilingual in your application if you wish to be considered for this process even if you are eligible for the status of "Ab initio" explained above. Make sure to identify your language level in your resume as well.

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)

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:

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

Top Secret security clearance

- Rotationality: Rotational employees are required to serve in positions at Headquarters in Ottawa or in other locations across Canada (i.e Regional Offices) or at any location in Canada's network of diplomatic missions abroad, as determined by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada.
- Foreign Service Officers MUST be willing to spend a significant part of their career abroad and be prepared for the effect this will have on their family and lifestyle.
- Periodic travel, including across the country and 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