About the position
DutiesThe Communications Officer provides support and coordination for communications programs and services to support Parliamentary Protective Service' (PPS) mandate, in particular the dissemination of protection and security related information externally (to the public, parliamentary precinct) and internally (PPS staff and management).
More specifically, the Communications Officer will:
⦁ Conduct research and advise the Deputy Chief and Communications Advisor on advertising, promotions, publishing, booths, contracts, and translations.
⦁ Align communication plans with PPS priorities; recommend and implement approved strategies.
⦁ Manage and track communications inventory for audits, client orders, and usage trends; recommend reorder schedules.
⦁ Recommend and implement approved strategies.
⦁ Support mandatory reporting and internal communications initiatives.
⦁ Assist with responses to executive, parliamentary, media, and social media inquiries.
⦁ Maintain financial tracking for planned and actual purchases.
⦁ Help develop tools, processes, and procedures to support divisional work.
⦁ Contribute to select projects, initiatives, and reporting tasks.
⦁ Support implementation of PPS policies and programs.
⦁ Foster strong vendor relationships; review and approve invoices with proof of performance.
Work environmentThe Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) is a separate and distinct organization not subject to the Public Service Employment Act. It has its own classification, compensation system, and staffing regime. Persons appointed to PPS continue to be part of the federal government and will receive the public service pension plan and public service insurance benefits plan.
What we offer:
• Public service health, dental, and vision care insurance plans
• 35-hour standard work week
• Minimum 4 weeks of paid vacation
• Free on-site fitness facilities
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• Flexible work schedules
• Centrally located in downtown Ottawa
• Proximity to O-Train Parliament Station and most of all main OC Transpo and STO bus lines
Intent of the process
The purpose of this recruitment and selection process is to establish a pool of qualified or partially qualified candidates to staff positions of various tenures.
The pool may also be used in the future to staff similar positions within PPS.
Positions to be filled
1
Important messages
Please visit PPS web site under Careers > Opportunities or at https://pps.parl.ca/ for guides that will help you prepare your application and an interview.
It is your responsibility, as a candidate, to clearly demonstrate how you meet each qualification (education, experience, and assets) by answering the screening questions in the online application.
You must provide concrete specific examples to illustrate how you meet each criterion identified in the questions. Your answers must include where and how you obtained the required experience, as well as the period(s) in which you performed the functions of the position(s).
You are encouraged to apply the “STAR” method to provide clear and detailed examples:
• S – Situation: Describe the context.
• T – Task: Outline the objective.
• A – Action: Explain what you did and how you did it.
• R – Result: Highlight the outcome of your actions.
We encourage veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces to self-identify when applying to our job opportunities.
We will only accept online applications received through the GC Employment website. To submit your online application, you will first need to create an account on the GC Jobs website. Once your account is created, return to the job poster, and select the button "Apply Online" below.
Candidates who are unable to apply online must contact the person listed below prior to the closing date.
All communication (screening, assessments, invitations, results) with applicants will be done by e-mail. Ensure that the e-mail address provided is valid, always functional and accepts messages from unknown users.
Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or missing information.
Please note that all answers submitted must be original work. Plagiarism of any kind, including responses generated by AI, is strictly prohibited, and may result in disqualification from the application process.
Candidates 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.
Various assessment tools may be used to evaluate candidates during the selection process.
Depending on the number of applicants, volume management strategies may be used for the purpose of managing applications.
Candidates must meet the essential qualifications, including the linguistic requirement to be appointed to a position.
Relocation and travel expenses incurred during the recruitment and selection process are the applicant's responsibility.
Conditions of employment
All candidates must obtain both a Site Access Clearance and a PPS Enhanced Reliability Status.
To initiate the PPS security screening process, candidates will be required to complete a personal history questionnaire, a pre interview questionnaire, and undergo fingerprinting.
The security screening process involves a comprehensive background investigation to assess the candidate’s reliability, honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty to Canada and reliability as it relates to that loyalty.
This security screening investigation includes, but is not limited to, a loyalty assessment, law enforcement verifications, financial verifications, internet inquiries, as well as personal and employment reference checks.
Candidates will also be required to participate in a security screening interview, which will cover a range of topics needed to complete the security screening assessment.
Candidates should be aware that participation in, or completion of, the recruitment process does not guarantee eligibility for a PPS security screening. Security screening is conducted as a separate process, and the outcome may be influenced by several factors, including the length of time an individual has resided in Canada and the resulting ability to verify required background information. Interactions with law enforcement, credit history, personal associations, and other relevant security considerations may also affect a candidate’s eligibility to be granted the required security screening level and may influence the time needed to complete the security screening process.
Candidates who do not meet the security screening requirements will not be granted the required security screening level and will therefore be removed from the hiring process as it is a condition of employment.
You need (essential for the job)
Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following
EDUCATION:
A degree from a recognized university in communications or in any other field relevant to the position OR a combination of education, training and/or experience.
The educational program must be from an accredited learning institution recognized in Canada. If you completed a program outside of Canada, you will be required to obtain proof of a Canadian equivalency at your expense from an accredited learning institution recognized in Canada.
Learn more about degree equivalency.
EXPERIENCES:
E1 – Experience drafting, writing, and editing a range of communications products, including communications plans, social media content, and digital strategies.
E2 – Experience in digital communications, including creating and managing web and multimedia content, and maintaining intranet platforms such as Microsoft SharePoint.
E3 – Experience conducting research and providing strategic communications advice and support to inform decision-making.
E4 – Experience building and maintaining effective relationships with internal clients, partners, and key stakeholders.
Applied / assessed at a later date
COMPETENCIES:
C1 - Teamwork and Collaboration
C2 - Thinking Skills
C3 - Client Service Orientation
C4 - Communication
C5 - Leadership
OTHER COMPENTENCIES:
C6 – Attention to details
C7 – Self-Management
You may need (asset qualifications)
May be applied / assessed at a later date
ASSET EXPERIENCES:
AE1 - Experience in delivering, monitoring and evaluating internal and external multi-media communications.
AE2 - Experience in the coordination and review of translations.
AE3 - Experience in dealing with multiple priorities and projects and working under tight deadlines and with changing priorities within a fast-paced and unique organizational context.
AE4 - Experience in one or more of the following fields:
- Media monitoring and analysis
- Social networks
- Website – Webmaster
- Events