Summary of Duties:

Under the general direction of the Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States and/or the Senior Officer, the incumbent Is responsible for representing, advocating and defending Canadian interests at selected OAS councils, committees, working groups and bodies; developing and maintaining a network of strategic contacts and working relationships with other member states of the OAS; representing Canada in multilateral negotiations; producing analysis and reporting on issues related to the Americas and the Inter-American System, as well as on meetings, programs and events.  

Sustaining a perspective across all files as well as the key pillars of the OAS (Democracy, Human Rights, Multidimensional Security and Integral Development) the officer also supports the promotion of Canada and Canadian interests and values through the development, organization and execution of advocacy initiatives aligned with Government of Canada and Mission priorities. The Officer is responsible for proposing and developing appropriate advocacy initiatives and events, providing support to other officers in implementing their initiatives as appropriate, and maintaining the mission’s online presence, including on social media platforms.    

Area of Selection:

This selection process is open to all applicants legally residing in Washington DC metropolitan area at the time of appointment.  Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. 

Please note that the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States does not sponsor work authorizations directly or indirectly.

The Government of Canada is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from diverse sections of the community. Candidates will be considered based on merit. Our organization offers an inclusive workplace where respect, teamwork, and collaboration are part of our culture. Canada’s missions abroad are committed to promoting and supporting an environment free from harassment and discrimination, as well as encouraging and supporting employees to learn and develop their skills and competencies.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates will initially be screened against the Essential Qualifications relating to education, language* and experience.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate when applying to the position how they meet each of these essential qualifications.

*Language will be assessed further during the process. 

Education:

Candidates will be required to provide proof of the completion of their education.

• University or college degree from an accredited institution in the field of political science, international relations, communications, public affairs, public relations or another field deemed appropriate, or an acceptable combination* of relevant experience, education, and training.   
  *Acceptable combination is defined as the candidate having acquired comparable knowledge in the fields listed through experience and other types of training.

Language:

• Advanced level proficiency in English (oral and written) 
• Intermediate level proficiency in Spanish (oral and written) 

Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of recent experience working in government relations, public affairs, communications, or in an advocacy or policy-oriented role, preferably in the government, a diplomatic mission, or an international organization.   
• Recent experience in drafting analytical reports, and making recommendations to management and senior management or officials.  
• Recent* experience in identifying, building and maintaining diverse networks of strategic contacts and stakeholders.  
• Recent* experience in planning, organizing and/or implementing advocacy activities, cultural events, outreach work and/or public information initiatives, preferably in support of government objectives;  
• Recent* experience in preparing content for publication on Web sites and/or through Internet-based social media, preferably in support of government objectives. 

*Recent is defined as within the last five years.

RATED REQUIREMENTS

The Rated Requirements are part of the essential qualifications and are relating to knowledge, abilities and competencies. Methods of assessment for rated requirements may include, but are not limited to, a written examination, an oral interview (online pre-recorded/live or in-person), role-play, practical tests, presentations and/or psychometric assessment.

Knowledge:

• Understanding of the current political dynamics in the Americas and general awareness of regional issues particularly as it relates to human rights, and democracy.  
• A broad understanding of Canadian foreign policy goals in the hemisphere.  

Competencies:

• Judgement and discretion
• Tact and diplomacy
• Resilience and adaptability
• Focus on quality and detail
• Working with others
• Networking and Alliance building

Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate effectively orally 
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Ability to prepare content for publication on Web sites and/or through social media;  
• Ability to research, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information/requirements, from a variety of sources and make recommendations in a verbal or written format;  
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement advocacy-related projects in a fast-paced environment;  

Asset Qualifications:

Preference may be given to candidates who meet the Asset Qualifications. Where applicable, candidates must clearly demonstrate how they meet any asset qualifications.

• Advanced level proficiency in Spanish  
• Intermediate level proficiency in French
• Knowledge of the Organization of the American States's structure, functions, and key institutions

Operational Requirements:

• Normal hours of work for this position are in accordance with the Locally Engaged Staff (LES) regulations of 37.5 hours per week. The successful candidate must be able to work overtime on short notice and to be available for occasional duties outside normal working hours, i.e. evenings and weekends. Additionally, the successful candidate must be admissible for travel to Canada, within the United States and throughout the Americas.    

Conditions of Employment:

Conditions of employment must be met or complied with before being appointed to a particular position, and are to be maintained throughout the employment while being the incumbent of this position.

- Valid work authorization: Ability to obtain and hold a valid work authorization covering the entire employment period.

- Security screening: Obtain and maintain a Reliability Status (security level) which includes a criminal and credit background check from the Government of Canada covering the entire employment period.

Special Request from Mission / Additional Comments:

We offer a competitive salary, generous leave, 12 weeks of paid parental leave and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, long term disability and a retirement savings plan. Please find a summary of our benefits package and information on employment eligibility at: Jobs at our offices in the United States (international.gc.ca)

Our organization offers an inclusive workplace where respect, teamwork, and collaboration are part of our culture. Canada’s missions abroad are committed to promoting and supporting an environment free from harassment and discrimination, as well as encouraging and supporting employees to learn and develop their skills and competencies. Canada’s strength is diversity and it has played a key role in Canada’s history and development. Because of this, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States values diversity, equity and inclusion in our workforce. 

How to Apply

• You must submit your application using the "Apply online" function. Only applications submitted via VidCruiter will be considered, unless a valid reason is presented and accepted prior to the closing date.
• Do not include personal data such as; age, date of birth, gender, marital status, family status, religion or a picture in your application form, CV nor cover letter (as required). Please only include information relevant to the vacancy as requested in the job poster.
• You must clearly demonstrate in answering the screening questions how you meet the education and experience factors listed in the essential and asset qualifications. You must provide specific examples to demonstrate clearly how you meet the qualifications. Global Affairs Canada cannot make any assumptions about your studies nor experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties will not be sufficient. Instead, you must provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the experience. No additional information will be sought beyond what you submit in your online application.
• Candidates may be required to upload a CV and/or a cover letter in English or French. These documents may be used as a secondary source to validate the answers to the screening questions.
• Applications which do not include all of the requested documents or information and/or which are not received by the closing date will be rejected.
• Candidates who are unable to submit their application due to technical difficulties must report these to LES-E-Recruitment-WSHDC@international.gc.ca prior to the closing date. Failure to do so will result in the application being rejected.

Important Notes

• Only applications submitted in one of the official languages of Canada will be accepted (English or French).
• The language requirement for this position is identified under the essential qualifications (language). In consequence, the assessment process for this vacancy will be conducted in English.
• Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidates to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.
• Candidates must provide an email address that accepts email from unknown users and regularly check their email, including spam folder.
• Reference checks may be sought for candidates who succeeded all of the assessments.
• Please note that the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States does not reimburse any travel costs to and from interviews/exams nor does it reimburse any relocation costs.
• Before an offer of employment can be made, successful candidates must provide a local residence address as proof of residence in the specified area of selection. This information is necessary to issue a letter of offer.
• As recently announced by the Government of Canada, the Policy for Mandatory Vaccination: Canada and the Mission Network is suspended as of June 20, 2022. The Government of Canada will continue to assess the need for additional public health measures, including the possible reintroduction of a vaccination mandate at a later date.
• 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 contact us at LES-E-Recruitment-WSHDC@international.gc.ca to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.
• The results of this selection process may also be used to establish one or more pools of fully or partially qualified candidates for similar term, indeterminate, part-time or full-time openings at the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States which might arise following the completion of this selection process.
• For Canadian citizens/residents and Canadian dual nationals, please note that it is your responsibility to enquire with the Canadian Revenue Agency about any possible taxation implications linked to an employment with the Government of Canada.