Job Description

Summary of Duties:

The Consulate General of Canada in New York is hiring two (2) Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service (FPDS) Officers – one focused on Communications, one focused on Public Affairs - to work closely with the FPDS team and other teams at the Consulate as well as with the Canadian network of Consulates in the United States and government offices in Canada to coordinate activities and initiatives related to advocacy, public diplomacy and media/social media engagement.

Under the direction of the Deputy FPDS Manager or Senior FPDS Officer, and in accordance with the international priorities of the Government of Canada and its specific objectives in the US, the incumbent is responsible for developing public affairs and advocacy programs for the Consulate, media engagement and monitoring, planning stakeholder engagement and outreach, establishing partnerships and initiatives with external organizations, managing the Consulate’s social media presence; and other advocacy related activities including the creation and design of advocacy materials and digital products and general outreach. 

Duties include but are not limited to the following: 

• Public Affairs: identifying and planning advocacy events to promote Canada’s interests and objectives throughout the Consulate General’s territory (NY, NJ, PA, DE, CT and Bermuda); planning and organizing targeted outreach programs; establishing and maintaining contacts with external stakeholders such as academia, alumni groups, sports organizations, think tanks, policy institutions, economic organizations and civil society; developing creative public diplomacy initiatives; preparing communications and/or advocacy related products; drafting reports, briefing notes, visit programs and other written materials; contributing to the planning and implementation of advocacy campaigns, communications strategies, official visits, events and other related programs; information gathering, tracking and reporting on key issues and strategic analysis.

• Communications: creating and publishing content on the Consulate’s social media accounts, which includes content development and photo and video editing; monitoring the efficacy of social media efforts by generating statistical data and reports; advising on the expansion of the social media presence by keeping abreast of social media trends; overseeing the creation and design of material used in advocacy campaigns online and in print; monitoring regional news and trends on issues of interest to Canada throughout the Consulate General’s territory (NY, NJ, PA, DE, CT and Bermuda); establishing and maintaining contacts with media organizations and journalists; identifying media opportunities and managing media requests; supporting the development of the Consulate’s public outreach activities; and carrying out other advocacy related duties in support of whole of Consulate priorities as required.

The candidate will demonstrate a strong ability to think innovatively and creatively around program delivery, plan effectively in a highly demanding environment, develop and engage a network of external partners, work independently in a proactive, accountable manner, and communicate effectively.  

Area of Selection:

This selection process is open to all applicants legally residing in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) at the time of appointment.  Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.   

Please note that the Consulate General of Canada in New York 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.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the duties required by the position (such as Communications, Journalism, Digital Media, Public Diplomacy, Marketing, Public Policy, International Relations, Political Science, Economics or Business)

Or 

• A degree from a recognised university and a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.  

Language:

• Advanced level proficiency in English (oral and written).

For Communications position only: 

• Intermediate level proficiency in French (written). 

Experience:

• Two years of recent* experience working in an advocacy, public affairs, media relations, digital diplomacy, communications or policy-oriented sector. 
• Experience in developing, planning and executing advocacy campaigns using a range of tools.
• Experience in drafting public communications products, including speeches, presentations and social media material.
• Experience in project management (including planning, execution, tracking/reporting results). 
• Experience in an office environment with working knowledge of social media platforms, internet research, databases and Microsoft Office Suite.

*Recent experience is defined as within the last 5 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:

• Knowledge of the factors and organizations that influence policy in the United States generally and in the lower Northeast region in particular.
• Knowledge of North American relations, in particular Canada-US relations.  

Competencies:

• Resilience and Adaptability 
• Networking and alliance building  
• Organization and coordination
• Working with others and horizontal leadership 
• Innovation and Change Management 
• Judgement and discretion 
• Written communication
• Oral interaction

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.

1. An advanced proficiency level in French (oral and written). 
2. Experience conceptualizing, designing, and producing infographics, videos, photographs, invitations, and other promotional material used in advocacy campaigns.   
3. Knowledge of social media trends and influencers, as well as the media environment in the United States, including in the lower Northeast region.
4. Experience in events management (including planning, execution, tracking/reporting results and budget management).  

Operational Requirements:

• Normal hours of work for this position are in accordance with Locally-Engaged Staff regulations of 37.5 hours per week. The successful candidate must be willing to work evenings and overtime as required.  
• Location of work:  Employees must be able to work in person in the office at the Consulate General of Canada in New York.
• This position requires occasional travel throughout the territory of the Consulate General of Canada in New York and, on occasion, to Canada. 

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 Consulate General of Canada in New York 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  [email protected] 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 Consulate General of Canada in New York 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  [email protected] 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 Consulate General of Canada in New York 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.

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