SP-07 Communications Officer (IS-03, AS-04, and PM-04 equivalent)

For a description of key terms used on CRA job notices, go to Definitions for job seekers.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) prioritizes diversity and inclusion and is firmly committed to providing a diverse workforce that reflects the population we serve.  CRA's National Employment Equity (EE) Staffing Strategy strives to eliminate EE gaps for the four EE designated groups: Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and women. Where an EE gap exists at the time of appointment, EE may be used as an appointment criterion for permanent and temporary appointments/staffing actions over six months made through this process.

We're looking for talented and creative communications specialists to join our teams in cities across Canada. By administering tax and benefit programs, and ensuring compliance on behalf of governments across Canada, the CRA contributes directly to the ongoing economic and social well-being of Canadians.

Working for the CRA gives you the chance to positively impact the lives of Canadians while learning from your team as we deliver historic economic measures and maintain vital government programs. Within our dynamic and supportive team environment, you will:

• Prepare communications plans, marketing plans, or stakeholder engagement plans;
• Provide colleagues and management with communications advice, and make recommendations on the development and use of regional or national communications/marketing/engagement strategies.
• Research, analyze and synthesize data to support development of communications products and plans.
• Write, edit and publish external and internal communications products and plans.
• Plan for and coordinate the delivery of services to support the development of communications projects (i.e., linguistic services, publishing, media monitoring, research and evaluation);
• For positions outside the National Capital region, provide support for or respond to general media enquiries.

Come work for the CRA, one of the Top 100 Employers in Canada!

This staffing process may be used to staff similar positions.

To view the complete work description click here: SP0348. If you cannot access the link, you may contact the person/email listed at the bottom of the notice to obtain a copy of the work description.

Language requirements: English essential, Bilingual imperative BBB/BBB, CBC/CBC and CCC/CCC

Persons residing in Canada, and Canadian citizens and Permanent residents abroad.

AND eligible veterans and Canadian Forces members

If you are a candidate from the general public, you will have to pay for any travel expenses related to this staffing process, as well as any relocation costs if you are appointed from this process. 

Qualified veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are appointed are not entitled to relocation costs from the CRA. They may, however, be entitled to a final relocation from the Department of National Defence.

Virtual reporting may be possible if operational requirements permit. In the present COVID-19 environment, greater consideration will be given to this option.

You may be required to work from a city where we have a CRA office, including but not limited to: Ottawa, ON ; Calgary, AB; Edmonton, AB ; Halifax, NS ; Montreal, QC; Regina, SK ; Saskatoon, SK ; Toronto, ON ; Vancouver, BC ; and Winnipeg, MB and across Canada.

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements.

 Education

Have a degree from a recognized postsecondary institution OR, at the board's discretion, an acceptable combination of education, training, and/or experience may serve as an alternative to a degree from a recognized postsecondary institution.

You must upload your education credentials in the education section of your candidate profile and submit all required documents by the closing date and time of this poster. Failure to do so can result in your application not being considered further.

Experience

1. Experience* in providing strategic** communications advice or services to clients and management.
2. Experience* in researching, analyzing or synthesizing data to support the development of communications products and plans.
3. Experience* in writing a variety of external and internal communications products, including at least three of the following:

• Communications, marketing or stakeholder engagement plans
• News releases
• Media lines or responses to media
• Briefing notes for senior management
• Backgrounders or factsheet (additional information provided to media)
• Frequently asked questions
• Talking points, presentations, or speech for senior management
• Messages for large audiences (generally larger than 50 people)
• Articles for print, Web, or internal publication
• Advertising copy or infographics
• Social media content
• Blog posts
• Internal communications materials (such as all-staff emails, intranet content, newsletters)
• Other relevant communication products

*Experience is normally associated with the performance of these functions as part of the major job duties accomplished for a period of not less than 12 cumulative months within the last 5 years.

** Strategic advice or services is the provision of communications advice that supports the organization's vision, mission, mandate and priorities for a specific project, initiative or issue. This ensures alignment of business and communication objectives for a project or initiative, or to address issues. It also includes the delivery of measurable communication solutions, products and data-driven communications activities for internal and/or external audiences.

Asset staffing requirement(s)

 It would be an advantage if you had:

• A degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a related field such as communications, public relations or public administration, journalism, translation, marketing, English, French.

The essential staffing requirements indicated below will be assessed and may be used to identify candidates for positions. We may ask you to complete a written exam, virtual interview, in-person interview, reference check, or other assessments.

Essentials

• Reference check
• Second Language Evaluation

 Assets

 Qualifications

• Knowledge of the Government of Canada Policy on Communications and Federal Identity and the supporting policy tools
• Ability to develop communication plans and communications products
• Ability to provide strategic communications advice to clients and management
• Ability to effectively communicate orally
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing
• Ability to maintain effective interpersonal relationships
• Judgment
• Reliability

Conditions of employment

On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service. As a separate and large federal employer, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) supports and will follow this new policy direction.

As of November 8, 2021, all employees of the CRA, including new hires, are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act and attest to their vaccination status. 

The requirement to be fully vaccinated applies to all employees and new hires, whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This condition of employment applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the staffing process where it is necessary to verify conditions of employment, there will be a requirement to complete an attestation of vaccination status.

• Reliability Status or Secret
• Willing to work overtime (if needed for the position)
• Willing to travel (if needed for the position)
• Willing to relocate (if needed for the position)

 

We encourage you to read Important information on staffing at the CRA to find out more about staffing processes and how to apply.

The CRA is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. To find out more, consult Employment equity, diversity and inclusion at the CRA. We encourage you to complete the Employment Equity (EE) Staffing questionnaire as part of your application if you wish to be considered for staffing actions using the EE staffing requirement in this process. Your questionnaire response will be retained on file for the duration of the staffing process. If you do not complete the questionnaire, you will not be considered for any staffing actions using the EE staffing requirement in this process. If you decide to modify your response or fill out this questionnaire at a later date, please notify the contact listed at the bottom of this notice of job opportunity.

CRA employees support the economic and social well-being of Canadians, and build public trust. We have high expectations, and our employees are held to the standards of conduct outlined in our Code of integrity and professional conduct and Directive on conflict of interest, gifts and hospitality, and post-employment.

Information regarding the status of your application will be communicated via the candidate profile on the CRA Careers site. We strongly encourage you to verify the email address attached to your profile and to check your messages regularly for any updates.

Email address : HQSTAFFPABG@cra-arc.gc.ca