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About CSE

The Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. Learn more about our mission.

CSE is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. This isn’t just an ideal, it’s crucial to our mission. Find out about our workplace culture, including our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Become part of our team and you’ll understand why CSE is the most important organization you’ve never heard of.

Job summary

CSE is seeking Personnel Security Specialists to join its dynamic operational security team in the National Capital Region. We’re looking for passionate people from a diverse range of backgrounds, who will thrive working in an open-minded environment and value the different perspectives of others.

As a CSE Personnel Security Specialist, you’ll play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive government information and assets within the Government of Canada (GoC) by assessing the reliability, loyalty, and trustworthiness of individuals who require access to protected or classified information as part of their duties. You’ll also manage different aspects of the security clearance process, including conducting thorough background checks, reviewing criminal records, analyzing financial information, and conducting in-depth security interviews to determine an individual’s eligibility to hold and maintain a security clearance. In this role, you’ll write reports to inform decision-making and provide support for applicant and employee files.

Your work will be essential to maintaining the integrity of government operations and protecting Canada’s national security.

We’re looking for professionals to join our teams who are:

• detail oriented
• analytical thinkers
• excellent communicators (both verbally and written)
• problem solvers
• decision makers
• trustworthy and discreet
• team players
• self-motivated
• outgoing

Salary

To find out more about our salary scale, vacation allowances and benefits (health, dental & pension plans, etc.) visit the Compensation page on our website.

Area of selection

Open to Canadian citizens.

Location

Ottawa, Ontario. All jobs require full-time onsite presence in one of our two accessible facilities.

Conditions of employment

A valid Enhanced Top Secret (ETS) security clearance is a condition of employment that must be met before an offer can be made.

More information about our hiring and security processes can be found on our website.

Essential qualifications

In order to be considered, your cover letter must clearly explain how you meet the following education and experience requirements.

Education

You must have one of the following:

• A post-secondary diploma or degree in a field related to the position, such as (but not limited to) criminology, police foundations, law, teaching, journalism, social work, behavioural sciences, psychology, political science, criminal justice, international relations, or history; or
• An acceptable combination of education in a field related to the position (as above), and relevant experience.

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada, and you must be able to provide proof of education credentials. Students graduating within the next twelve months are eligible to apply.

Experience

• Experience working with diverse individuals to elicit information using various methods, such as, but not limited to, conducting interviews, investigations, client-intake interviews or client needs-analysis meetings.
• Researching and analyzing diverse information to solve complex** problems, provide strategic advice.
• Drafting detailed and comprehensive written and oral reports.

** Note: for the purposes of this hiring process, "complex problems” must have at least two of the following characteristics: multi-dimensional, sensitive, confidential, affecting many partners or stakeholders, precedent-setting or having a major impact on a business process

Official language requirements

English essential OR

Bilingual imperative: BBB/BBB

Competencies

The following technical, behavioural and leadership competencies will be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application.

Technical competencies

• Investigative techniques
• Analytical thinking
• Risk assessment and risk management

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability/autonomy
• Interactive communication
• Working in a team

Leadership competencies

• Achieving results
• Collaboration
• Integrity, respect and awareness

Assets

Assets are “nice-to-have” expertise and skills we’re interested in. They may be used to identify which team you could best complement, or they may be invoked as a volume management strategy.

Please demonstrate on your application if you meet or possess the asset experience listed below.

Asset experience

• Using risk analysis techniques and implementing risk analysis methodologies
• Conducting security interviews and/or investigations within the Security & Intelligence community

Operational requirements

Overtime and standby duty may be required.

Position may require travel to major cities across Canada, up to five (5) times annually.

How to apply

You may submit your candidacy online by selecting “Apply” at the top or bottom of this page.

If you cannot apply online or have a disability preventing you from applying online, please inform us by email at careers-carrieres@cse-cst.gc.ca prior to the closing date of this hiring process.

Important information

We ask you to not discuss your application with others (including on social media) besides your partner, or close family members - who should also be reminded about the need to be discreet.

Assessments of candidates are conducted in the official language of their choice.

To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to one, or more, designated employment equity groups: women; Indigenous peoples, including First Nations who are status, or registered and non-status, or non-registered, Inuit and Métis; persons with disabilities, including people with a mental health condition and neurodivergent people; and persons from racial or ethnic groups.

Please note the Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

CSE offers an assessment process that will accommodate any reasonable measures you require to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Those measures are available to all candidates during our processes. Information you provide will be addressed confidentially.

The level of competence demonstrated in the various assessments will be used to determine your qualifications for the UNI 07 or UNI 08 level.

All communications with CSE relating to this process, including email messages and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

The intent of this process is to fill vacant positions at CSE. The process may also be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates which could be used to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures.

Due to the nature of CSE’s mandate certain roles may expose employees to content that is difficult to process. Mental health is a priority at CSE and if any personnel feel they require assistance to preserve their mental wellbeing, they have access to services, tools and other resources to help them in both their personal and professional lives.

Please note that in an effort to maintain balance between employee development and business needs, candidates who are hired at CSE must remain in their substantive position for a minimum of twelve (12) months subject to operational requirements.

We thank you for your interest in CSE. However, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.