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Reference number: RF-15129

About CSE

The Communications Security Establishment (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 (YouTube).

Job summary

Become a part of a dynamic team and join CSE as a Watch Officer in its 24/7 Canadian Security Operations Centre (CANSOC)! Join a group of dedicated individuals who monitor intelligence reporting, world events and ongoing operations. The group stands ready to respond to emerging crises and threats to national security.

As part of the CANSOC’s Office of SIGINT Operations and Coordination (OSOC), Watch Officers work together to provide 24/7 situational awareness to the CSE’s senior leadership and the wider organization while providing and coordinating the CSE’s first line of response to emerging issues.

CANSOC is looking for highly autonomous individuals who display a high level of initiative and sound judgement. We need Watch Officers with a deep love and curiosity for geopolitics and current affairs who are problem solvers and can react quickly and effectively as they respond to a variety of situations.

Salary

To find out more about our salary scale, vacation allowances and benefits (health, dental and 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 at our Edward Drake Building. More information about our accessible facilities can be found on our website.

Conditions of employment

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

As these are shift positions supporting CSE’s 24/7 operations, availability for shift work, stand-by and overtime as required is also a condition of employment.

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 either one of the following:

• University degree
• An acceptable combination of education, training and experience in a field related and relevant to the position

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 in building and maintaining professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience synthesizing multiple pieces of information into written reports and presentations for a range of audiences, including senior level management
• Experience in researching, monitoring and assessing information from multiple sources to provide recommendations

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.

Functional competencies

• Information Gathering and Analysis
• Ability to Write / Written Communication
• Analytical Thinking
• Knowledge of World Events and Threat Environment

Behavioural competencies

• Working in a Team
• Accountability / Autonomy

Leadership competencies

• Achieving results
• Collaboration

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 education

• University degree in political science or international affairs
• Graduate degree in a relevant field

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.

Operational requirements

Availability for shift work, overtime and standby duty as required.

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.

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.