Careers in accessibility

Important messages

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 use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

If you have a disability that prevents you from applying online, please send your application directly to ESDC.NHQ.PROCESSUS_EX-EX_PROCESSES.NHQ.EDSC@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca, quoting the Selection Process Number, on or before the closing date and time.

To hear job advertisements over the phone: 1-800-645-5605 (toll-free number) Teletype (TTY)/teletype device for the deaf (TDD): 1-800-465-7735 (toll-free number).

The area of selection is restricted to the equity groups of: Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities. Candidates must self-declare as belonging to one of these employment equity group(s) to be considered in this process. The Self-declaration form is completed as part of the job application under the Employment Equity tab.

In English, the term "Indigenous peoples" aligns with international usage and, in this job advertisement, replaces the legislative term "Aboriginal peoples" that appears in the Employment Equity Act and the Employment Equity Regulations. Prior to appointment, Indigenous peoples who self-declare will have to complete and sign the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form (AIIF) .
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/appointment-framework/guides-tools-appointment-framework/affirmation-indigenous-identity-form.html

This position supports hybrid work, offering the employee an opportunity to perform a combination of onsite and offsite work under an annually reviewed work arrangement, with the on-going objective to balance operational requirements with employee individual circumstances and work preference. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) operates under Treasury Board Secretariat’s “Direction on prescribed presence in the workplace”.
https://www.canada.ca/en/government/publicservice/staffing/direction-prescribed-presence-workplace.html

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

- Lead all engagement activities for the Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO), in collaboration with the Manager and internal colleagues.

- Develop and implement engagement strategies that support the CAO and office’s strategic plan.

- Expand and develop engagement opportunities and connections that advance the CAO and office’s goals.

- Manage internal functions including correspondence with organizations/individuals, coordination with internal colleagues to plan and manage CAO’s engagement activities, and preparations to maximize engagement activities.

- Manage multiple engagement projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and delivery of high-quality work.

- Maximize the organization’s Client Relationship Management (CRM) strategy and CRM system to support measuring success and to inform engagements and engagement strategies.

- Analyze current events, political developments and major policy trends in accessibility/disability inclusion across Canada to inform targeted engagements and engagement strategies.

Work environment

The Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer (OCAO) is looking for an ambitious, results-driven, bilingual, individual to lead the Chief Accessibility Officer (CAO)’s engagement activities. The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys and has experience building, maintaining and growing connections in the disability community. Using both new and proven approaches, you will plan, implement, and measure the success of the engagement strategy, aligned with the office’s strategic plan.

The CAO is a special, independent advisor to the Minister responsible for the Accessible Canada Act and works to support the Government’s efforts to make Canada barrier-free by 2040. The CAO monitors and reports on outcomes achieved under the Accessible Canada Act, and systemic or emerging accessibility issues. Working with our team is an opportunity to be on the frontlines of building a more inclusive and accessible society.

The OCAO supports a diverse and inclusive workforce. We pride ourselves on our talented team. We strive to provide an employment experience that brings out the best in people while delivering on results for Canadians, particularly Canadians with disabilities. As the Office of the Chief Accessibility is still a young office, you will also have an opportunity to shape the future of the organization in terms of work and culture.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to staff one bilingual, EC-06 position. A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff current and future vacancies.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

Education:
- Graduation with a degree from a recognized post-secondary institution with acceptable specialization in economics, sociology or statistics.

Note:
Candidates must always have a degree. The courses for the specialization must be acceptable and may have been taken at a recognized post-secondary institution, but not necessarily within a degree program in the required specialization. The specialization may also be obtained through an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experiences:
- Significant* experience in planning engagement activities or events with diverse partners** on accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities.

- Significant* experience in providing strategic advice and recommendations in various formats to organizational leaders related to accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities.

- Experience in researching and analyzing the impact of current events, political developments and major policy trends on accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities.

- Experience developing, implementing and/or measuring the success of engagement strategies.

Definitions:
- *Significant refers to the depth and breadth of experience associated with the performance of a broad range of related activities that were the candidate’s primary work responsibilities. It will be assessed based on the scope, complexity, duration (at least one year) and the diversity of the work performed.
- **Diverse partners include colleagues, federal government departments, provincial/territorial governments, non-governmental organizations, academics, private businesses, and/or individual experts.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Bilingual - Imperative (CBC/CBC)
Bilingual imperative position means a position where the work to be performed requires proficiency in both official languages (English and French).

Information on language requirements

Competencies:
- Demonstrating integrity and respect.
- Showing initiative and being action-oriented.
- Thinking things through.
- Achieve results.
- Working effectively with others.

Abilities:
- Ability to communicate effectively.
- Ability to plan and organize.

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Asset Qualifications

Experiences:
- Experience designing and/or managing a Client Relationship Management database.

- Experience leading diverse teams to achieve results in a complex work environment.

- Experience successfully managing multiple engagement projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion and delivery of high-quality work.

Operational Requirements:
- Willing and able to travel.
- Willing and able to work occasional overtime.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Conditions of employment must be met at the time of appointment and the employee must continue to meet these conditions throughout their employment.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Candidates are entitled to participate in the selection process in the official language of their choice.

As the successful candidate will lead engagement activities on behalf of the Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer, fluency in both English and French is required to effectively deliver services to all Canadians with disabilities. Candidates will be assessed on their second language skills as one of the initial steps in this process.

Second Language Writing Skills Self-Assessment

In order to help you decide if you should apply to this bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application.

For more information, please consult:
Unsupervised Internet Test of Second Language Writing Skills
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/second-language-testing-public-service/self-assessment-tests.html

We encourage applicants to submit their applications on-line. Following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line:

- Applicants can create and manage their accounts and apply to job opportunities.

- Applicants can create a profile and retrieve stored application(s) (personal information, covering letter and résumé) previously submitted and modify them, if necessary, before submitting the application.

- Applicants can modify their application/resume at any time before the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.

In order for your application to be retained for the next steps in the assessment process, you must provide complete answers to the screening questions demonstrating how you meet the education and experience criteria. Please proceed as follows:

- Indicate the name of the organization where the experience was acquired.

- Indicate the period of time in which you have held the position (MM-YYYY to MM-YYYY).

- Indicate the title of the position held.

- Provide concrete examples of the tasks you have completed which show how the experience was acquired.

- In your responses, avoid referring the assessor to information contained in your résumé. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the experience described. Candidates will not be solicited for incomplete or possible missing information.

Proof of education and, if applicable, proof of name change document(s) will be validated at a later date, at the time of assessment. Please ensure your education credential documents are readily available.

If the name on your education credentials is different from the name on your application, we will require proof that you are the same person, e.g. a copy of a marriage certificate or a copy of proof of name change from a provincial Vital Statistics office or other approved documentation.

A written exam will be administered.

Note: Written exams will be administered electronically.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

All information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to close of process, may be used to evaluate your candidacy. Your overall conduct and communications, including email correspondence, may be used in the assessment of qualifications and competencies.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

Communication will be administered through email. It is imperative that you provide a current email address that accepts emails from unknown users (some e-mail systems block these types of e-mails). Candidates are strongly encouraged to check their email on a regular basis. It is the candidate's responsibility to inform us of any changes regarding contact information.

At any point in the selection process management may apply a top-down approach, random selection, or invoke one or more asset qualifications to determine which candidates proceed for further assessment and consideration in this selection process.

Candidates must meet all the essential qualifications to be appointed to the position. A candidate may be appointed to the position even though they do not meet any or all of the asset qualifications, organizational needs, or operational requirements. However, meeting one or more of these criteria may be used as a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed.

Appointees from outside the Federal Public Service may be entitled to relocation costs up to $5,000.

Persons appointed from outside the public service will be subject to a probationary period of 12 months, or for the duration of their term should the term be 12 months or less.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

Apply online