Political Affairs Officer – High Commission of Canada in Singapore

Position Title: Political Affairs Officer
Appointment Process No: SPORE-FPDS-2019
Type: Indeterminate
Department: General Relations Section
Number of Vacancies: 1
Job Category: Political affairs
Location: Singapore
Level: Officer
Classification: LE-09
Starting salary: 92,706 SGD
Location: High Commission of Canada in Singapore
Closing date: August 5, 2019 at 23:59, Singapore Time

Applications sent after the closing date will not be considered.

Full statement of qualifications, conditions of employment, and description of the selection process can be found at www.singapore.gc.ca

Please note that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Summary of duties
Under the general direction of the Counsellor Political and Public Affairs, the Political Officer is principally responsible for reporting on the political, security and human rights situation in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asia/ASEAN region and for related programming as it relates to Government of Canada objectives. This includes: understanding, monitoring and advising mission management on the developments of interest in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian/ASEAN region as it relates to Canadian priorities; providing concise, targeted and timely reporting on major events and developments to key clients at mission and headquarters; identifying, assessing and developing strategies and recommendations with a focus on foreign policy priority issues such as security, human rights, cybersecurity, diversity and inclusion, and environmental issues; developing and maintaining highly effective networks across government, academia, the media, etc; organizing and implementing incoming and outgoing bilateral visits of senior officials; supporting the missions’ research needs, and contributing to other operations and tasks of the mission as needed.

Area of selection/Eligibility
The offer is open only to qualified applicants who are Singaporean citizens, permanent residents, employees of the High Commission of Canada, or spouses/dependants of Canada-Based Staff, who are legally and operationally in a position to work for the High Commission of Canada in Singapore, who meet all of the essential requirements stated below, and whose applications are received by the closing date.

Essential requirements
Candidates must demonstrate clearly in their cover letter how they meet the education and experience requirement listed below:

Education
Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in a discipline related to the job requirements or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience.

Language
Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Experience
Experience in providing strategic advice, briefings, and written reports to management and/or clients on strategic or political issues relating to Singapore and the Southeast Asia/ASEAN region
Significant recent experience (minimum 5 years) working on political or strategic issuesin an international, multilateral or academic organization, government, private sector or civil society organization.
Experience and knowledge engaging at a senior level with a range of stakeholders, including government institutions, think tanks/academics and/or the media.
Rated requirements
Only candidates who meet the education and experience requirements will be contacted for assessment of the rated requirements. The assessment of the rated requirements below may include an interview, a written test, and other tests that will consist of a series of questions designed to evaluate each applicant’s knowledge, abilities and personal suitability for the position.

Knowledge
Knowledge of Singapore’s political and economic landscape and key stakeholders;
Knowledge of Singapore’s media landscape and key stakeholders;
Knowledge of regional (Southeast Asia/ASEAN) political and security issues;
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint;
Knowledge of managing budgets e.g. planning expenses related to projects, tracking; and expenditures, and analyzing financial reports and budgets.

Abilities/Competencies
Ability to manage time, prioritize and meet deadlines with minimal supervision;
Effective interactive communication skills both oral and written;
Excellent planning and organizational skills;
Ability to analyze information and make sound recommendations;
Ability to work as part of a team;
Strong client focus and networking ability;
Initiative, creativity and innovation; and
Ability to build and sustain a network of contacts.
Personal suitability
Effective interpersonal skills;
Sound judgement;
Initiative;
Achievement-orientation;
Teamwork; and
Client-focus orientation.
Asset qualification

Preference may be given to candidates who have one or more of the following asset qualifications:
Familiarity with Canada’s foreign policy and governmental priorities;
Proficiency in French – both oral and written;
Master’s degree from a recognized university;
Proficiency in working with social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Hootsuite, etc);
If candidates meet the factors listed in the asset qualifications they must also clearly demonstrate how they meet these factors in their covering letter.

Operational requirements
Must be able to work overtime on short notice on occasion;
Must be available for occasional duties outside normal working hours (i.e., evenings and weekends);
May be required to travel on occasion.
Conditions of employment (must be met)
Eligibility for a Government of Canada Reliability Status:
Must have a valid work authorization covering the employment period; and
Must be admissible for travel to Canada and Asia.

Notes
Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.
Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).
Reference checks will be sought for candidates that are successful at the interview stage and will be used to validate information provided by candidates.

Selection procedure
The staffing process will consist of a review of all applications to ensure that applicants meet the essential requirements. Please note that failure to meet any of the essential requirements eliminates candidates from further consideration in the competition. Only those applicants who meet these will be contacted by the Human Resources Section for an interview or other form of assessment of the rated requirements.

The High Commission of Canada in Singapore is committed to conducting inclusive, barrier-free selection processes. The Canadian Government is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from diverse sections of the community. Candidates will be considered on merit regardless of ethnic origin, religious belief, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability or any other irrelevant factor.

This selection process may be used to create an eligibility list of qualified candidates for this and other similar positions, with various tenures, including indeterminate or term at the High Commission of Canada in Singapore which might arise in the 24 months following the completion of this competition.

Application process
Submit a cover letter demonstrating how you meet all the essential requirements and indicating how you are legally and operationally eligible to work in Singapore. Ensure to relate your work experience to the position description.
Submit a CV not exceeding three pages.
Submit a copy of your degree.
Applications that do not include the requested documents or information will be rejected.
Applications sent after the closing date will not be considered.

Applications are to be sent by e-mail to: SPORE.HumanResources@international.gc.ca by the closing date.
On subject line of email, write only your last name in caps followed by competition number: Ex. SMITH – SPORE-FPDS-2019. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

Important notes
Candidates are entitled to participate in the appointment process in Canada’s official language of their choice (English or French). Candidates are asked to specify their preferred official language of Canada in their application.
Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.
Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).
Candidates selected at the screening stage will be invited for further assessment. Methods of assessment may include, but are not limited to, a written examination, an oral interview, role-play, practical tests, presentations and/or psychometric assessment.
Reference checks will be sought for candidates that reach interview stage and may form part of the selection process.

Please note that the High Commission of Canada in Singapore does not sponsor work permits directly or indirectly.
The High Commission of Canada in Singapore does not reimburse any travel costs to and from interviews/exams nor does it reimburse any relocation costs.

If candidates need any special assistance in terms of attending exams or interviews, please let us know during the application process.

If you have any questions at any stage of the process please send an email to SPORE.HumanResources@international.gc.ca

To view job posting – https://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/singapore-singapour/offices-bureaux/2019-07-LE-09.aspx?lang=eng