Consular Officer / Common Services Officer (Anticipatory)

 

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

The mission is seeking to fill a Consular Officer position for the Consular program as well as various Officer positions that may arise following this selection process.

The Consular Officer position provides:

• Consular services (including emergency assistance) at a Canadian diplomatic mission within the mission’s consular district;
• Passport and citizenship services;
• Legal and notarial services in accordance with all Canadian regulations, laws, and procedures, including the Canada Evidence Act and provincial laws;
• Establishment and maintenance of effective relationships with host country authorities and agencies and other diplomatic missions to facilitate the delivery of consular services;
• Administration of consular cost-recovery programs, remittances, and other consular financial services;
• Support to the program manager in emergency management, including the development of preventive measures to support Canadians traveling or residing in the accreditation territories;
• Administrative services;
• Responses to inquiries on a wide range of issues;
• Other duties as needed.

The Common Services Officer position provides:

• Provides one or more of the following services within a mission: Real Property; Property Maintenance; Materiel Management; Contracts and Procurement; Accounting and Finance; Event Coordination; Human Resources.
• Provides technical advice and recommendations to internal and external clients, as well as advice to management related to the delivery of requested services; develop and recommend improvements or action plans to the program manager to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of processes and services.
• Documentation and services: Draft various documents, correspondence, reports, presentations, briefing notes, and other materials; maintain and review data and statistics related to the area of responsibility in accordance with document classification policies.
• Prepare and submit documents for approval and signature in accordance with procedures. Support planning in the area(s) of responsibility and the associated development of operational goals, objectives, and policies, as well as solutions to business requirements.
• Review and contribute to the development and management of the budget for the area(s) of responsibility; forecast expenditures and other resource requirements; continuously monitor the budget; assist with contract negotiations and, where applicable, perform and oversee cash management functions.
• Research and analysis: Conduct research; monitor and assess local events and news; evaluate issues and analyze information from multiple sources that may affect services; produce comprehensive and accurate reports (charts, data, tables, etc.) for interpretation and analysis by the manager.
• Networking and alliance building: Establish and maintain a network of contacts with local and foreign governments, service providers, suppliers, organizations and agencies, as well as local industries, to exchange information on policies, regulations, administrative procedures, trends, and local events that may impact service delivery, and to liaise on service-related matters.
• May act as the primary point of contact for service providers and suppliers.
• Communication and client services: Coordinate and monitor responses to inquiries related to standard files/services; respond to non-routine inquiries; resolve issues and escalate complaints to the manager as required. Monitor and strive to improve the effectiveness, responsiveness, tact, timeliness, and accuracy of client service; may provide training and guidance to supervised staff and mission colleagues.
• Committees and working groups: Participate in or act as co-chair on mission committees and working groups.
• Supervision/management responsibilities: Coordinate the work of program staff in related areas. May directly supervise the work of one or more assistant positions, non-administrative staff, and contractors, including setting objectives, assigning and monitoring work, and conducting related performance evaluations.

 

AREA OF SELECTION

This selection process is open to all applicants, who are residing and legally authorized to work in Cameroon, including Embassy employees, Canada-based staff spouses and their dependent children of at least 16 years of age, who meet all the essential qualifications and whose applications are received by the closing date. 

Please note that the High Commission of Canada to Cameroon does not sponsor work authorizations directly or indirectly.

The Government of Canada 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 other factor. Our organization offers an inclusive workplace where respect, teamwork, and collaboration are part of our culture. Canada’s missions abroad are committed to promoting and supporting an environment free from harassment and discrimination, as well as encouraging and supporting employees to learn and develop their skills and competencies.

 

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

All essential qualifications will be assessed. Methods of assessments and screening of candidates may include but are not limited to: verification of credentials, resume and letters of presentation; interviews, exams and practical tests; presentations or other types of assessments.

Education

This position requires:

• • • A Bachelor's Degree (at least BAC+3) from a legally recognized university in business administration, law, or any relevant field.

Note: Candidates will be required to provide proof of their education.

Language

The Following languages and proficiency levels are required for this job. Candidates will be formally assessed or requested to provide proof of certification on these levels.

• • • An advanced proficiency level (reading, writing, comprehension, and speaking) in English or in French.
    • Good* knowledge of the second official language (speaking, reading, and writing), provided that one of the two languages is clearly the candidate’s primary language.

*The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in the second language without significant difficulty when interacting with clients.

Experience

In order to perform the duties relevant to this job, the following experience is required.

• • • Four (4) years of cumulative professional experience in a customer service role at an embassy, consulate, international organization, or office engaged in work involving consular affairs OR the application of a regulatory framework, customer service, or any other closely related experience.
    • Professional experience using information management systems or qualitative and quantitative databases.
    • Professional experience in preparing various documents, briefing notes, and presentations, and in drafting correspondence and reports.
    • Experience in supervising staff.

Essential experience for the Consular Officer position:

• • • Experience in communicating with the public, both in person and remotely (greeting visitors, providing directions, responding to inquiries, and handling sensitive situations).

Essential experience for the Common Services Officer position:

• • • Experience in logistics or organizational management, including coordinating appointments, events, travel, or internal services.
    • Experience in budget management.

Competencies

All competencies* will be assessed. All competencies must be met prior to appointment.

• • • Knowledge of MS Office 365.
    • Knowledge of administrative and financial procedures.
    • Strategic Thinking and Decision Making.
    • Organizational and Coordination including coordinating conflicting priorities with tight deadlines and minimal supervision.
    • Focus on Quality and Detail.
    • Initiative and Action Oriented.
    • Written Communication.
    • Oral Interaction.
    • Networking and Alliance Building.
    • Client Orientation including customers in distress.
    • Resilience and Adaptability.
    • Judgment and Discretion.

*For more information on competencies: Competency Dictionary

 

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS

Preference may be given to candidates who meet the Asset Qualifications. Where applicable, candidates must clearly demonstrate how they meet any asset qualifications.

For the Consular Officer position:

• Experience verifying and processing official documents (passports, civil status records, certificates, official letters, etc.).
• Experience in managing consular cases, including analyzing files, making decisions in accordance with current policies, and following up on requests until they are resolved.
• Experience providing consular or administrative services within an embassy.
• Experience in file management, including processing, tracking, and updating documentation.

For the Common Services Officer position:

• Experience in administrative coordination, including organizing activities, managing priorities, and communicating with various stakeholders.
• Experience in human resources, payroll processing, and leave management.
• Experience in procurement and contracts. 

 

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Operational requirements will be assessed on a “meet/does not meet” basis and can be used to determine right fit of a candidate for the position.

• Hours of Work: Normal hours of work of work for this position are in accordance with Locally-Engaged Staff regulations of 37.5 hours per week.
• Overtime: Willingness to work overtime on short notice.
• Travel: This position may require limited occasional travel domestically and-or internationally.

 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Conditions of employment must be met or complied with before being appointed to a particular position. They are to be maintained throughout the employment period.

• Valid work authorization: Ability to obtain and hold a valid work authorization covering the entire employment period.
• Security screening: Obtain and maintain a Reliability Status (security level) which includes a criminal and credit background check from the Government of Canada.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Follow the below instructions to ensure your application can be considered.

• You must submit your application using the "Apply online" function. Only applications submitted via VidCruiter will be considered, unless a valid reason is presented and accepted prior to the closing date.
• Do not include personal data such as: age, date of birth, gender, marital status, family status, religion or a picture in your application form, CV nor cover letter (as required). Only include information relevant to the vacancy as requested in the above job poster.
• You must clearly demonstrate in answering the screening questions how you meet the qualifications of the vacancy. You must provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the qualification in each question box. Global Affairs Canada cannot make any assumptions about your studies nor experience. No additional information will be sought beyond what you submit in your online application.
• Candidates may be required to upload a CV and/or a cover letter in English or French. These documents may (or may not) be used as a secondary source to validate the answers to the screening questions.
• Applications which do not include all the requested documents or information and/or which are not received by the closing date will be rejected.
• Candidates who are unable to submit their application due to technical difficulties must report these to LES-E-Recruitment-BREU@international.gc.ca prior to the closing date. Failure to do so will result in the application being rejected.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES

Carefully review the following:

• Please note that the High Commission of Canada to Cameroon does not sponsor work authorizations directly or indirectly.
• Only applications submitted in one of the official languages of Canada will be accepted (English or French).
• Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidates to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.
• Candidates must provide an email address that accepts email from unknown users and regularly check their email, including spam folder.
• Reference checks may be sought for candidates.
• Please note that the High Commission of Canada to Cameroon does not reimburse any travel costs to and from interviews/exams nor does it reimburse any relocation costs.
• Before an offer of employment can be made, successful candidates must provide a local residence address as proof of residence in the specified area of selection. This information is necessary to issue a letter of offer.
• 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 contact us at LES-E-Recruitment-BREU@international.gc.ca to request specialized accommodation (a modification made to the standard assessment conditions, allowing individuals with disabilities to demonstrate their abilities on an assessment by removing barriers related to their specific needs). All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.
• The results of this selection process may also be used to establish one or more pools of fully or partially qualified candidates for similar term, indeterminate, part-time or full-time openings at the High Commission of Canada to Cameroon,  which might arise following the completion of this selection process.
• For Canadian citizens/residents and Canadian dual nationals, please note that it is your responsibility to enquire with the Canadian Revenue Agency about any possible taxation implications linked to an employment with the Government of Canada.
• The Government of Canada has established a multiple step salary scale as well as Terms and Conditions tailored to each country’s local labor environment. The Government of Canada does not negotiate salaries. Competitive benefits in line with local practices for each country are also provided in the gross compensation package.