Foreign Policy Officer

Summary of Duties:

Within the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service program and under the direction of the Counsellor (Political and Economic), the Foreign Policy Officer supports the promotion of Canada’s interests and priorities by:  

• identifying and understanding ongoing and emerging domestic and foreign policy developments in Türkiye, Georgia and Azerbaijan
• providing substantive written and verbal analysis on these developments, and linking their significance to Canada’s foreign policy priorities;
• developing and maintaining relationships with individuals who have insight and influence on issues of priority to Canada, including with government officials, non-governmental contacts, journalists and diplomatic missions; 
• offering strategic insight and making recommendations on key target audiences for advocacy; 
• assisting in the development, planning and execution of events (e.g. events hosted at the Embassy, conferences, sports and cultural activities);
• contributing to overall mission planning, priority setting and cross-program objectives;
• supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of results of the embassy’s social media strategy and overall communication strategy, preparing content for social media posts; 
• producing analyses and reports on the effectiveness of initiatives (including analysis of social media outcomes); and,
• performing other duties as required.

Area of Selection:

This position is open to internal and external candidates who have the right to reside and work in Turkiye, who meet all the essential requirements stated and whose applications are received by the closing date. 

Please note that the Embassy of Canada to Turkey 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 based on merit. 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

Candidates will initially be screened against the Essential Qualifications relating to education, language* and experience.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate when applying to the position how they meet each of these essential qualifications.

*Language will be assessed further during the process. 

Education:

Candidates will be required to provide proof of the completion of their education.

Degree from a recognized university in a relevant discipline, including but not limited to: Journalism/Communications, Public Relations, International Relations, Law, Economics, Business. 

Language:

• Advanced level of English (comprehension, written and spoken)
• Advanced level of Turkish (comprehension, written and spoken)

Experience:

• At least three years of experience working in a political/economic-oriented sector, such as for a government, NGO, international organization, media outlet, think tank or corporation. 
• Experience in delivering advocacy and/or cultural programs. 
• Experience preparing a variety of documents, such as presentations, correspondence, and reports. 
• Experience conducting research and providing high-quality analysis in verbal and written forms. 

RATED REQUIREMENTS

The Rated Requirements are part of the essential qualifications and are relating to knowledge, abilities and competencies. Methods of assessment for rated requirements may include, but are not limited to, a written examination, an oral interview (online pre-recorded/live or in-person), practical tests, presentations and/or psychometric assessment.

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the current political and economic landscape in Turkiye, and Turkiye’s foreign policy priorities.
• Knowledge of key actors and influencers on political, economic and social issues in Turkiye (including, for example, civil society, government institutions, international organizations, media, academia).
• Knowledge of social media applications and strategies.

Competencies:

• Effective interactive communication (oral and written)
• Showing initiative and being action oriented
• Professional integrity / values & ethics

Abilities: 

• Ability to research, evaluate and analyze information in order to draft talking points, briefing materials and analytical reports.
• Ability to manage time, plan and prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, at times under pressure.
• Ability to expand and cultivate existing networks of Embassy contacts.
• Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team

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.

• Previous experience working for a diplomatic mission in a similar role. 
• Working Knowledge of French (oral/written)
• Experience producing and publishing social media content in a business setting. 
• Established network of professional connections In Türkiye, Georgia and/or Azerbaijan linked to the Embassy's activities
• Knowledge of Georgian and/or Azerbaijani (oral/written)
• Knowledge of Canada’s foreign policy
• Knowledge of Canada-Türkiye relations

Organizational Needs: 

This process will be used to create a pool of candidates for similar positions, either full time or part time, and indeterminate, term or emergency. 

Operational Requirements:

• Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 
• This is an in-office position
• May be required to work overtime, including on weekends and statutory holidays, sometimes at very short notice
• Occasional in-country and regional travel may be required

Conditions of Employment:

Conditions of employment must be met or complied with before being appointed to a particular position, and are to be maintained throughout the employment while being the incumbent of this position.

- 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 covering the entire employment period.

How to Apply

• 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). Please only include information relevant to the vacancy as requested in the job poster.
• You must clearly demonstrate in answering the screening questions how you meet the education and experience factors listed in the essential and asset qualifications. You must provide specific examples to demonstrate clearly how you meet the qualifications. Global Affairs Canada cannot make any assumptions about your studies nor experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties will not be sufficient. Instead, you must provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained the 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 be used as a secondary source to validate the answers to the screening questions.
• Applications which do not include all of 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-BRLIN@international.gc.ca prior to the closing date. Failure to do so will result in the application being rejected.

Important Notes

• Only applications submitted in one of the official languages of Canada will be accepted (English or French).
• The language requirement for this position is identified under the essential qualifications (language). In consequence, the assessment process for this vacancy will be conducted in English.
• 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 who succeeded all of the assessments.
• Please note that the Embassy of Canada to Turkey 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.
• As recently announced by the Government of Canada, the Policy for Mandatory Vaccination: Canada and the Mission Network is suspended as of June 20, 2022. The Government of Canada will continue to assess the need for additional public health measures, including the possible reintroduction of a vaccination mandate at a later date.
• 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-BRLIN@international.gc.ca to request specialized accommodation. 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 Embassy of Canada to Turkey 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.