Senior Multilateral Officer - Francophonie

Summary of Duties:

Under the general supervision of the Counsellor (Francophonie), the Officer will work closely with the Personal Representative of the Prime Minister of Canada for La Francophonie, the Francophonie team (IIL) and the geographic and thematic sector teams located at headquarter in Ottawa, as well as other Canadian government departments, such as the Department of Canadian Heritage.  

As a key member of the Francophonie team, the Officer will advance Canada's interests and priorities through its engagement within the Francophone space and with Francophonie institutions, including the Paris-based International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF). They will also promote the Canadian Francophonie on the international stage, including Francophone minority communities.

The Francophonie team seeks to enhance Canada's multilateral cooperation and diplomatic engagement with the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the member states and governments of La Francophonie, the actors of the Charter of la Francophonie, Francophone civil society and the institutional networks of La Francophonie.

The main responsibilities of the of the current position to be filled are as follows:

1. Represent Canada and participate in La Francophonie meetings related to programming and cooperation issues and other commissions or working groups.
2. Negotiate to advance Canada's interests through strategic and technical discussions in a multilateral context.
3. Monitor IOF programming and deepen interaction with IOF divisions on priority programs for Canada and identify opportunities and synergies with other programs supported by Canada.
4. Coordinate with other member states and governments and other stakeholders, as required, to ensure the strategic and efficient progression of key files.
5. Provide analysis, strategic advice and reports to senior management on IOF activities and orientations, as well as on approaches/strategies to be adopted in negotiations.
6. Develop and deepen the relationship with the actors of the Charter of la Francophonie and other stakeholders, and develop a broad network of contacts.
7. Contribute to the organization and successful completion of visits by the Minister responsible for La Francophonie and/or senior Canadian officials to Paris and senior officials of La Francophonie in Canada, including the development of briefing material.
8. Maximize opportunities for collaboration with other embassy programs, to promote Canada and its values within the diplomatic community of French-speaking countries.
9. Provide interim coverage for the Francophonie Counsellor as required.

 

Area of Selection:

This position is open to candidates who have the right to reside in France and work legally and permanently in France as an employee at the time of application, and who meet all the prerequisites i.e. all the essential qualifications and any asset qualifications, and whose applications are received by the closing date.

Please note that the Embassy of Canada to France 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.

• • • University degree (from an accredited* institution) equivalent to a French baccalaureate +3 in International Relations, Political Science, Law, Communications, Education or any other relevant discipline. 

*The term accredited means that the educational institution must be recognized and registered with an accreditation body in the country where it is physically located.

Language:

• • • Fluency in French (oral, written and comprehension).
    • Good knowledge of English (oral, written and comprehension).

Experience:

• • • Five years (5) or more of experience working in the public service OR in an international OR non-governmental organization.
    • Three years (3) or more of experience providing strategic advice and analysis in an international context for a government body, public institution or non-governmental organization.

 

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), role-play, practical tests, presentations and/or psychometric assessment.

Knowledge:

• • • Knowledge of the institutional mechanisms of La Francophonie and the major issues and priorities in La Francophonie.
    • Knowledge of Canadian foreign policy priorities, particularly in La Francophonie.
    • Knowledge of the particularities of a federal state and the division of powers in a Canadian context.

Competencies:

• • • Judgment / discretion.
    • Analytical reasoning and ability to synthesize.
    • Collaborative work and horizontal leadership.

Abilities:

• • • Ability to exercise an advisory role.
    • Ability to identify opportunities for visibility, outreach and collaboration.
    • Ability to plan and organize visits and events in accordance with established protocols.
    • Ability to network and create alliances.
    • Ability to negotiate.

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.

• • • Knowledge of the Canadian Francophonie, including Francophone minority communities.
    • Knowledge of issues or trends related to the French-speaking world.
    • Experience working in an embassy or diplomatic mission abroad.
    • Experience working with the International Organisation of La Francophonie or Francophonie operating agencies.
    • Experience in organizing high-ranking visits.
    • Experience of negotiations in a multilateral context.

Operational Requirements:

• • • Full-time position, 5 days/week, Monday to Friday.
    • Able and willing to work overtime on short notice, outside normal operating hours.
    • Able and willing to travel occasionally outside France when required.
    • Work in an open space.

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-BREU@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 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 who succeeded all of the assessments.
• Please note that the Embassy of Canada to France 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-BREU@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 France which might arise following the completion of this selection process.
• Please note that Canadian citizens working at the Embassy of Canada in France are considered as fiscal non-residents and must pay their income taxes in Canada and their social security contributions in France. It is the candidate's responsibility, and not the Embassy, to inquire with the Canadian Revenue Agency and the appropriate French authorities about any possible fiscal incidence of a position with the Embassy of Canada in France.