Trade Commissioner and Academic Affairs Officer

Selection Process Nº: 205848-6

Salary: MXN 940,437 per year before taxes (fixed salary, subject to annual increments) + competitive benefits package

Contract Type: Indeterminate (Full-time - 37.5 hours/week)

Term Details: This position is a Locally Engaged Staff position, subject to the Terms and Conditions of Employment for LES in Mexico.

Job Function: Officer

Classification: LE - O2

Location: The Embassy of Canada to Mexico

Number of Vacancies: 1

Closing date for application: 31 March, 2025 at 23:59 (Eastern Time, CANADA Time Zone)

Please use an online "time zone converter" to identify the specific closing hour in your country. 

Please consider that our application form has several pages to be filled, therefore, please take the time to complete it and correctly submit your application within the deadline 

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 in Mexico (country) which might arise following the completion of this selection process. 

Summary of Duties: 

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on Canada's education programme in Mexico. We are looking for a dynamic and hands-on person to work closely with senior managers in our headquarters, Canadian consulates, and local partners to promote Canadian education and foster international academic exchanges. Some of the key responsibilities of this role include: 

  • Plan, organize, and implement Canada's education programme across more than 20 states and Mexico City, including nationwide initiatives and partnerships.
  • Provide expert advice and recommendations to senior managers on bilateral education initiatives and academic exchanges.
  • Contribute to the development of export markets for Canadian higher education institutions.
  • Conduct advocacy and foreign market access activities to support Canadian education.
  • Identify and communicate business leads in the education sector.
  • Develop, recommend, and implement public affairs initiatives to advance the EduCanada program.
  • Maintain and expand a network of contacts with higher education institutions and government officials in Mexico and Canada.
  • Perform additional duties as required, including supporting high-level visits. 

This position requires travel within the area of responsibility in Mexico and occasionally to Canada and/or the United States of America to accompany Mexican delegations and participate in North American events related to international education. The position also manages an operational budget for hospitality, travel and special projects / development purposes. 

 

Area of selection/Eligibility: 

This position is open to any person currently residing and legally able to work in Mexico (or who can get a work permit by their own means before an appointment).  

Please note that the Embassy of Canada to Mexico does not sponsor work authorizations directly or indirectly; and does not reimburse any travel costs to and from interviews/exams nor does it reimburse any relocation costs. 

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. 

How to Apply 

Only candidates who follow the steps below will proceed into the next stage of the staffing process:  

  • 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. 
  • When you apply for the position, you must use a personal e-mail address (not a corporate or educational e-mail).  
  • Do not include personal data such as: age, date of birth, gender, marital status, family status, religion or a picture in your application form nor CV. Please only include information relevant to the vacancy as requested in the job poster. 
  • You must provide concrete and detailed examples that clearly explain where, when, and how you gained and meet the experience and education factors listed in the essential qualifications.  The Embassy of Canada will not seek additional information nor make any assumptions about your studies nor experience. Simply saying you have the required qualifications or listing your current duties will not be sufficient and may result in your application being rejected. 
  • Candidates must upload a CV in English or French. This document may be used as a secondary source to validate the answers to the screening questions. Applications which do not include all the requested documents, that fail to properly answer the screening questions, and/or not completed by the closing date will be rejected. 
  • Candidates who are unable to submit their application due to technical difficulties must report these to the help desk chat located at the bottom of the Application Form, nevertheless, any incomplete application after the closing date will be rejected. 
  • Candidates are responsible for saving a copy of the job poster for future reference (please note it won’t be available after the closing date and the recruitment team won’t be able to provide a copy).   

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. 

  • Bachelor’s degree (“Titulo” or “cedula”) from an accredited college or university.    

Language: 

Experience: 

  • Four (4) years of recent* experience in the delivery of services to clients (internal and/or external to your organization). 

AND:  

A minimum of four (4) years of recent* experience in at least THREE (3) of the following areas :  

  • Experience in planning, organizing and implementing a programme for your country/company/organization (e.g. workplan, setting objectives and timelines, etc.). 
  • Experience in providing advice and recommendations to senior management in your company/organization.  
  • Experience in developing and implementing a communications plan and related foreign market access activities.  
  • Experience in managing relationships with key Mexican / State stakeholders.
  • Experience in developing, recommending and implementing public affairs initiatives.
  • Experience in developing and maintaining a business contact network.
  • Experience in promoting international education opportunities.  

(If you have experience in more than three (3) areas, please provide this information in your application)

*Recent is defined from March 2017 onwards  

Rated qualifications  

The Rated Requirements are part of the essential qualifications and relate 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 or in-person), and reference checking. All qualifications must be met. 

Knowledge: 

  • Knowledge of the post-secondary education market in Mexico. 
  • Knowledge of software technologies (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) 
  • Knowledge of budget planning, expenses and reports  

Competencies 

  • Judgement and Discretion 
  • Effective interactive communication (oral and written in the essential languages) 
  • Strategic Thinking and Decision Making  
  • Focus on quality and details 
  • Client Orientation 
  • Initiative and action orientation 
  • Networking and alliance building 
  • Resilience and adaptability 
  • Working with others and horizontal leadership 

Click here for a brief description of each competency 

Asset Qualifications 

Preference may be given to candidates who meet one or more of the Asset Qualifications. Candidates must clearly demonstrate in their application and, as required, during the selection process, how they meet any of the following asset qualifications: 

  • Intermediate (similar to B2 in the CEFR) written and spoken proficiency in French.  
  • Previous experience working in a diplomatic mission, international organization, foreign private company or similar.  
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in relevant field (e.g. international relations, international trade, or other subject deemed relevant to the position) 
  • Recent* work experience navigating Mexican Government bureaucracy  
  • Recent* work experience in the education sector or with higher education institutions in Mexico 
  • Recent* work experience with Canadian higher education institutions 
  • Recent* work experience with Canadian federal or provincial governments 

Operational Requirements 

  • Willingness to work shift work and overtime, often on short notice (including evenings and weekends).  
  • Availability to travel (national and occasionally international) 
  • Willingness and ability to work in a combination of Mexican and Canadian statutory holidays, which means you will be required to work on certain Mexican holidays.   
  • The Embassy of Canada is an office-based work environment which does not offer remote or hybrid work arrangements. 

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. 

  • Hold a valid work authorization covering the entire employment period   
  • Security screening: Obtain a Reliability Status (security level) from the Government of Canada, which includes a criminal and credit background check (will be started once the staffing process is completed and may take ~4 weeks). 

Important Notes 

  • Only applications submitted in one of the official languages of Canada will be accepted (English or French). 
  • Applicants may ask to be assessed in the official language of their choice, however, some assessments may only be conducted in Spanish since candidates have to demonstrate they meet each essential qualification in order to be eligible for an appointment. 
  • 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 are successful in all of the assessments. 
  • 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-MXICO@international.gc.ca to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential. 
  • 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 tentative start date of this position is August 2025; however, some delays may occur during this selection process.