ARCHIVED – Notice – Citizenship Commission Vacancy

April 19, 2013 — The Citizenship Commission has a vacancy for a full-time Senior Judge position. The Citizenship Commission (Commission) is an administrative body within Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The Commission consists of all citizenship judges working across Canada. The location of the vacant position is in the National Capital Region. The salary range is $ 121,700 to $143,100. Its mandate includes the review of approximately 160,000 citizenship applications each year, the assessment of applicants to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Citizenship Act and Regulations, and administration of the oath of citizenship. The Commission highlights the importance of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship, maintains the integrity of the citizenship process, and promotes citizenship by working with school boards, service clubs, multicultural groups and other community organizations.

The Senior Judge provides the professional and administrative leadership for the Commission. Reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, the Senior Judge is responsible for ensuring the proper administration of the law and promoting collegiality between citizenship judges. As part of CIC, the Senior Judge also assumes responsibility for managing the administrative and professional services that the Commission offers to judges.

The successful candidate should possess a university degree in a relevant field or an acceptable combination of education, job-related training and/or experience. A law degree would be preferred. Experience in managing at the senior executive level in a private or public sector organization, including the management of human and financial resources is required. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated decision-making experience with respect to sensitive and complex issues and will possess experience in the interpretation and application of legislation, policies and directives. Experience in the citizenship, immigration and/or refugee field at a national or international level, as well as experience in the operation and conduct of an adjudicative tribunal such as the Citizenship Commission, an agency or equivalent would be considered assets.

The chosen candidate must have knowledge of the operations of an adjudicative tribunal, including the rules that govern its operations, and knowledge of the mandate of the Citizenship Commission, the Citizenship Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Criminal Code, and relevant case law and regulations. The candidate must have knowledge of the procedures and practices involved in conducting an adjudicative hearing and in the legal principles involved, particularly as they relate to evidence, legal interpretation, administrative law and natural justice as well as knowledge of sound management principles and the operations of government. Knowledge of the guide Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship is also required.

The qualified candidate must have the ability to develop and maintain cooperative relations with a broad range of stakeholders. He or she must also be able to demonstrate sensitivity to the differing needs of multiple stakeholders, and the ability to manage the administrative and professional services that the Commission offers to judges. The ability to make sound decisions and to provide leadership, including building and maintaining a high level of motivation and morale in employees is also required. The preferred candidate will have the ability to develop effective working relationships with senior government officials while maintaining the degree of independence required of an adjudicative tribunal. The position requires the incumbent to have superior communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to act as a spokesperson for the organization in dealing with the media, public institutions, governments and other organizations. The successful candidate must be a person of sound judgement and integrity, must adhere to strong ethical standards and must have superior leadership and interpersonal skills. Impartiality, tact and diplomacy are also required.

Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.

The successful candidate must be a Canadian citizen and must reside in or be willing to relocate to the National Capital Region or to a location within reasonable commuting distance.

The Government is committed to ensuring that its appointments are representative of Canada’s regions and official languages, as well as of women, Aboriginal peoples, disabled persons and visible minorities.

The preferred candidate must comply with the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders. The guidelines are available on the Governor in Council Appointments website.

The selected candidate will be subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Public office holders appointed on a full-time basis must submit to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, within 60 days of appointment, a confidential report in which they disclose all of their assets, liabilities, and outside activities. For more information, please visit the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s website.

This notice has been placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for this position. It is not, however, intended to be the sole means of recruitment.

See further details about the Commission and its activities.

Interested candidates should forward their curriculum vitae by May 6, 2013, to the Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet (Senior Personnel).

English and French notices of vacancies will be produced in an alternative format (audio cassette, diskette, Braille, large print, etc.) upon request. For further information, please contact Publishing and Depository Services, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0S5, 613-941-5995 or 1-800-635-7943.

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