Intelligence Officer

Learn more about exciting new job opportunities in Canadian National Security!

The Federal Safety, Security and Intelligence Virtual Career Fair is taking place on November 20th from 1pm-7pm EST and our recruiters want to speak with you!

Register here: www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/career-fair.html

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Working at CSIS is more than just a job. It’s a career dedicated to a critically important mission -the protection of Canada’s national security interests, including our democracy, prosperity, and safety as Canadians. When you join CSIS, you become part of a team of diverse individuals who are committed to using their talents, knowledge, and experience to achieve the common purpose of protecting our nation and its people. As such, a career with CSIS can be incredibly rewarding to those called to do it.

Important

Working for CSIS requires you to be security conscious and to use the utmost discretion when discussing your job and the work that you do. As such, do not discuss your application with others (including on social media) besides your partner, or close family members - who should also be reminded about the need to be discreet.

This is an extension of the tabloid posted in February 2024. If you have previously applied to that competition, you do not need to re-apply.

Intelligence Officers play a central role at CSIS and are primarily responsible for managing investigations and collecting human intelligence (HUMINT). Intelligence Officers come from diverse social and educational backgrounds, and they require a common set of skills in order to be successful in their role. This includes intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, the ability to analyze and make sense of large amounts of information, as well as the ability to write clearly and concisely with a high level of accuracy, even while under pressure and time constraints. Intelligence Officers must also have very strong interpersonal and communication skills, including a natural ability to build rapport and trust with people. They require high levels of emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to understand and motivate others. Additionally, they must be resilient, comfortable with the unknown, persistent in the face of challenges, and able to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced work environment. By virtue of their work, Intelligence Officers have access to highly classified and controlled information, and are involved in sensitive intelligence operations. As such, their honesty, integrity, and reliability must be beyond reproach.

Becoming a full-working Intelligence Officer takes several years of training and experience, typically involving a desk assignment at National Headquarters (Ottawa) as a Case Officer, followed by a posting to a Regional office as an Investigator.  Candidates that succeed in the Intelligence Officer Selection process should expect the following in the initial years of their career: 

• Candidates must relocate to Ottawa.
• Candidates must successfully pass the Intelligence Officer Entry Training in order to progress to their first assignment as Case Officers in National Headquarters (Ottawa). 
• New Case Officers must complete a minimum of 3 years in their first assignment at National Headquarters (Ottawa). Case Officers sit at the center of a large intelligence apparatus and actively manage the exchange of intelligence between CSIS and its domestic and foreign partners. As such, they play a critical role in evaluating intelligence and preparing timely, accurate, clear, and concise reporting in a manner that protects sensitive sources and methods. Case Officers also directly support investigations through specialized research and analysis, case management, and direct collaboration with partner departments and agencies located in Canada and abroad. 
• After completing the minimum requirement, Case Officers have the option to pursue Regional Investigator training and a posting to a Regional office. 
• Selected candidates must successfully pass an intensive and specialized training course that prepares them to recruit and handle human sources, and use appropriate tradecraft techniques, before undertaking HUMINT collection (fieldwork) in one of seven domestic geographic Regions within Canada.  This often involves a geographical relocation, which CSIS pays for. Regional Investigators are the driving force behind CSIS operations, producing the information required to meet the Government of Canada’s intelligence priorities. As such, they are directly involved in the conduct of sensitive investigations and operations. While Investigators work collaboratively with other teams, Regions, NHQ, and partner departments, they are often required to make their own difficult tactical decisions in the field, all while respecting the rule of law and human rights. The key responsibility of Investigators is to identify, assess, develop, recruit, and handle human sources. In order to do this successfully, Regional Investigators need to be comfortable meeting with people from all cultures and backgrounds, many of whom may not understand the role of CSIS, and may be fearful or even upset to meet with an intelligence service.  As such, they must have resiliency and adaptability. Displaying respect and understanding what motivates people is also critical in these interactions, as is the ability to see things from another person’s perspective. Regional Investigators must also be able to write clear, concise, and accurate reports documenting their HUMINT collection efforts, as well as comply with all of the administrative requirements of the job, of which there are many.

• Completed Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree

The educational program must be from an accredited learning institution recognized in Canada.

If you completed a program outside of Canada, you will be required to obtain proof of a Canadian equivalency at your expense through a recognized credential assessment service.

• Work experience that has allowed candidates to develop and demonstrate the competencies required to be an Intelligence Officer (see below).

Knowledge

• An understanding of the CSIS mandate, the CSIS Act, and the Government of Canada’s intelligence priorities regarding the security of Canada.
• An awareness of both national and international current events and an understanding of how they relate to the CSIS mandate. 

Assets

• Previous experience working for the Government of Canada, particularly in the fields of national security, intelligence, enforcement, or defense. 
• Knowledge of a foreign language(s). Candidates with foreign language abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Personal experience travelling or residing abroad. 

• Strong Interpersonal skills
• Analytical skills
• Communication (oral and written) 
• Judgement
• Adaptability

Applicants should clearly demonstrate in their cover letter and in their application how they meet the Education criteria and the five (5) competencies listed above. Examples can include, but are not limited to, work experience, student placements, paid or unpaid internships, community experience, life experience or travel experience. Applicants should also describe how they meet the specified Experience and Assets criteria, if applicable. Please limit your cover letter to a maximum of two (2) pages.

Demonstration of these five (5) competencies will be assessed in the initial review of your resume and cover letter.

• Language: The position has a language requirement of Bilingual Non-Imperative (BBB/BBB).  Candidates who are successful in the selection process will be assessed by the Public Service Commission of Canada to determine their proficiency in French or English (their second official language). Those who do not meet the language requirements will need to complete full-time language training successfully, prior to attending the Ottawa-based Intelligence Officer Entry Training. Further information regarding language requirements and assessment tools may be found on the Government of Canada’s Public Service Commission’s website: Language requirements for candidates - Canada.ca
• Training: Candidates must successfully complete the 14-week Intelligence Officer Entry Training (IOET) course in Ottawa prior to working as an Intelligence Officer. This is a pass/fail course and candidates have only one opportunity to participate in the training.  This is an intensive training program, and candidates can expect long working hours throughout the 14-week training schedule.
• Mobility: Intelligence Officers must be willing to relocate within Canada during their career with CSIS. Organizational and operational requirements will determine the need for an employee’s relocation, as well as their assignments throughout their career. Intelligence Officers must also be willing to travel for work as required by operational and organizational requirements. CSIS pays for relocation and work travel, in line with established financial policies.  
• Candidates must physically relocate to Ottawa for initial training purposes and the subsequent minimum three (3) year assignment as an NHQ Case Officer. 
• Driver’s License: Although a driver’s license is not required for the initial period of the Intelligence Officer training, a valid Canadian driver’s license* is a prerequisite to pursue Investigator training. Obtaining and maintaining a valid Canadian driver’s license is the sole responsibility of each Intelligence Officer.  A valid Canadian driver's license is defined as a G Class (Ontario) or minimum of a Class 5 (remainder of Canada). G1, G2, Class 7, Class 6, Learner's etc. will not be accepted.
• While we continue to explore opportunities for flexible work arrangements, the majority of work in our organization must be done in the office and cannot be performed at home.

• Although the IO Entry Training course and first three years of employment will take place at National Headquarters in Ottawa, applicants residing outside of the National Capital Region should apply to the Region in which they currently reside for processing purposes. Applicants residing in the National Capital Region should apply to Headquarters.
• The assessment process is conducted in Canada only, and involves numerous steps, including a written exam to evaluate your written communication skills. If successful, you will be invited to the first of a series of interviews, and will eventually undergo psychometric testing and a security clearance process.