Job Description

The Senate plays a unique role in shaping our country\'s democracy. As members of the upper house of Parliament, senators examine legislation, study public policy, champion causes and conduct interparliamentary diplomacy.

As a workplace, the Senate is composed of dynamic people representing our nation\'s diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives. We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is provided full and equal opportunity and access to employment, development and advancement. Build and advance your career by joining a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in support of senators and the institution.

How will you contribute?

Being a Procedural Clerk will offer a unique vantage point on the operations of parliamentary democracy, and give you an opportunity to witness significant, and even historic, decisions being made that lead to legislative or policy changes that affect all Canadians. You will have the chance to make a direct contribution by supporting senators and parliamentarians, and the important work that they do on behalf of Canadians. If you are a person who is detail-oriented, organized, adaptable, autonomous and service-oriented and you have great leadership skills, we want to hear from you!

Procedural Clerks operate in a political setting and are required to provide expert non-partisan advice to parliamentarians on questions relating to parliamentary procedure that is both impartial and confidential. They must ensure the integrity and preservation of the corporate memory of Chamber, committee and interparliamentary business and procedure. In many cases, the Procedural Clerk is the first point of contact for parliamentarians and their staff in relation to their core parliamentary functions.

As a Procedural Clerk, you will provide logistical and administrative support and services directly to senators and parliamentarians. You will lead the organization of committee meetings, travel with parliamentary delegations, prepare official Chamber documents and reports, and help organize a variety of parliamentary events, among other responsibilities.

Open to

The general public to staff determinate Procedural Clerk positions in the Legislative Sector (Chamber Services, Table Research, Committees or International and Interparliamentary Affairs).

This selection process may be used to staff determinate or indeterminate positions.

We encourage individuals from underrepresented and minority groups to apply.

Prerequisites

The specialized role of Procedural Clerk is unique to Parliament and successful candidates come from a range of backgrounds. Most incumbents join our team after several years of professional experience.

Experience for this role comes in many forms. Please use your cover letter (maximum two pages) to share how your experience and background meet the following prerequisites and demonstrate how they contribute to making you a successful Procedural Clerk:

• Successful completion of a bachelor\'s degree from a recognized university;
• Significant experience providing procedural advice to clients, senior staff and officials;
• Proven ability to lead coworkers in providing logistical and administrative support;
• Significant experience managing projects, including establishing timelines, assigning tasks, budgeting, coordinating logistics, supervising progress of work and providing constructive feedback;
• Experience in the interpretation and application of rules, regulations and policies;
• Significant experience in using the Microsoft Office Suite;
• Experience providing exemplary client service;
• Superior written and oral communication skills;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues, parliamentarians and communicate effectively with senior officials, high-profile stakeholders, the public and the media using discretion, tact and diplomacy;
• Experience in supervising staff, including conducting performance assessments and coaching, would be considered a strong asset;
• Experience working in a parliamentary environment or in close relationship with it would be considered a strong asset;
• Knowledge of the parliamentary environment including its practices and the legislative process would be considered a strong asset.

Linguistic Requirements

English Reading Comprehension:

C

English Written Expression:

C

English Oral Proficiency:

C

French Reading Comprehension:

C

French Written Expression:

C

French Oral Proficiency:

C

Competencies

Integrity
Respect
Service
Action management
Adaptability
Communication
Judgement
Teamwork and cooperation

Other

Career Path

As a Senate employee, you will be given support, training, opportunities and resources to build and advance your career. You will also train, mentor and assist in the professional development of other colleagues and support staff who work under your direction or supervision.

This job often requires you to work on-site, often for irregular hours and may require you to travel in support of parliamentary business activities. There are periodic rotations between the different services within the Legislative Sector where Procedural Clerks work (Chamber Services, Table Research, Committees or International and Interparliamentary Affairs).

Organizational Needs

The Senate of Canada is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive workplace where all employees are provided full and equal access to employment, development, and advancement opportunities.

Conditions of Employment

Candidates must consent to supply personal information and obtain a security accreditation in order to be eligible for appointment.

Senate of Canada