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Parliamentary Budget Officer, Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer,

Appointment Opportunity

We know that our country is stronger — and our government more effective — when decision-makers reflect Canada’s diversity. The Government of Canada has implemented an appointment process that is transparent and merit-based, strives for gender parity, and ensures that Indigenous peoples and minority groups are properly represented in positions of leadership. We continue to search for Canadians who reflect the values that we all embrace: inclusion, honesty, fiscal prudence, and generosity of spirit. Together, we will build a government as diverse as Canada.

The Government of Canada is currently seeking applications from diverse and talented Canadians from across the country who are interested in the following position:

Parliamentary Budget Officer (full-time position)

Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer

The Parliament of Canada Act was amended in 2017 to make the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) an independent Officer of Parliament, to ensure the office has expanded access to data and to enable it to estimate the costs of any election platform proposal at the request of political parties.

The Parliamentary Budget Office’s mandate is to provide independent analysis to Parliament on the budget, the estimates and other documents, as well as matters of particular significance relating to the nation’s finances or economy listed in the PBO’s annual work plan; and at the request of a committee or a parliamentarian, to estimate the financial cost of any proposal that relates to matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction. Certain committees can also request analyses of the nation’s finances or economy or the estimates.

In the months before a general election, the PBO has an additional mandate of responding to requests from political parties or independent members of the House of Commons to estimate the financial cost of any election campaign proposal that the party or member is considering making.

The PBO’s purpose is to support Parliament by providing analysis, including analysis of macroeconomic and fiscal policy, for the purposes of raising the quality of parliamentary debate and promoting greater budget transparency and accountability.

The PBO has the rank of a deputy head of a department of the Government of Canada and is supported by the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The PBO reports directly to Parliament on the performance of his or her mandate through the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Speaker of the Senate. The PBO holds office for a seven year term and may be re-appointed for one or more terms of up to seven years each, to a maximum of 14 years in office in total.

Further details about the organization and its activities can be found on the Parliamentary Budget Officer's website.

Review of applications will begin on April 23, 2018. Candidates must apply online via the Governor in Council Appointments website. Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by this date. After this date, your application will be retained and may be considered up until an appointment to the position is made. Your cover letter should be addressed to the Deputy Director of Selection Processes, Senior Personnel Secretariat, Privy Council Office, and should be sent only through the online application.

Salary Range: $174,700 - $205,500 (GCQ-6)

Position Location: Ottawa

Official Languages and Diversity

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing applicants. You are therefore encouraged to include in your online profile your ability to speak and understand your second official language. Preference may be given to applicants who are members of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of a visible minority group. Bilingualism is a legislative requirement for this position.

To be considered, please ensure that the information provided in your curriculum vitae and cover letter clearly demonstrates how you meet the following requirements:

Education and Experience

  • A degree from a recognized university in a relevant field of study such as economics, business, finance, political science or public administration;
  • A graduate degree or significant experience in economics, public policy, management, business or finance;
  • Significant and direct understanding of the budget process and the expenditure management system of a federal or provincial government;
  • Significant management experience at the senior executive level, in a private or public sector organization, including the supervision of analytical professionals;
  • Significant experience leading high level financial analysis, ideally in a public sector environment;
  • Demonstrated decision-making experience with respect to complex and sensitive issues;
  • Significant experience in communicating complex issues among a variety of stakeholders with competing objectives;
  • Significant experience in media relations and dealing with the public.; and
  • Demonstrated experience and expertise in federal or provincial budgeting.

If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, the following criteria will be assessed:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Knowledge of the federal budget process and the federal government’s expenditure management process;
  • Knowledge of the Parliament of Canada Act, the Financial Administration Act, and other federal laws applicable to the Government of Canada;
  • Significant understanding of the principles and practices of public finance, as well as macro-economic and fiscal policy;
  • Knowledge of the operations of the federal government, including those related to sound management principles, accountability and transparency;
  • Understanding of the Parliament of Canada, Canada’s parliamentary system of governance and the role of agents of Parliament in supporting Parliamentarians;
  • Ability to provide impartial and authoritative advice and support to Parliamentarians on matters relating to the state of Canada’s finances, the estimates of government and trends in the national economy;
  • Ability to respond in a timely and impartial manner to requests for costing of any electoral platform proposal from a registered political party;
  • Ability to respond to complex situations with multiple competing interests arising in a partisan environment;
  • Ability to quickly synthesize and effectively communicate complex information in clear language to non-technical audiences;
  • Ability to develop and maintain constructive relationships and facilitate information-sharing and meaningful dialogue among senior decision-makers; and
  • Superior communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to act as a spokesperson when interacting with the public, stakeholders, media, public institutions, parliamentarians, governments and other organizations.

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both official languages (as set out in the Language Skills Act).

If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, we will contact your references to confirm that you meet the above selection criteria and that you possess the following Personal Attributes:

  • Integrity and high ethical standards
  • Strategic and innovative leader
  • Decisiveness and sound judgment in a highly stressful environment
  • Strong public speaking skills and excellent interpersonal skills
  • Impartiality and independence
  • Tact and discretion

Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment

  • The Language Skills Act requires that upon appointment the PBO must be able to speak and understand clearly both official languages.
  • The Parliamentary Budget Officer shall have demonstrated experience and expertise in federal or provincial budgeting.
  • If you are appointed to this position, you must reside in or be willing to relocate to the National Capital Region, or to a location within a reasonable commuting distance.
  • Appointees must comply with the Ethical and Political Activity Guidelines for Public Office Holders throughout their appointment as a term and condition of employment. The guidelines are available on the Governor in Council Appointments website, under Forms and reference material.
  • All appointees will be subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Public office holders appointed on a full-time basis must also 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.

A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for these positions. It is not, however, intended to be the sole means of recruitment.

A roster of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar opportunities.


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