Co-op: Change & Project Management

Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) | Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité (SCRS); Ottawa; On-site; CAD 47,000 - 66,000; Part time

Job summary

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is offering a Winter 2028 co‑op/internship placement from January to April 2028 for students enrolled in accredited programs.

Eligible candidates must be registered full‑time in a co‑op or internship program; CSIS emphasizes diversity and inclusion and will provide accommodations as needed during recruitment. Preference may be given to bilingual candidates and to those who can commit to multiple placements after the term.

Qualifications

• Enrolled full-time in an accredited co-op or internship program.
• Must be registered in a post-secondary program during the term.
• CSIS encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and accommodations are available.

Responsibilities

• Assist with stream 1 Change Management tasks including roadmaps, readiness assessments, and workshops.
• Assist stream 2 Project Management tasks including artefacts, dashboards, and cost-benefit analysis.
• Support preparation of reports and briefings based on research or data.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Skills

Group projects

Problem solving

Communication

Analytical skills

Excel

Education

College Diploma (3rd year)

Undergraduate degree (3rd year+)

Graduate (Master/PhD)

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Summary

Work Term: Winter 2028 (January – April 2028)

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is seeking to hire students who are looking for a Co‑op or internship placement opportunity from January 2028 to April 2028.

Eligibility: We will only be considering applicants enrolled in an accredited Co‑op or Internship program in line with their program requirements from their post‑secondary academic institution.

CSIS is committed to building a workforce that is truly representative of the Canadians it serves by cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. This will be achieved by increasing employment equity group representation (including persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and women) at all levels within the organization through hiring and talent management practices. Should you require accommodation in relation to a disability, please notify us during the recruitment process, as we will ensure that appropriate accommodations are made (eg. specialized equipment, changes to the physical workspace) to provide employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. In support of achieving a greater, diverse and skilled workforce, we strongly encourage those individuals who belong to one or more of the employment equity groups to self‑identify when applying.

CSIS Offices in Canada are located on various ancestral and traditional lands. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge all Indigenous People across Canada and their connection to these lands.

CSIS is looking for students who thrive on tackling diverse challenges in a unique environment. If you are up for the challenge and want to join one of our highest performing teams, there is no doubt that your contributions to CSIS will provide a meaningful impact to our mission of helping keep Canadians safe against national security threats.

CSIS offers opportunities for students to gain valuable experience with the possibility to return for multiple placements in different areas.

Students will be given the opportunity to cultivate their skills and knowledge by being paired with experienced employees who will provide feedback during the work term. They will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and experience before choosing a career specialization.

Our program is designed to identify and develop potential full‑time employees.

Special consideration may be given to those with a proficiency in both official languages of Canada.

Summary Of Functions

Students will assist with tasks including but not limited to the following:

Stream 1 – Change Management

• Collaborate with departmental Change Management Advisors to develop and implement change roadmaps, ensuring project teams adhere to structured change management methodologies;
• Support change readiness assessments, identifying barriers and facilitating mitigation strategies to ensure projects meet organizational needs and objectives;
• Assist Change Management Advisors to facilitate change workshops and engagement sessions, ensuring teams are equipped to adapt to new processes driven from project changes;
• Support employees on change management best practices to improve adoption of change management practice in the delivery of projects;
• Assist Change Management Advisors to prepare reports and recommendations for senior management on change readiness and effectiveness of projects in compliance of the Project Management Framework;
• Collaborate with project teams on targeted communication strategies, ensuring clear messaging and stakeholder buy‑in including conducting post‑implementation evaluations to track change success and continuous improvement opportunities.

Stream 2 – Project Management

• Assist enterprise‑wide portfolio analysis, assessing project alignment with departmental priorities and long‑term strategic objectives, evaluating project success metrics, risks, and resource allocation effectiveness to achieve project portfolio objectives;
• Assist with the development of project artefacts;
• Collaborate with stakeholders to refine cost‑benefit analysis frameworks for strategic project decisions;
• Support the development of performance dashboards, using data‑driven insights to inform project decision‑making including reports on portfolio trends, identifying risks and opportunities for optimization;
• Develop and implement process and document revisions for continuous improvement in the project portfolio.

Education

Registered full‑time in one of the following academic paths and years at the time of placement:

• College Diploma student in their 3rd year;
• Undergraduate degree student in their 3rd year or higher;
• Graduate‑level student (Master’s or Ph.D.).

Must Be In a Field Of Study Relevant To The Functions Of The Position For Which The Candidates Apply To; Such As, But Not Limited To

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Business Administration
• Commerce
• Engineering
• Information Technology
• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Communication

Applicants must be registered as a full‑time, post‑secondary student in an accredited academic institution recognized in Canada during their work term.

Experience

Candidates with the following experience are preferable.

Experience may have been acquired through formal and informal settings (e.g. school, volunteer work experience or projects).

• Experience working on group projects or initiatives with defined timelines and deliverables;
• Experience in defining problems, root cause analysis and proposing solutions;
• Experience preparing reports, briefing notes, or presentations based on research or data;
• Experience working in team environments, especially cross‑functional or interdisciplinary teams;
• Experience in the use of EXCEL (tables, pivot tables, graphs and charts).

Competencies

• Client Service
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Analytical Skills

Important

We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly, as we will be reviewing and screening applications on a rolling basis until all available positions are filled. Federal Workforce Adjusted (WFA) employees are encouraged to apply for available positions and clearly indicate in their WFA status on their cover letter.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application how they meet each Education and Experience criteria. Failure to do so will result in the applicant being screened out of the career opportunity.

CSIS is a separate employer and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA). CSIS has its own classification, compensation system, and a different staffing regime. As such, we use a different staffing process and terminology.

CSIS is committed to building a workforce that is truly representative of the Canadians it serves by cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. This will be achieved by increasing employment equity group representation (including persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and women) at all levels within the organization through hiring and talent management practices. Gaps have been identified among Indigenous peoples and visible minorities for this position. We will also ensure that appropriate accommodations are made (e.g., specialized equipment, changes to physical workspace) to provide employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. In support of achieving a greater, diverse and skilled workforce, we strongly encourage those individuals who belong to one or more of the employment equity groups to self‑identify when applying.

Should you require accommodation in relation to a disability, please tell us at the beginning of the selection process. This information will be kept confidential.

CSIS Offices in Canada are located on various ancestral and traditional lands. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge all Indigenous People across Canada and their connection to these lands.

The personal information provided in your application is protected under the Privacy Act and will be held in Personal Information Bank SIS/P-PU‑025.

Salary Range

College or undergraduate

Annual Rate: $46,548-$66,035

Hourly Rate: $23.79-$33.75

Graduate

Annual Rate: $53,220-$67,151

Hourly Rate: $27.20-$34.32

Reference Links

• Hourly salary
• Public Service Commission Approved CO‑OP (Co‑operative Education)/Internship Programs
• Self‑assessment language tests

Security Requirements

Candidates must be eligible to receive an Enhanced Top Secret security clearance. The process involves a security interview, a polygraph, and a background investigation that includes credit and financial verifications. The use of illegal drugs is a criminal offense. Drug use is an important factor considered in your reliability and suitability assessment during the selection process. Therefore it is important not to use any illegal drugs from the time you submit your application.