Co-op: Communications

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

Job summary

Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is seeking students for a Winter 2028 co‑op/internship from January to April 2028. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited co‑op or internship program and available for the entire term.

CSIS emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and accommodation throughout the recruitment process. Selected interns will gain experience across five streams—Digital Communications, Employee Communications/Engagement, Technical Production, Communications and Issues

Qualifications

• Willingness to work in a structured program requiring formal education credits.
• Eligibility requires being enrolled in an accredited Co-op or Internship program.
• Candidates must be full‑time students during the work term.

Responsibilities

• Assist with management and updates of CSIS websites in line with guidelines.
• Assist in writing/editing internal and external communications; support events.
• Provide technical production support for video, broadcasting, and photography projects.
• Draft briefing materials, speeches, and media lines for senior officials.
• Research trends in external/internal communications and report findings.
• Coordinate with regional offices and stakeholders to support communications.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication

Interpersonal Skills

Judgement

Problem Solving

Education

College Diploma student in 3rd year

Undergraduate degree student in 3rd year or higher

Graduate-level student (Master’s or Ph.D.)

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

Stream 1 - Digital Communications

• Assist with the management and ongoing development of the CSIS Websites (internal and external) while conforming to CSIS guidelines;
• Assist with the government requirements on security, privacy, accessibility, official languages, and common look and feel standards;
• Code web pages and post files on CSIS websites, and assist in writing and editing content when needed;
• Consult with clients and colleagues, obtain and provide information, discuss and confirm requirements, and provide support in the delivery of digital communications services;
• Provide support in the planning, coordination and management of regular updates of information on CSIS websites.

Stream 2 - Strategic Employee Communications / Engagement

• Assist in writing and editing internal and/or external communications products;
• Consult with clients and colleagues, obtain and provide information, discuss and confirm requirements and provide support in the delivery of communications services;
• Provide support in the planning, coordination and management of external/internal events, including preparing communications materials, working with regional offices, other departments and stakeholders;
• Research and analyze trends and emerging issues in the external/internal communications environments, and report on findings.

Stream 3 – Technical Production

• Provide technical support on video production, broadcasting and photography services and projects, and prepare reports and statistics on activities;
• Monitor and coordinate equipment quality control and reliability; complete preventive maintenance and repairs;
• Coordinate the archiving or disposal of equipment and recommend new equipment upgrades and acquisitions;
• Help conceptualize projects and liaise with internal and external clients/partners during phases of production;
• Troubleshoot technical audio‑visual issues by testing equipment and provide solutions;
• Create multimedia files and assets from various resources and ensure they conform to corporate standards and are compatible with various systems;
• Research and evaluate new technologies, tools, procedures and applications and remain up‑to‑date on evolving multimedia requirements, products and best practices.

Stream 4 - Communications and Issues Management

• Support the development and coordination of strategic communication files by providing related advice to senior management;
• Prepare briefing material, speeches, media lines, correspondence and presentations for the Director, Minister and senior officials;
• Draft rapid response briefing notes relating to ongoing political, legal, and corporate issues as well as fast‑moving operational issues;
• Assist in the development and implementation of communication strategies. This might include drafting strategic content for social media channels, and coordination with stakeholders to elevate the public dialogue on national security;
• Monitor and analyse media reporting to detect and respond to emerging trends or changes within the security environment (foreign and domestic) that could have consequences for the reputation and operational interests of CSIS.

Stream 5 – Research and Partnerships

• Conduct research on national security and intelligence issues to inform future engagement or outreach initiatives, including proactive horizon scanning to find academics or experts of interest to the Service;
• Liaise with internal and external organizations on matters related to the branch, including events and conferences, research topics, and engagement initiatives;
• Draft and disseminate reports for internal and external audiences, including event reports, briefing notes, guidance documents, and other written products;
• Evaluate and analyze post‑event results by: gathering and compiling material to review past events, to recommend adjustments, and/or propose new ideas to improve the event planning and implementation process;
• Develop and determine appropriate communication/publications in order to promote the branch’s events and build awareness with internal clients and potential external target audiences;
• Coordinate, on a national and regional scale, the branch’s activities with domestic and foreign partners and other organizations.

Education

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

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

Enrolled Within The Following Areas Of Study

Stream 1-3

• Communications
• Journalism
• Advertising
• Marketing
• Web Design
• Graphic Design
• Audio/Visual Production
• Media Techniques

Stream 4

• Communications
• Journalism
• Advertising
• Marketing

Stream 5

• Communications
• International Relations
• Political Science

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 experience with the following is preferable:

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

• Writing and editing communication products for various audiences. This includes social media content, communication plans, fact sheets, backgrounders, media responses and media lines;
• Providing strategic advice, conducting analysis and making recommendations;
• Compiling and analyzing information to support product development or coordinate initiatives;
• Collaborating or coordinating with clients, colleagues and stakeholders;
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet tight deadlines.

Assets

All streams

• Writing and editing communication products for various audiences.

Stream 4 only

• Experience with social media platforms and tools such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Hootsuite and Instagram.

Competencies

• Analytical Skills
• Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Judgement
• Problem Solving

Notes

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.

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.

Others

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.

We thank all applicants for their interest in CSIS. However, only those who are selected for further consideration will be contacted.