COMSEC Operations Professional - UNMA

Communications Security Establishment Canada; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. Join our COMSEC Operations team at the Edward Drake Building in Ottawa to deliver cryptographic services to Government of Canada agencies and international partners.

You will work in a specialized IT services environment, handling production, support and logistics of cryptographic materials.

Qualifications

• University degree or college diploma in Computer/Systems Engineering, Computer Science or IT Security or related field.
• Combination of education, training and experience acceptable as above.
• Proof of education credentials required; graduates within 12 months are eligible.

Responsibilities

• Respond to client requests while operating specialized systems within diverse service environments.
• Deliver sensitive cryptographic services following established procedures.
• Manage specialized equipment and provide logistical support.
• Follow information management, administrative, policy and operational guidelines.

Skills

IT support

Technical documentation

Education

University degree or college diploma in related field

Combination of education, training and experience acceptable

Job description

Reference number: RF-17153

About CSE

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. Learn more about our mission, and what it means to work in a security and intelligence field.

CSE is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. This isn’t just an ideal, it’s crucial to our mission. Find out about our workplace culture, including our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Become part of our team and you’ll understand why CSE is the most important organization you’ve never heard of (YouTube).

Job summary

Join the Communications Security (COMSEC) Operations and Administration team for a unique opportunity at the centre of Canada’s national security and intelligence community. Our team provides cryptographic services, support and oversight by applying prescribed techniques and security guidelines. As part of a multi-functional team, you will help deliver COMSEC services to Government of Canada agencies, international partners and designated members of the Canadian private sector.

As a COMSEC Operations Professional, you will work in a unique information technology (IT) services environment and contribute to the delivery of key COMSEC services for the Government of Canada. You will be responsible for the production, support, and logistics of cryptographic materials. Other responsibilities include:

• Respond to client requests while operating specialized systems within our diverse service provision environments.
• Follow established procedures to deliver sensitive cryptographic services to users.
• Manage specialized equipment and provide logistical support.
• Follow information management, administrative, policy and operational guidelines.

This is not a traditional IT support role. It is a unique opportunity to work in a specialized field where you can learn and develop new skills. You will receive on-the-job training and mentoring to help you succeed in your daily tasks.

Salary

To find out more about our salary scale, vacation allowances and benefits (health, dental and pension plans, etc.) visit the Compensation page on our website.

Area of selection

Open to Canadian citizens.

Location

Ottawa, Ontario. All jobs require full-time onsite presence at our Edward Drake Building. More information about our accessible facilities can be found on our website.

Conditions of employment

A valid Enhanced Top Secret (ETS) security clearance is a condition of employment that must be met before an offer can be made.

More information about our hiring and security processes can be found on our website.

Essential qualifications

In order to be considered, your cover letter must clearly explain how you meet the following education and experience requirements.

Education

You must have either one of the following:

• A university degree or college diploma in a field related to the position, such as (but not limited to): Computer/Systems Engineering, Computer Science, IT Security; or
• An acceptable combination of education in a field related to the position (as above), training and relevant experience.

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada, and you must be able to provide proof of education credentials. Students graduating within the next twelve months are eligible to apply.

Experience

• Experience working with or responding to IT service requests from clients.
• Recent experience in one of the following:
  • Providing IT support to internal or external clients, or
  • Maintaining IT equipment and hardware.
• Experience writing or contributing to technical documentation.

Note: For the purposes of this hiring process, “recent” is defined as experience having normally been acquired within the last three years.

Official language requirements

English essential, bilingual imperative: BBB

• English essential means that the position is unilingual English.
• Bilingual means that knowledge of both official languages (English and French) is required for the position.
  • Imperative means that you must possess the knowledge of both official languages before a job offer can be made.
• The profile (e.g. CBC/CBC) represent the proficiency level you must demonstrate in each of the language skills (reading, writing and oral interaction) for the bilingual position. For bilingual positions, second language evaluations will be offered to candidates who don’t have valid language test results issued by the Government of Canada.

Find out more about the language requirements of positions.

Competencies

The following technical, behavioural and leadership competencies will be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge of IT
• IT User Support / Help Desk
• IT Service Management Processes

Behavioural competencies

• Cognitive thinking skills
• Interactive communication
• Working in a team

Leadership competencies

• Achieving results
• Integrity, respect and awareness

Assets

Assets are “nice-to-have” expertise and skills we’re interested in. They may be used to identify which team you could best complement, or they may be invoked as a volume management strategy.

Please demonstrate on your application if you meet or possess the asset experience listed below.

Asset experience

An industry certification relevant to the networking stream such as:

• Experience managing, handling, configuring, or operating accountable COMSEC material.

Asset competencies

The following asset technical and functional competencies may be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application.

• Knowledge of Communication Security
• Policy Interpretation, Application and Compliance

Operational requirements

Due to the operational support nature of the role, overtime, standby duty and callback may be required.

Important information

Assessments of candidates are conducted in the official language of their choice.

We ask you to 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.

To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to one, or more, designated employment equity groups: women; Indigenous peoples, including First Nations who are status, or registered and non-status, or non-registered, Inuit and Métis; persons with disabilities, including people with a mental health condition and neurodivergent people; and persons from racial or ethnic groups.

Please note the Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

CSE offers an assessment process that will accommodate any reasonable measures you require to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Those measures are available to all candidates during our processes. Information you provide will be addressed confidentially.

All communications with CSE relating to this process, including email messages and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

The intent of this process is to fill vacant positions at CSE. The process may also be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates which could be used to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures.

Please note that in an effort to maintain balance between employee development and business needs, candidates who are hired at CSE must remain in their substantive position for a minimum of twelve (12) months subject to operational requirements.

We thank you for your interest in CSE. However, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.