Member, Immigration and Refugee Board

Governor in Council Appointments; Montreal; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Governor in Council Appointments seeks a highly qualified member for the Immigration Appeal/Refugee Refugee Board, to interpret and decide on complex immigration and refugee matters. The role requires a law degree, bar admission, and strong analytical, written, and oral communication skills.

On-site hearings in Montréal and travel across Canada may be required. The successful candidate will demonstrate integrity, independence, and the ability to manage a high-volume workload while upholding the

Qualifications

• A university degree or equivalent education, training and experience.
• Recent and significant experience interpreting and applying legislation, regulations, and policies in regulatory/administrative contexts.
• Experience analyzing and synthesizing complex information to prepare written decisions or recommendations.
• Member in good standing of a provincial bar or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, with at least five years of membership, asset.
• Experience applying the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or UN Convention relating to refugees would be asset.

Responsibilities

• Interpret and apply immigration and refugee law to decisions or recommendations.
• Prepare written decisions and recommendations based on complex information from multiple sources.
• Analyze and synthesize information, assess evidence, and render impartial, well-reasoned decisions.
• Manage time-sensitive priorities and high-volume workload to issue decisions promptly.
• Communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, and participate in hearings and meetings as required.

Skills

Administrative law

Oral and written communication

Legal decision-making

Time management

Bilingual proficiency

Education

University degree or equivalent

Bar admission or Québec notary designation (asset)

Job description

Immigration and Refugee Board, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Portfolio: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

**If you have previously qualified for a Governor in Council-appointed member role with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, you must submit a new application to remain under consideration for this position.

The Immigration and Refugee Board is an independent administrative tribunal. The Board decides refugee protection claims and immigration and refugee appeals, holds admissibility hearings and conducts detention reviews.

Members of the Refugee Appeal Division and the Immigration Appeal Division work as independent decision-makers, conducting proceedings fairly, efficiently and in accordance with the law. By making timely and well-informed decisions on refugee and immigration-related appeals, members play a vital role in upholding the integrity of Canada's immigration and refugee determination system.

Education and Experience

Please ensure that the information provided in your curriculum vitae and cover letter clearly demonstrates how you meet the following requirements:

A degree from a recognized university or an acceptable combination of equivalent education, training and professional experience;

Recent and significant experience interpreting and applying legislation, regulations, and policies to make decisions or recommendations on sensitive or complex issues within a regulatory, adjudicative, or administrative context;

Recent and significant experience analyzing and synthesizing complex information from multiple sources to prepare written decisions or recommendations;

Member in good standing of a provincial bar or the Chambre des notaires du Québec, with at least five years of membership, would be considered an asset;

Experience in applying the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or in the application of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees would be considered assets.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The following criteria will be assessed:

Knowledge of the role and mandate of the Board;

Knowledge of administrative law and of the legal and administrative principles governing independent administrative tribunals, including jurisdiction, the law of evidence, and tribunal procedures;

Ability to apply relevant principles and procedures in an adjudicative context;

Ability to analyze and synthesize complex information, assess evidence, and render impartial, well-reasoned, and defensible decisions;

Ability to manage time-sensitive priorities and a high-volume workload, including meeting established productivity expectations for the timely issuance of appeal decisions;

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to produce clear, well-reasoned, and high-quality decisions;

Ability to work with standard office and collaboration technologies (e.g., word processing, email, Microsoft Teams).

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both official languages is preferred.

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency when assessing applicants. Your online profile must include your proficiency in speaking and understanding your second official language.

Personal Attributes

The following will be verified by references at a later date:

High ethical standards and integrity

Sound judgment

Impartiality

Autonomy and reliability

Inclusivity and collegiality

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Government of Canada is committed to providing a healthy and accessible workplace and to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. With this in mind, appointees will be expected to promote and maintain a healthy, respectful, inclusive and harassment-free work environment.

Candidates who belong to one or more of the designated employment equity groups are encouraged to self-identify when applying. Preference may be given to applicants who are members of one or more of the following groups: Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and women.

Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment

• All appointees are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Reporting 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 their appointment, a confidential report in which they disclose all of their assets, liabilities and outside activities.
• All appointees are subject to the Terms and conditions applying to Governor in Council appointees. They must uphold the highest standards of probity and are expected to demonstrate behaviours in the workplace that afford respect, equality and dignity to everyone they interact with at work at all times. The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector outlines the values, principles and expected behaviours for public servants, including valuing diversity and creating workplaces free from harassment and discrimination. Governor in Council appointees are expected to uphold and respect these values and principles throughout their time in public office.
• Appointees must also respect the principles of any code of conduct that applies to the organization to which they are appointed.
• Appointees may not accept or hold any office or employment or carry on any activity inconsistent with their duties and functions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (statutory).
• Full-time appointees must devote the whole of their time to the performance of their duties under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (statutory).
• Appointees must hold Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status.
• Appointees must reside within a reasonable commuting distance of an IRB office in Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, or Vancouver.
• Appointees must be willing to travel across Canada to attend meetings and training.
• Appointees must be available to work on‑site at an IRB office for in‑person hearings, professional development activities, certain meetings, or at other times determined by their member manager.
• Appointees must be able to obtain and maintain an Enhanced Reliability security clearance.

A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette and shared on the Government of Canada’s LinkedIn page.

A list of qualified candidates may be established and may be considered for other appointment opportunities.