Chairperson and Members, Canadian Statistics Advisory Council

Recent amendments to the Statistics Act created the new Canadian Statistics Advisory Council. The membership of this Council will be composed of up to 10 members, including one Chairperson. In addition, the Chief Statistician will serve as an ex-officio member on the Council.

The Council’s mandate is to advise the Chief Statistician and the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development on matters concerning the overall quality of the national statistical system, including the relevance, accuracy, accessibility and timeliness of its data. The Council will publish an annual report on the state of the national statistical system.

The Chairperson will provide leadership to the Council, preside over all Council meetings, serve as the primary spokesperson with media, stakeholders, and government officials, liaise with and communicate advice to the Chief Statistician and the Minister on behalf of the Council, and ensure Council activities and work are done in a transparent and impartial manner. The Chairperson will also provide leadership in the development and production of the annual report on the state of the national statistical system.

Members provide support to the Chairperson and will bring a broad viewpoint and expertise to the issues being discussed by the Council and provide thoughtful advice that encompasses the perspectives of all stakeholders. Members will assess multiple viewpoints, interests and issues from a national perspective, as well as support the development of the annual report on the state of the national statistical system.

Per Diem:

• Chairperson: $550.00 - $650.00
  


• Members: $375.00 - $450.00
  

Diversity and Official Languages

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.

Education and Experience

• Candidates interested in being considered for the Chairperson and/or member positions must have:
  
  
  
  • A degree from a recognized university in a relevant field of study or a combination of equivalent education, job-related training and experience;
    
  
  
  • A degree in statistics, economics or any field providing considerable knowledge and training in research methods and quantitative analysis would be considered an asset;
    
  
  
  • Experience in providing senior executives with strategic non-partisan advice on complex issues;
    
  
  
  • Experience serving as a member of a board of directors of a large private or public sector organization;
    
  
  
  • Experience in contributing to strategic planning exercises for an organization to achieve its mandate and identified priorities;
    
  
  
  • Experience in one or more of the following areas:
    
    
    
    • Assessing the performance of large and complex systems or organizations;
      
    
    
    • Contributing to the creation, writing and publication of public reports on complex matters;
      
    
    
    • Working in international fora and/or addressing complex policy or governance issues in the global context;
      
    
    
    • Leading and managing within a public or private sector organization;
      
    
    
    • Experience dealing with stakeholders and different levels of government, preferably with senior officials.
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Experience in using digital technologies to remake business processes to transform service delivery would be considered an asset;
    
  
  
  • Experience in using new data collection techniques (e.g. big data, text-mining) and integrating them in large data infrastructure would be considered an asset; and
    
  
  
  • Experience in the use of gender-based analysis to explore the changing realities and inequalities of diverse groups of people would be considered an asset.
    
  
  
  
  
• Candidates interested in being considered for the Chairperson position must additionally have:
  
  
  
  • A post-graduate degree in statistics, economics or any field providing considerable knowledge and training in research methods and quantitative analysis would be considered an asset;
    
  
  
  • Experience serving as Chairperson of a board of directors of a large, private or public sector organization; and
    
  
  
  • Experience overseeing the creation, writing and publication of public reports on complex matters.
    
  
  
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Candidates interested in being considered for the Chairperson and/or member positions must have:
  
  
  
  • Knowledge of the role and responsibilities of the Chief Statistician, the mandate and activities of Statistics Canada, as well as the legislative framework within which it operates;
    
  
  
  • Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing national statistical systems, of the fundamental principles guiding their work, and of the evolving world of information technology and data collection techniques and opportunities;
    
  
  
  • Knowledge of the digital transformation of the economy and the impacts, opportunities and challenges of disruptive technologies related to data, such as, big data, internet of things and artificial intelligence and their potential impact on the national statistics system;
    
  
  
  • Ability to perform assessments of complex systems or organizations, including strategies, plans, operations and financial information, to produce high quality analysis and provide sound advice while demonstrating integrity and independence through non-partisanship;
    
  
  
  • Ability to assess stakeholder interests from a national perspective;
    
  
  
  • Ability to develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with other Council members; and
    
  
  
  • Superior communication skills, both written and oral.
    
  
  
  
  


• Candidates interested in being considered for the Chairperson position must additionally have:
  
  
  
  • Ability to perform assessments of complex systems or organizations, including strategies, plans, operations and financial information, to produce high quality analysis and provide sound advice while demonstrating integrity and independence through non-partisanship;
    
  
  
  • Ability to anticipate emerging issues and trends, and develop strategies to enable the Chief Statistician and the Minister to seize opportunities and solve problems, particularly as they relate to Statistics Canada;
    
  
  
  • Ability to develop and maintain strong and effective relationships with senior government officials, and key stakeholders in the statistical system;
    
  
  
  • Ability to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders with divergent views, and synthesize diverse viewpoints and opinions into strategic advice;
    
  
  
  • Ability to facilitate consensus and manage conflicts, should they arise; and
    
  
  
  • Ability to manage communications with a variety of stakeholders, including the media, senior federal government officials, parliamentary committees, provincial/territorial and foreign governments, and other organizations.
    
  
  
  
  

Language Requirements

Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred.

• High ethical standards, integrity and impartiality
  


• Strong analytical skills
  


• Sound judgement
  


• Superior interpersonal and communications skills
  


• Tact and diplomacy
  

Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment

• 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 the Forms and reference material.


• All appointees are subject to the Conflicts 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 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.

• Appointees 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 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 in a positive and active manner.
  


• You are available for approximately 10-15 days of remunerated work per year.
  


• You are willing and able to travel as required.
  

A link to this notice will be placed in the Canada Gazette to assist the Governor in Council in identifying qualified candidates for this 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.

How to Apply

Review of applications will begin on November 9, 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.

Instructions on how to apply for an appointment opportunity can be found on the Governor in Council Appointments website.