Recruitment and development programs at Public Works and Government Services Canada

At Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), we are seeking eligible candidates for entry-level positions in finance and purchasing.

The Financial Officer Recruitment and Development Program

The Financial Officer Recruitment and Development (FORD) Program recruits eligible university graduates for full-time, entry-level positions in finance across government. The program is managed by the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

FORD at PWGSC

PWGSC's FORD Program is designed to allow FORD trainees to acquire work experience and to develop competencies and abilities through work assignments and training as financial officers in indeterminate positions at the FI-01 level.

Training assignments

Work assignments and graduate placements are administered based on operational requirements, taking into consideration trainee preference where possible. There is no set pattern for trainee assignments as operational requirements change frequently; trainees must be flexible in accepting assignments.

Trainees will have assignments within the Finance and Administration Branch, the Accounting, Banking and Compensation Branch or any other branch requiring FI resources. They will be placed into a 24 or 30 month training program, divided into three eight or ten month assignments.

Learning and development

The Department invests in trainee development by supporting multiple learning activities. In addition to on-the-job assignments, the program allows time and financial support to attend corporate learning activities, skill training and OCG orientation sessions. All of these training courses must be on the trainee’s personal learning plan. It is important to note that the program supports its trainees in acquiring a professional designation.

Are you interested?

Once you have been notified by the OCG that you are in the FORD Program inventory, we will:

You must be successful at each step to advance to the next.

Bilingualism

We emphasize a bilingual work environment and take pride in enriching a diverse community. If we schedule you for second language testing, you will be assessed in reading, writing and oral proficiency. To be considered for a training assignment at PWGSC, you must test at a minimum proficiency level of BBB.

Security clearance

Before you begin your assignment at PWGSC, we will ask you to complete a security clearance form. Why? Employees will often need to access secure information to do their jobs. After you submit the form, security personnel will conduct a background check to make sure that you may work here.

The Intern Officer Development Program

The Intern Officer Development Program recruits and develops eligible university graduates as supply officer trainees at PWGSC. Trainees are brought in at the PG-01 classification level and, upon successfully completing the program, are promoted to permanent supply specialists at the PG-04 level.

What work would you do?

Complete a one-year assignment

Under the guidance of a coach, you will learn the basics of contracting. These include:

Perform four developmental work assignments

Once you successfully complete your first assignment, you will begin a six-month developmental work assignment at the PG-02 level. You will complete four developmental work assignments in total, each lasting about six months and becoming more complex. You will be formally assessed to determine whether you may advance to the next level.

Become a supply specialist

Once you successfully complete all of your developmental work assignments, and meet the standards of competence at each level, you will graduate as a certified supply specialist at the PG-04 level.

Are you interested?

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