Program Assistant

Special posting considerations:
The intention of this process is to staff one term position immediately (1-year) and establish a pool of partially and fully qualified candidates that may be used to staff indeterminate or term positions within the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Who we are

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is Canada’s largest funder of science and engineering. A career at NSERC means supporting the visionaries, explorers and innovators who are searching for the scientific and technical breakthroughs that will advance knowledge, improve the lives of Canadians and transform the world for the better.

Visit our careers page at NSERC to learn more about why you should join our agency. 

What you will do 

The Program Assistant (PA) provides administrative assistance to Managers and other internal clients in support of the delivery of grants and awards for multiple programs within the Research Technologies and Partnerships Directorate. The PA communicates on a daily basis with external stakeholders, including universities, companies and other government organizations, and organizes the logistics and travel for several ad-hoc evaluation committees that are involved in the peer review process.

What you need to succeed

Education

• High School Diploma
• Foreign Credential Validation against Canadian Standards

Experience

• Experience in providing administrative support services
• Experience with current office technologies and standard software packages (MS-Excel, MS-Word, Outlook, Acrobat)
• Experience in client relations 
• Experience in maintaining client portfolios and electronic and/or paper records would be considered an asset
• Experience in grants and contributions funding administration would be considered an asset

Knowledge

• Knowledge of administrative procedures
• Knowledge of relevant software tools for administrative support
• General knowledge of NSERC’s mission
• General Knowledge of peer review would be considered an asset
• General Knowledge of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act would be considered an asset.

Competencies

• Identification and analysis of client needs
• Analytical thinking
• Performing office tasks
• Ability to work effectively with others
• Demonstrating organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Effective communication (verbal and written) 

Equity, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to inclusive and barrier-free recruitment to create a workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

We welcome all candidates, and encourage applications from women, Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit), veterans, persons with disabilities, Black and other racialized persons, persons of ethnic origins, diverse religions, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Accommodation

Let our team know if you require accommodation or support during the recruitment process by contacting us at recruiting-recrutement@nserc-crsng.gc.ca. 

If you require additional information on the position, please contact us at recruiting-recrutement@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.