Team Leader

Important messages

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

The Federal Public Service is stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is dedicated to building a diverse workforce and an equitable, inclusive and accessible workplace culture. We are committed to being representative of Canadian society and ensuring that our workforce feels they belong. All candidates in the area of selection who believe they are qualified are encouraged to apply, especially equity groups like members of a racialized group, persons living with a disability, Indigenous Peoples, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Bringing your whole self to work each day is important to us. We are genuinely interested in understanding who you are and what your identity factors are.

Accessibility:

Set yourself up for success! As the objective of this process is to assess qualifications needed for the position(s) to be staffed, it is important to us that you feel included and that you can participate without barriers. We are committed to improving accessibility in all areas of our organization and adopting a “Yes, by default” approach when necessary requirements are requested. You are encouraged to communicate your unique needs for accessibility and/or accommodation. For example, you may contact us if you need assistance in completing and submitting your application. Should you proceed to a future assessment stage, such as an exam or interview, we will send you an e-mail with additional information and you can determine if you may require an accommodation at that time (such as, but not limited to, a different test format, an adaptive technology, additional time, a new date, etc.). Assessment accommodations are designed to remove the obstacles without altering the criteria being assessed so that candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.

Please use the contact information below to request accommodation during any phase of this assessment process. This information will be kept confidential and your right to privacy will be protected.

Duties

As a Team Leader at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, you work with and are responsible for the supervision of a team of lawyers and support staff who together will be responsible for carrying on the criminal litigation work in Thunder Bay, Kenora and its satellite jurisdiction. The position is however based in Thunder Bay. In addition, to being the Team Leader, you will conduct criminal prosecutions on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions on many diverse and complex cases related to drug charges and organized crime. You will quickly gain a breadth of knowledge and experience as you work on complex, intricate or emerging legal principles (i.e. lengthy investigations with significant evidence gathered, often taking many forms, such as surveillance, intercepted communications, undercover police officers, judicial authorizations, and often including more than one accused).

Joining the Public Prosecution Service of Canada will be a transformative experience, both professionally and personally.

Work environment

The Department:

The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) is a federal government organization responsible for the prosecution of criminal offenses under federal jurisdiction. Our organization consists of approximately 1000 employees in regional offices across the country who all play a key role in strengthening Canada’s criminal justice system.

The National Capital Regional Office (NCRO) is responsible for federal prosecutions in the East, Northwestern, and Northeastern regions of Ontario, as well as in judicial districts in western Quebec. The regional headquarters is located in Ottawa.

The NCRO expanded with the creation of a brand-new office in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and is located on beautiful Lake Superior. We are looking at building a team of lawyers to take on this challenging work. Thunder Bay’s economy is a "knowledge economy" based on medical research and education. It has become the regional center for most provincial departments as well as the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Institute, Lakehead University and Confederation College.

Thunder Bay rests on the Canadian Shield with an abundance of nature activities and trails including on the famous Sleeping Giant, a large formation of mesas in Lake Superior that resembles a reclining giant. Thunder Bay is also home to a variety of music performance arts venues and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, the only professional orchestra between Winnipeg and Toronto.

In 2023, we updated our Mission and Values to reflect our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation as well as Equity and Inclusion. The PPSC acknowledges the realities faced by individuals subjected to systemic discrimination and the significant over-representation of racialized and Indigenous persons in the criminal justice system. The PPSC’s mission is to serve the public interest and help make Canada a safe and just society by conducting prosecutions in a manner that is equitable, objective and independent, while protecting the rights of every individual; and contributing to the change necessary to support a criminal justice system that is fair to all.

The PPSC also updated the Decision to Prosecute test, which provides clear guidance to prosecutors on how to be more proactive and conscious about recognizing bias, discrimination, and other factors contributing to over-representation. Prosecutors now have a framework to consider background and systemic factors. These factors are considered not only as they relate to the accused, but also to the victim and affected communities, particularly Indigenous women and girls. It also seeks to clarify situations where the public interest may not require a prosecution.

Every PPSC employee has a role to play in creating a work environment where every person can bring their whole self to work and feel valued and empowered to contribute. Being informed and influenced by our diverse employees helps change the heart and conscience of the PPSC. As part of the larger PPSC Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) governance structure, you can join one of five National Councils for Employees: Persons living with Disabilities, Racialized Persons, Black Persons, Indigenous Peoples, and 2SLGBTQIA+.

Intent of the process

The immediate need is to staff one (1) position on an indeterminate basis.

Positions to be filled: 1

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION:
- Eligibility for membership in the Law Society of Ontario.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCE:
- Significant* experience in criminal litigation.
- Experience mentoring others on matters relating to criminal law and litigation.

*Significant is defined as experience associated with a broad range of progressively increasing complexity of criminal litigation over a six (6) year period accumulated within the past twelve (12) years.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
- In-depth* knowledge of the role and practices of Crown Counsel in the conduct of criminal litigation in the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
- In-depth* knowledge of criminal law and procedures including knowledge of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its relevant case law.
- Knowledge of the Treasury Board’s Directive on the Prevention and Resolution of Workplace Harassment and Violence.

*In-depth is defined as specialist in one or more areas of law, having thorough knowledge.

COMPETENCIES:
- Specialized Skills and Knowledge (such as understanding one’s role, legal skills and legal knowledge)
- Professionalism (such as professional conduct, professional fortitude, service orientation and self assessment)
- Practice Management (such as file management and law practice standards)
- Communicating effectively (such as verbally, in writing and by listening attentively)
- Values and Ethics (such as serving with integrity and respect)
- Strategic Thinking (such as innovating through analysis and ideas)
- Engagement (such as mobilizing people, organizations and partners)
- Management Excellence (such as delivering through action management, people management and financial management)

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ASSET QUALIFICATIONS - EXPERIENCE:
- Experience leading or taking on a leadership role in a litigation team.
- Experience working in remote communities, including Indigenous and fly-in communities.
- Extensive* experience providing advice or conducting prosecutions under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

*Extensive is defined as the depth and breadth of legal work experience. Depth and breadth represents the degree or extent of legal work experience in multiple issues, with multiple partners/stakeholders, and in situations with multiple impacts/risks.

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS:
- The PPSC is committed to establishing and maintaining a representative workforce. We encourage candidates belonging to one or more of the following equity groups to self-declare: Indigenous peoples, persons living with a disability, members of a visible minority group, and women. Applications from those who self-declare as belonging to one of these groups could be considered first. They could also be given preference at the hiring stage.

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Possession of a valid driver’s license. Note: the license class must, at a minimum, authorize the driver to drive a car, van or small truck, on all roads and highways without an accompanying driver.
- Requirement to travel which may include assignments on short notice and for extended periods.
- Ability and willingness to work outside normal working hours which may include working evenings, nights and weekends based on operational needs.

Conditions of employment

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Security Clearance: Enhanced Reliability and Secret
- Member in good standing in the Bar of one of the provinces or territories of Canada.
- Must be a member, in good standing, of the Law Society of Ontario within 100 days of appointment.
- Applicants must be willing to be assigned to other types of work at the same group, level and tenure within the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Assignment of work may be made within or between the various teams of counsel within the office and will be based on operational considerations and will not require relocation of residence.
- All conditions of employment must be met and maintained by applicants throughout their tenure in the position.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse 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.

Information on employment equity

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Contact information

Apply online