Foreign Language Intelligence Analyst (Russian)

About CSE

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. Learn more about our mission.

CSE is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. This isn’t just an ideal, it’s crucial to our mission. Find out about our workplace culture, including our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Become part of our team and you’ll understand why CSE is the most important organization you’ve never heard of.

Job summary

We’re looking to hire Foreign Language Intelligence Analysts from diverse backgrounds to work in a dynamic and innovative operational environment.

In this role, you’ll use your Russian linguistic skills and your interest in international affairs to protect Canada’s people, interests, and national security from serious threats, including terrorism, organized crime, cyber attacks, and espionage.

В этой роли вы будете использовать свои знания русского языка и интерес к международным отношениям чтобы защищать людей, интересы и национальную безопасность Канады от серьезных угроз, включая терроризм, организованную преступность, кибератаки и шпионаж.

As a Foreign Language Intelligence Analyst, you’ll play an essential role in the foreign intelligence and foreign cyber operations aspect of CSE’s mandate to acquire information from or through the global information infrastructure. You’ll use, analyze and disseminate the information for the purpose of providing foreign intelligence, in accordance with the Government of Canada’s priorities.

With your research and analytical skills, your creativity, and your ability to identify and solve problems, you’ll piece together information collected from a variety of sources. You’ll provide context to your findings based on your expertise and knowledge of international affairs.  You’ll be working in a high-paced operational environment within a multidisciplinary team.

As a successful applicant, you have an eagerness to take on new challenges and learning opportunities. You’ll learn more about telecommunications technology and different analytical tools by working closely with technical experts in other parts of CSE. You’ll develop and strengthen the competencies required to support operational efforts on matters of national security to the Government of Canada by receiving training and mentoring.

All of CSE’s activities are conducted in accordance with the CSE Act, which requires that our activities not be directed at Canadians anywhere in the world, or any person in Canada. The CSE Act also requires that we protect the privacy of Canadians and persons in Canada in the execution of our operations.

Salary range

To find out more about our salary scale, vacation allowances and benefits (health, dental and pension plans, etc.) visit the compensation page on our website.

These positions may be eligible for the Foreign Language Incentive Program (FLIP). FLIP is an additional allowance which does not form part of the annual salary. It is calculated as a percentage of your salary, up to a maximum of 8% depending on the language and your level of your proficiency. This allowance is negotiated through the collective bargaining process.

Area of selection

Open to Canadian citizens. Preference may be given to candidates residing within the National Capital Region.

Location

Ottawa, Ontario. All jobs require full-time onsite presence in one of our two accessible facilities.

Learn more about where we work.

Essential qualifications

In order to be considered, your cover letter must clearly explain how you meet the following education and experience requirements.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada, and you must be able to provide proof of education credentials.

Experience

• Experience reading and listening to Russian at an advanced* level in any setting, including but not limited to: academic, professional and/or social settings.
• Experience conducting research and analyzing information and data.
• Experience developing written products and documentation, such as but not limited to: reports, business cases or briefing notes.

Note: In the context of this selection process, “advanced” is defined as a full comprehension of the language as is it used by native speakers.  

Official language requirements

• English essential; or
• Bilingual imperative: BBB/BBB

Competencies

The following technical, behavioural and leadership competencies will be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application.

Technical competencies

• Foreign Languages
• Analytical Thinking
• Target Knowledge and Context
• Policies and Procedures

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability/autonomy
• Interactive communication
• Working in a team

Leadership competencies

• Achieving results
• Collaboration

Assets

Assets are “nice-to-have” expertise and skills we’re interested in.  If you do have them, they may be used to identify which team you could best complement, or they may be invoked as a volume management strategy. Please demonstrate on your application if you meet or possess the asset education or asset experience listed below.

Asset education

• Graduation from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field related to the position, such as, but not limited to:  linguistics, translation, foreign languages, international relations or political science.

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada and you must be able to provide proof of education credentials. Students graduating within the next twelve months are eligible to apply.

Asset experience

• Experience in written or verbal translation from Russian to English or English to Russian
• Practical experience working with IT systems in an enterprise or academic setting. Examples may include but are not limited to:
  • Network administration, analysis or troubleshooting
  • IT system development, maintenance, or administration
  • Working in an IT helpdesk
  • Security operations, incident response, threat intelligence, security research, or similar experience/certification
• Experience working in a domestic intelligence organization

Operational requirements

Overtime and standby duty may be required.

How to apply

You may submit your candidacy online by selecting “Apply Now” at the bottom of this page.

If you cannot apply online or have a disability preventing you from applying online, please inform us by email at careers-carrieres@cse-cst.gc.ca prior to the closing date of this selection process.

Important information

We ask you to not discuss your application with others (including on social media) besides your partner, or close family members - who should also be reminded about the need to be discreet.

This external selection process can take up to 12 months and is more comprehensive than that of many other organizations. You'll have to complete a combination of assessments, including but not limited to: various testing, interviews, and security clearance processes. During this selection process, rescheduling assessments will be limited as this can create significant delays in processing applications. Therefore, before you apply to this process, we ask for your commitment to each assessment phase in order to maximize CSE's external recruitment efforts.

Assessments of candidates are conducted in the official language of their choice.

Please note that some of the assessments for this position will take place in person in one of the following cities: NCR, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto and Kingston. If you live outside of these cities, you will be required to travel to one of these cities for the in-person evaluations and travel expenses (for example, but not limited to, transportation, lodging and meals) will not be reimbursed by CSE. By applying for this position, you agree to cover any travel expenses that may apply.

To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to the following designated employment equity groups: women; Indigenous peoples, including First Nations who are status, or registered and non-status, or non-registered, Inuit and Métis; persons with disabilities, including people with a mental health condition and neurodivergent people; and persons from racial or ethnic groups.

Please note the Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

CSE offers an assessment process that will accommodate any reasonable measures you require to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Those measures are available to all candidates during our processes. Information you provide will be addressed confidentially.

All communications with CSE relating to this process, including email messages and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

The intent of this process is to fill vacant positions at CSE. The process may also be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates which could be used to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures.

Due to the nature of CSE’s mandate certain roles may expose employees to content that is difficult to process. Mental health is a priority at CSE and if any personnel feel they require assistance to preserve their mental wellbeing, they have access to services, tools and other resources to help them in both their personal and professional lives.

We thank you for your interest in CSE. However, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.