As an Outreach and Engagement Officer with the Department of National Defence, you will play a key role in building relationships between DND and external stakeholders including the public, educational institutions, community organizations, and media. You will develop and implement strategic communication and engagement initiatives that inform, educate, and involve Canadians in DND's mission and priorities. This role bridges the gap between the organization and the communities it serves, ensuring that key messages are delivered effectively and that public input is gathered and considered in organizational decision-making.
Your responsibilities will include planning and executing outreach campaigns, managing stakeholder engagement activities, creating educational materials and presentations, coordinating events, and monitoring the effectiveness of engagement initiatives. You may work on initiatives ranging from recruiting awareness campaigns to public consultation exercises, from school visits and educational partnerships to social media engagement and community events. You will gather feedback from stakeholders, analyze engagement data, and provide recommendations to help DND better understand and respond to public needs and concerns.
You will work in a dynamic environment that values innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making. Your work will contribute directly to DND's ability to connect with Canadians and strengthen public understanding of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department's role in national defence and security.
Key Responsibilities
Perform innovation and change management duties in support of departmental operations, Prepare correspondence, reports, and administrative documents, Coordinate schedules, meetings, and logistics, Maintain records and filing systems
Required Skills
Organizational skills, Written and oral communication, MS Office proficiency, Time management, Attention to detail, Technical proficiency, Attention to detail, Collaboration, Continuous learning
Typical Education
Post-secondary education or equivalent experience relevant to the position
Training
To succeed as an Outreach and Engagement Officer, you should have a post-secondary education in communications, public relations, education, political science, public administration, or a related field. Many candidates hold a bachelor's degree, though some positions may accept college credentials combined with relevant experience.
Key competencies include strong written and verbal communication skills, the ability to engage diverse audiences, project management experience, and a solid understanding of stakeholder engagement principles. Familiarity with social media platforms, survey design, and data analysis tools is valuable. Many successful candidates also have experience in event planning, graphic design fundamentals, or basic video production.
The Government of Canada supports ongoing professional development. You may have access to training in digital engagement tools, advanced communication techniques, project management methodologies, and departmental programs. Internal courses through the Canada School of Public Service and opportunities to pursue certifications in areas like community engagement or communications management are often available to support your career growth.
Entry Plans
Entry to this career in the federal Public Service typically occurs through competitive staffing processes. You may enter through:
• Open merit-based competitions advertised on the Government of Canada Jobs website, where you would apply directly to a specific DND posting for an Outreach and Engagement Officer position
• Recruitment pools created through government-wide or DND-specific recruitment initiatives that may feed multiple positions over time
• Post-secondary recruitment programs such as the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) or the Accelerated Executive Development Program (AEDP) if you are a recent graduate or early-career professional
• Lateral transfers if you are already a federal public servant with relevant communications, engagement, or program delivery experience and are seeking a new opportunity within DND
• Term or contract positions that may lead to permanent appointments based on performance and organizational needs
All candidates must meet Treasury Board security and reliability standards and obtain appropriate security clearance. You will need to be a Canadian citizen or have permanent resident status. Once selected, you will complete onboarding training specific to DND's mandate, culture, and operational context.
Part-Time Options
Outreach and Engagement Officer positions typically offer flexible work arrangements. Many DND civilian positions support hybrid work models where you may work partly from a DND office or headquarters location and partly from home, depending on your specific duties and management direction.
Part-time opportunities exist but are less common for this role, as most positions are structured as full-time permanent or term employment. However, the federal public service does offer job sharing options in some cases where two employees share a full-time position.
The nature of engagement work—which often includes events, meetings, and stakeholder interactions that may occur outside standard business hours—means flexibility is important. Many positions offer flexible start and end times to accommodate public engagement activities. Remote work capability varies depending on your specific responsibilities; while some aspects of outreach work require in-person interaction, planning, research, and administrative components can often be performed remotely. Discussion of work arrangements would be part of your orientation with your manager once hired.
