Student Border Services Officer (SBSO) for the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)

Canada Border Services Agency is inviting applications from suitable candidates for the Student Border Services Officer (SBSO) position for the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP). The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is known as a complex and highly operational 24/7 organization which provides clearance, control and examination services for travellers, importers, and exporters at close to 1,200 service points, including land border offices, international mail processing centres, airports, sufferance warehouses, and a number of other service locations. In all, we work to provide the different required clearance services, with guidance, for different people all over Canada.

The candidates who will get selected for the vacancy will be required to start the work as soon as possible. If, after applying, the employees are not contacted, they will not be considered to be hired in 2023. The CBSA values the work and dedication SBSOs provide the agency and encourages them to pursue a career as a BSO should it be the right fit for them. For SBSOs who have worked one full term within the last 2 years, the transition into the selection process to become a CBSA Officer Trainee is straightforward, and the application can be submitted at any time through a non-advertised process.

Job Description:

Company Name: Canada Border Services Agency

Job Position: Student Border Services Officer (SBSO)

No of Vacancies: 400+

Salary: $16.00 to $34.59 per hour

Employment Type: Full time

Location: Calgary (Alberta), Dorval (Québec), Edmonton (Alberta), Halifax (Nova Scotia), Hamilton (Ontario), London (Ontario), Mississauga (Ontario), Montréal Island (Québec), Ottawa (Ontario), Québec (Québec), Regina (Saskatchewan), Richmond (British Columbia), Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), Sidney (British Columbia), St. John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador), Toronto (Ontario), Vancouver (British Columbia), Winnipeg (Manitoba)

Shifts: Weekends and Holidays

Duration: Full-time summer employment (May to August 2023) with the possibility of part-time rehire during the fall of 2023 and winter of 2024.

Requirements:

Languages: Candidates must have knowledge of the English Language.

Education: Candidates don’t need standard educational qualifications such as a high school, bachelor’s degree, a certificate or a diploma

Experience: Candidates don’t need experience, although having experience is an asset

Other Requirements:

• The candidates are requested to apply as early as possible to complete the security clearance process.
• The candidate must be able to fulfil the age of majority in the province/territory where the work is located. The age of majority is 18 in the following provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The age of majority is 19 in the following provinces and territories: British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Yukon.
• For a few locations, the candidate must be able to possess and maintain a valid driver’s license* that allows him to drive a motor vehicle in Canada (where required). A valid driver’s licence must be a full driver’s licence. This does not include a driver’s licence with restrictions as part of any provincial graduated licensing. Candidates must present an original, unrestricted driver’s licence when requested.
• The candidate should be able to get a Secret security clearance.
• The candidate should be able to get Restricted Area Identity Card (where required)
• The candidates should be able to get successful completion of requirements to carry, use and maintain CBSA-issued defensive equipment (where required)
• The candidate should be able to meet the expected medical standard (where required)
• The candidate should be able to wear and maintain a uniform as per CBSA Uniform Policy and Standard of Appearance.
• The candidate should be able to work various shifts, including weekends and holidays.
• The candidate should be able to work overtime (as required)
• The candidate should be able to operate a government vehicle (where required)

Responsibilities:

• The candidate as student border services officer (SBSO) work should be able to represent Canada’s diverse population and uphold the agency’s values of integrity, respect, and professionalism.
• The candidate should be able to critically analyze and weigh various elements of situations to come to a desired outcome in various settings
• The candidate should be able to adopt a client service approach by demonstrating interest in travellers’ needs and expectations while solving problematic situations
• The candidate should be able to pay attention to verbal and non-verbal indicators and validate understanding before making a decision
• The candidate should be able to communicate effectively
• The candidate should be able to use cognitive abilities when addressing a situation.
• The candidate should be able to work on the front line, enforcing over 100 laws and regulations and preventing prohibited weapons, drugs, and inadmissible people from entering Canada.
• The candidate should be able to work as a Student border services officer (SBSO), work with BSOs at international airports, CBSA postal centres, cruise ship operations or telephone reporting centres and perform some tasks.
• The candidate should be able to carry out the CBSA’s broad mandate and enforce laws and regulations with impartiality and fairness.
• The candidate should be able to interview travellers with various backgrounds.
• The candidate should be able to examine various declarations and goods.
• The candidate should be able to identify fraudulent documents.
• The candidate should be able to provide quality service and education to the travelling public while treating everyone equitably and with respect.
• The candidate should be able to identify people and goods that threaten Canada.
• The candidate should be able to assess risk to make decisions concerning admissibility to Canada.
• The candidate should be able to release decisions for travellers based on traveller declarations and targets.
• The candidate should be able to release decisions for crew joining or leaving the vessel.

Benefits:

• The Student border services officers (SBSOs) work in an inclusive, barrier-free work environment.
• The Student border services officers (SBSOs) work to get a diverse and committed work environment.
• The Student border services officers (SBSOs) work to get employment equity options.
• The Student border services officers (SBSOs) who work with particular groups will be prioritized (Aboriginal* peoples, Persons with disabilities, Members of visible minorities and Women). Referred throughout the post as Aboriginal peoples, as stated in the Employment Equity Act (EEA).
• The Student border services officers (SBSOs) work to get accommodation facilities provided by the employer.
• The Student border services officers (SBSOs) work alongside border services officers (BSOs) in rewarding, dynamic and motivational environments where they can make a difference by ensuring the safety and prosperity of Canada.

Accommodation measures

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with hiring. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please do not hesitate to let us know. All information received about accommodations will be kept confidential.

Please note that if you require accommodation measures for the written exam, we will require the assessments or documents related to your type or types of functional limitations, disabilities, needs or conditions. This information will be requested when you are invited to the written exam.

Important information about the selection process

We encourage all interested candidates to apply early due to the extensive selection process and security clearance. Because of this timeframe, many hiring managers will request applications from this inventory before the closing date. If you have not been contacted by the CBSA by late December 2022, you will not be considered for positions in 2023.

The Government of Canada strives to be representative of the population it serves in all its diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment. Therefore, candidates from under-represented employment equity groups will be considered ahead of others in the selection process. Pulls from the FSWEP inventory are completed at random. For more information regarding employment equity in the federal government, please visit the link at the beginning of the job advertisement.

Please self-declare in your application if you identify with one or more of these groups to ensure your application is prioritized:

– Aboriginal* peoples

– Persons with disabilities

– Members of visible minorities

– Women

Referred throughout the post as Aboriginal peoples, as stated in the Employment Equity Act (EEA).

What we are looking for

CBSA seeks students representing Canada’s diverse population who will uphold the agency’s integrity, respect, and professional values.

The ideal post-secondary candidate must meet the FSWEP eligibility criteria and be able to:

• critically analyze and weigh various elements of situations to come to a desired outcome in various settings;

• adopt a client service approach by demonstrating interest in travellers’ needs and expectations while solving problematic situations;

• pay attention to verbal and non-verbal indicators and validate understanding before making a decision;

• communicate effectively;

• use cognitive abilities when addressing a situation.

What you will gain

Student border services officers (SBSOs) work alongside border services officers (BSOs) in rewarding, dynamic and motivational environments where they can make a difference by ensuring the safety and prosperity of Canada.

What will you do

SBSOs work on the front line, enforcing over 100 laws and regulations, preventing prohibited weapons, drugs, and inadmissible people from entering Canada.

You will work with BSOs at international airports, CBSA postal centres, cruise ship operations or telephone reporting centres and perform some of the following tasks:

• Carry out the CBSA’s broad mandate and enforce laws and regulations with impartiality and fairness;

• interview travellers with various backgrounds;

• examine various declarations and goods;

• identify fraudulent documents;

• provide quality service and education to the travelling public while treating everyone equitably and with respect;

• identify people and goods that pose a threat to Canada;

• assess risk to make decisions concerning admissibility to Canada;

• release decisions for travellers based on traveller declaration and targets; and

• release decisions for crew joining or leaving the vessel.

Note: SBSOs do not carry a duty firearm.

Duration: full-time summer employment (May to August 2023) with the possibility of part-time re-hire during fall 2023 and winter 2024.

The CBSA values the work and dedication SBSOs provide the agency and encourages them to pursue a career as a BSO should it be the right fit for them. For SBSOs who have worked one full term within the last 2 years, the transition into the selection process to become a CBSA Officer Trainee is simple, and the application can be submitted at any time through a non-advertised process.

Apply Now!

If you are ready to embrace this challenging and rewarding opportunity, submit your application indicating the following:

• Your area of study. Preference may be given to students studying in a field related to the job, such as criminology, law, safety/security studies, psychology, sociology, customs border service or police studies.

Notes:

1- If you are enrolled at a post-secondary institution outside of Canada, the international institution must be accredited within the province you will be working.

2- To meet the FSWEP eligibility criteria, you must return to full-time studies following your work term (fall 2023).

• Your preferred work location. International airports, CBSA postal centres, cruise ship operations and telephone reporting centres are located in the cities listed at the top of the job advertisement.

A pool of qualified candidates will be established from this process. Due to the high level of interest in the SBSO position, not all candidates who qualify will be appointed to a position. Additionally, we can only contact students whose applications have been sent to the hiring team.

Note: Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of employment are any requirements that must be met or complied with before being hired to a position and are to be maintained throughout your employment.

A) Due to the nature of the work, candidates must be the age of majority in the province/territory where the work is located.

The age of majority is 18 in the following provinces: Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

The age of majority is 19 in the following provinces and territories: British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Yukon.

B) For positions in certain locations, you will be asked to obtain the following certification on your own time before employment:

• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license* that allows you to drive a motor vehicle in Canada (where required)

*A valid driver’s licence must be a full driver’s licence. This does not include a driver’s licence with restrictions as part of any provincial graduated licencing. Candidates must present an original, unrestricted driver’s licence when requested.

C) If you are considered for employment, you will need to obtain and maintain the following (the CBSA will coordinate the appropriate administrative processes):

• Obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance

• Obtain and maintain, in the first weeks following your hiring, a Restricted Area Identity Card to fulfil the full range of duties related to the position (where required)

• Be willing to participate in and complete training related to the requirements to carry, use and maintain CBSA-issued defensive equipment (where required)

• Meet the expected medical standard (where required)

You must accept the following:

• Wear and maintain a uniform as per CBSA Uniform Policy and Standard of Appearance

• Work various shifts, including weekends and holidays

• Work overtime (as required)

• Operate a government vehicle (where required)

Note:

• The preference may be given to students studying in a field related to the job, such as criminology, law, safety/security studies, psychology, sociology, customs border service or police studies.
• Suppose the candidates as Student Border Services officers (SBSOs) work enrolled at a post-secondary institution outside Canada. In that case, the international institution must be accredited within the province you will be working.
• The candidate must return to full-time studies following her work term (fall 2023).
• The preferred work area of the candidates, such as International airports, CBSA postal centres, cruise ship operations and telephone reporting centres, are located in the cities listed at the top of the job advertisement.
• A pool of qualified candidates will be established from this process. Due to the high level of interest in the SBSO position, not all candidates who qualify will be appointed to a position. Additionally, the company can only contact students whose applications have been sent to the hiring team.
• Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be preferred.