Program Officers Unique to Government

(NOC 4168)

in All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Program officers in this group are mainly concerned with the administration and operation of government institutions like Parliament, and activities unique to the operations of government like international relations, federal-provincial affairs, elections, and tribunals.

Job Outlook

Undetermined

Read more

  • Estimate change in employment not available for this occupation.
  • Estimate 0 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for this occupation.

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

  • Estimate 1830 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 5515 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$17.79

Minimum

$30.00

Median

$45.67

Maximum

Annual Pay

$289

Minimum

$29,798

Median

$101,194

Maximum

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

Hourly Pay

$16.30

Minimum

$30.00

Median

$51.30

Maximum

Annual Pay

$5,616

Minimum

$44,335

Median

$92,599

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Program officers in this group are mainly concerned with the administration and operation of government institutions like Parliament, and activities unique to the operations of government like international relations, federal-provincial affairs, elections, and tribunals.

Job duties

Program officers unique to government:

  • Advise politicians or diplomats on the social, economic, and political effects of government decisions on other governments in Canada or abroad.
  • Plan intergovernmental meetings and conferences with officers of other municipal, provincial, or federal governments.
  • Coordinate the logistics and administration of elections within constituencies and make sure that electoral and voting procedures are followed.
  • Coordinate administrative support services for legislative committees, royal commissions, or tribunals.
  • Participate as a member of a board or tribunal.
  • Plan logistics and oversee diplomatic protocol of official visits to Canada by foreign politicians and dignitaries.
  • Explain Canadian foreign and domestic policies to governments and nationals of foreign countries, and act on behalf of Canada abroad.

Sample job titles

  • attaché
  • diplomat
  • elections officer
  • foreign service officer
  • government official
  • health authority board member
  • parole board member
  • returning officer
  • standing committee officer
  • task force officer

Skills

  • You should be organized, resourceful, and able to cooperate with others in a team. You must be able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing. Many of these positions require strong research skills.

Job requirements

  • A bachelor's degree is usually required.
  • A master's degree may be required.
  • Foreign Service officers are accepted on the basis of competitive examination.

Other considerations

  • Several years of experience as a researcher, consultant or program administrator may be required. Officers in the Foreign Service may spend much of their career serving at postings in foreign countries. Elections and returning officers are not generally full-time jobs. They are hired on a term basis when an election is called and return to their regular employment when the election is over.

By the numbers

Quick look

640

employed in 2016

54.7%

employed full-time

0.0%

self employed

62.5%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
37.5%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
57.2

median age

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

55,420

employed in 2016

76.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

64.0%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
36%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
43.5

median age

Where will I likely work?

59.4%

Halifax

$48,355 median annual income
12.5%

Southern

N/A
10.9%

North Shore

$6,988 median annual income
10.2%

Annapolis Valley

$32,088 median annual income
7.0%

Cape Breton

$2,521 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

88.1%

Public administration

3.0%

Information and cultural industries

3.0%

Finance and insurance

3.0%

Professional, scientific and technical services

3.0%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

What is the age of Employment?

28.0%

65+

27.0%

55-64

18.0%

45-54

17.0%

35-44

8.0%

25-34

2.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

24.2%

35-44

22.7%

45-54

21.4%

25-34

17.2%

55-64

8.4%

15-24

Top levels of education

32.0%

Bachelor

$63,124 median annual income
24.2%

College Diploma

$28,487 median annual income
12.5%

High school

N/A
11.7%

Master

$83,113 median annual income
6.3%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Education, Law, Government, Social and Community Services

28.9%

Bachelor

$45,929 median annual income
21.2%

College Diploma

$35,398 median annual income
16.8%

Master

$71,043 median annual income
14.6%

High school

$29,055 median annual income
4.6%

Doctorate

$100,443 median annual income

Education & training

Aboriginal Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the languages native to the Western Hemisphere. They include courses in linguistic philology, oral and written literatures, Inuit and Aleut languages, Hawaiian (Polynesian language family), North American language families like Algonkian (Arapaho, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Cree, Micmac, Ojibwa, and others), Athabascan (Apache, Chipewyan, Kiowa, Navajo, Na-Dene, and others), Siouan (Crow, Dakota, Hidatsa, Osage, Winnebago, and others), Muskogean (Choctaw, Creek, and others), Iroquoian (Cherokee, Mohawk, Oneida, Senecan, and others), Yuman, Mayan (Classical Mayan, Quich?, Huastec, and others), Zapotecan (Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Popolacan, and others), and Uto-Aztecan (Hopi, Shoshone, Zuni, Nahuatl, and others); South American language families such as Andean-Equatorial (Quechua, Aymar, Tup, Guaran, Arawak, Island Carib, and others), Ge-Pano-Carib (Carib and others), and Macro-Chibchan (Chibcha and others), and other minor languages.

Institutions providing this program

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Area Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on the history, society, politics, culture, and economics of a defined area, region, or country.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Biological and Physical Sciences

College or University Program

This includes any program that is either a general synthesis of one or more of the biological and physical sciences, or a specialization which draws from the biological and physical sciences.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Business Administration and Management

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture

Truro, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Celtic Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the historical and modern languages spoken by the Celtic peoples of the British Isles, Continental Europe, and Asia Minor. They include courses in Celtic philology, modern languages like Irish, Scots Gaelic, Welsh, and Breton, and extinct or revived languages like Cornish, Manx, Galatian, and others.

Institutions providing this program

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Computer and Information Sciences

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on computing, computer science, and information science and systems as part of a broad and/or interdisciplinary program. Such programs are undifferentiated as to title and content and are not to be confused with specific programs in computer science, information science, or related support services.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

East Asian Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the Sino-Tibetan, Japanese, and Korean languages of East Asia. They include courses in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Education - General

College or University Program

These programs focus on the general theory and practice of learning and teaching, the basic principles of educational psychology, the art of teaching, the planning and administration of educational activities, school safety and health issues, and the social foundations of education.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of various racial and ethnic groups, women’s studies, gay/lesbian studies, folklore studies, disability studies, and deaf studies.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

French as an Additional Language (Canada)

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the development of proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking French for those for whom French is not their mother tongue. They include courses in the use of basic communication skills to develop and transmit ideas and thoughts in French as well as specialized programs that focus on the development of proficiency in French sufficient to meet specific occupational or academic demands.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

French Language and Literature (Canada)

College or University Program

These programs focus on the French language, including its history, structure and related communications skills, and the literature and culture of French-speaking peoples.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Germanic Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the Germanic languages of Western, Central, and Northern Europe. They include courses in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

History

College or University Program

These programs focus on the general study and interpretation of the past, including gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. They include courses in historiography, historical research methods, studies of specific periods, issues and cultures, and applications to areas like historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Humanities/Humanistic Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on combined studies and research in the humanities subjects as distinguished from the social and physical sciences, emphasizing languages, literatures, art, music, philosophy and religion.

Institutions providing this program

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies

College or University Program

These programs focus on the dynamic social relations between and among majority and minority groups and different minority groups, and ways to promote mutual tolerance, inter-group cooperation, and the leadership and management of diverse groups and diversity issues in family, educational, recreational, and work settings. They include courses in ethnic and cultural studies, group psychology, sociology, anthropology, conflict resolution, human services and resources, and applications to various functional environments.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

International Relations and Affairs

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of international politics and institutions, and the conduct of diplomacy and foreign policy. They include courses in international relations theory, foreign policy analysis, national security and strategic studies, international law and organization, the comparative study of specific countries and regions, and the theory and practice of diplomacy.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary Studies

College, Trades, or University Program

This includes any program not listed elsewhere that relates to Multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary Studies.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

College or University Program

These programs focus on the origins, resolution and prevention of international and inter-group conflicts. They include courses in peace research methods and related social scientific and psychological knowledge bases.

Institutions providing this program

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Political Science and Government

College or University Program

These programs focus on the systematic study of political institutions and behaviour. They include courses in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies of specific political institutions and processes.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Public Administration

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs prepare students to serve as managers in the executive arm of government and focus on the systematic study of executive organization and management. They include courses in the roles, development, and principles of public administration, the management of public policy, executive-legislative relations, public budgetary processes and financial management, administrative law, public personnel management, professional ethics, and research methods.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Public Policy Analysis

University Program

These programs focus on the systematic analysis of public policy issues and decision processes. They include courses in the role of economic and political factors in public decision making and policy formulation, microeconomic analysis of policy issues, resource allocation and decision modelling, cost/benefit analysis, statistical methods, and applications to specific public policy topics.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Romance Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the Romance languages of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. They include courses in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.

Institutions providing this program

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Semitic Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

College or University Program

These programs focus on the Semitic languages of Western Asia, North Africa, and Europe. They include courses in philology, linguistics, dialects and pidgins, literature, and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

Contacts

Public Service Commission of Canada - Atlantic
Dartmouth, NS
Institute of Public Administration of Canada
Toronto, ON