Special Assistant

Job ID:

Classification: SPA: $55,105 - $71,637

Job Type: Indeterminate Appointment (permanent, full-time)

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Closing Date: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

About the Senate

The Senate plays a unique role in shaping our country's democracy. As members of the upper house of Parliament, senators examine legislation, study public policy, champion causes and conduct interparliamentary diplomacy.

As a workplace, the Senate is composed of dynamic people representing our nation's diverse talents, backgrounds and perspectives. We are committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is provided full and equal opportunity and access to employment, development and advancement. Build and advance your career by joining a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in support of senators and the institution.

How will you contribute?

Join Senator Danièle Henkel's team and contribute to concrete initiatives in the areas of entrepreneurship, economic leadership, social inclusion, immigration, women's empowerment, and community development. Senator Henkel is a recognized businesswoman, strategic advisor, mentor, coach, speaker, and author with over 30 years of expertise. She has founded successful businesses, advised organizations internationally, and dedicated her career to sharing knowledge and supporting initiatives with tangible social and professional impact.

Working with Senator Henkel means joining a unique team: a group of committed collaborators who are straightforward, motivated by action, and driven by continuous learning — an environment where you grow both professionally and personally. Team spirit, loyalty, and the drive to go above and beyond are its foundations.

Working with Senator Henkel means evolving alongside leadership that is human, direct, generous, and demanding, firmly focused on tangible impact. She values empathy, respect, authenticity, and the pursuit of excellence.

To succeed in this role, we are looking for a dynamic individual with strong adaptability and agility, capable of thriving in a conscientious yet supportive work culture.

This position, which requires a high level of confidentiality, offers the opportunity to play a key role within an active parliamentary office, providing both effective administrative support and assistance with research and analysis related to the work of the Senate and its committees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the Executive Assistant, manage phone calls and respond to information requests;
• Administer the general email inbox, including managing invitations, meeting requests, and citizen communications;
• Organize the Senator's calendar and communicate any changes;
• Arrange the Senator's travel and prepare related reimbursement files;
• Draft clear correspondence in accordance with the Senator's and office members' guidelines;
• Under the supervision of the Director of Parliamentary Affairs, conduct research and analysis, gather, organize, and protect the necessary information to prepare committee meetings, question periods, speeches, and briefing notes related to parliamentary developments;
• Prepare legislative summaries of bills;
• In collaboration with other staff members, create and manage content for the Senator's social media accounts.

Open to

The general public, to staff one (1) indeterminate full-time position in the Office of the Honourable Senator Danièle Henkel.

Please note that "indeterminate" refers to an employment contract with no specified end date.

The Senate of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve, starting with an inclusive and barrier-free hiring process. You can request to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Prerequisites

• University degree in public policy, political science, law, public administration, business administration, or a related field, or a combination of education, training, and relevant experience;
• Excellent analytical, research, synthesis, and writing skills;
• Experience in administrative support, research, communications, or policy work in a professional or parliamentary environment;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to adapt to new tools and software;
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, initiative, professionalism, and a collaborative mindset;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact effectively and respectfully with colleagues, senior officials, community partners, and the public;
• High level of discretion and diplomacy in handling confidential or sensitive information;
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple tasks, and meet tight deadlines;
• Knowledge of the role and functioning of the Senate and parliamentary procedures (an asset);
• Fluency in French and English, both written and spoken, is essential.

Competencies

Integrity

Respect

Service

Communication

Judgment

Adaptability

Reliability

Teamwork and Collaboration

Action-Oriented Management

Attention to Detail

Organizational Needs

The Senate of Canada is committed to building and maintaining an inclusive workplace where all employees are provided full and equal access to employment, development, and advancement opportunities.

Conditions of Employment

Candidates must consent to supply personal information and obtain a security accreditation to be eligible for appointment.

How to apply

Please save a copy of the notice of job opportunity. Once the closing date has passed, these documents will no longer be available.

Relocation and travel expenses incurred during this process are the applicant's responsibility.

Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required. You must consent to receiving e-mails from our system in your online profile.

The Senate of Canada reserves the right to retain a determined number of candidates who best meet the essential requirements of the position.

The Senate of Canada is a separate and distinct employer from the federal public service and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act.

We thank all those who apply to this selection process.

The posting closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT on the closing date stated above.