Executive Assistant to the Director General – A Targeted Internal Opportunity at Canadian Heritage

What This Job Really Is

Let’s be direct: this is not a job opening for the public. The Department of Canadian Heritage is looking for an Executive Assistant to support the Regional Director General and the Regional Director in Winnipeg, but only from within its own ranks—specifically, employees who already hold an AS-02 position (or equivalent) at Canadian Heritage and live within 125 km of Winnipeg. The role is indeterminate, permanent, and offers a salary range of $68,849 to $74,180. It’s classified at the AS-02 level, which is a standard administrative support tier in the federal public service.

The duties are classic executive assistant work: managing two busy schedules, organizing meetings, taking minutes, coordinating travel, handling daily communications, and providing administrative support to the management team. The work environment is hybrid—expect three days per week on-site at a Canadian Heritage location in Winnipeg. This is a real, stable role for someone already inside the department who wants to move into a higher-profile support position.

Three Signals This is a Serious Opportunity

1. Professional value – A real career step inside the department

This is not a temporary acting assignment or a term contract. It’s an indeterminate appointment at the AS-02 level, which means a permanent, pensionable position. The salary band—$68,849 to $74,180—is reasonable for the admin stream in the federal government, and the role reports directly to the Regional Director General. That kind of visibility can open doors for future advancement, especially if you are already at the AS-02 level and looking for a role with more responsibility and direct exposure to senior management. The posting explicitly says the intent is to staff one position on an indeterminate basis, so there is no pool language or inventory filler here. It’s a concrete job.

2. Work reality – Hands-on, high-touch, and collaborative

The day-to-day is fast-paced and demands strong organizational skills, judgment, and discretion. You will be the central coordination point for two directors, which means you’ll be juggling schedules, preparing logistics, taking minutes in meetings, and triaging communications. The work environment emphasizes active collaboration, respect, and initiative. It’s not a back-office role; you’ll be at the table during meetings and expected to follow up on information needs. The hybrid model means you’ll be in the office at least three days a week, so face-to-face interaction is part of the deal. For someone who enjoys being in the middle of operations and supporting decision-makers, this is a rewarding job.

3. Screening reality – Very narrow eligibility, but clear criteria

The essential qualifications are straightforward: a secondary school diploma (or an acceptable combination of education, training, and experience) and bilingualism at CBC/CBC level (Bilingual Imperative). The security requirement is Secret clearance, which is a moderate step up from Reliability but not the highest bar. However, the biggest gate is the eligibility zone: you must be a current Canadian Heritage employee who already occupies a substantive AS-02 position (or equivalent) and live within 125 km of Winnipeg. That’s a very small pool. For those who meet it, the competition is likely minimal. For everyone else, this posting simply doesn’t apply. There is also an asset that affected employees may be given priority, and another asset that preference may go to candidates from designated Employment Equity groups (self-declared). So even within the eligible group, there are layers.

The Gate You Can’t Miss

If you are reading this as an external applicant, stop. You are not eligible. The “Who can apply” field is unambiguous: only Zone 1 employees of Canadian Heritage who hold a substantive AS-02 position (or equivalent) and live within 125 km of Winnipeg. There is no provision for external candidates, not even for other federal public servants from different departments. This is an internal-only process.

Even if you are a current Canadian Heritage employee at a different classification or group, you cannot apply unless you are already at AS-02. That means this role is essentially a lateral move for someone already in the exact same pay level. If you are at an AS-01 or CR-05, you are shut out. The only path to eligibility would be if you were already substantively at AS-02 and looking for a change of duties.

The bilingual requirement is also a serious filter. CBC/CBC is a high level of bilingual proficiency in both official languages. You will need to be tested by the Public Service Commission (or equivalent) to prove you meet that level. If you are not already bilingual at that level, you will not be considered—unless you can be assessed later, but the posting says “Applied / assessed at a later date,” which means they may assess it during the process. Still, this is a real barrier for many.

Who Should Apply (and Who Shouldn’t)

You should apply if:

• You are a current Canadian Heritage employee who occupies a substantive AS-02 position (or equivalent).
• You live within 125 km of Winnipeg (including the city itself and surrounding areas).
• You meet the CBC/CBC bilingual requirement or are confident you can achieve it.
• You are eligible for Secret clearance (no criminal record or other issues).
• You want a permanent Executive Assistant role that reports to senior regional leadership.

You should skip this if:

• You are not a Canadian Heritage AS-02 employee. This includes other federal public servants, external applicants, and even Canadian Heritage employees at different classifications.
• You are outside the Winnipeg commuting area.
• You do not have CBC/CBC bilingual skills.
• You are looking for a role with remote work options (this is hybrid with required in-office days).

If you fall into the eligible pool, this is worth serious effort. The indeterminate nature and the senior visibility make it a strong opportunity. But if you are not eligible, don’t waste your time—there are many other postings that are open to the public or broader internal pools.

Your Next Move

If you are eligible: Prepare your application carefully. The essential criteria are simple—education and bilingualism—but you need to prove you meet them. Your résumé should clearly show your current substantive AS-02 status at Canadian Heritage. You may also want to self-declare if you belong to one of the preferred Employment Equity groups, as that could give you a tiebreaker. For the bilingual requirement, if you haven’t been tested recently, consider arranging a Public Service Commission test to confirm your level. The closing date is June 4, 2026, which is far away—don’t wait until the last minute, but you have time to prepare.

If you are not eligible: Move on. This posting is not for you. FedJobReady can help you find roles that are open to the public or to broader internal inventories. Check other postings with similar classifications (AS-02) that are open to all applicants. There are many Executive Assistant and administrative roles in the Government of Canada that have less restrictive eligibility.

Should you use FedJobReady help? Only if you are in the eligible pool and feel unsure about how to present your experience for executive support duties. Otherwise, the application requirements are straightforward, and the competition is likely small. Save your coaching budget for a posting with a wider applicant pool where differentiation matters more.