Two Senior Director Roles at Military Grievances Committee – EX-01

What these roles actually involve

The Military Grievances External Review Committee (MGERC) is a small federal quasi‑judicial body with fewer than 50 employees. They’re hiring for two separate EX‑01 positions, each with its own focus.

Stream 1: Director of Operations

This role sits under the Director General of Operations and General Counsel. You’d be responsible for strategic and operational planning for the division – setting priorities, aligning with business plans, and leading a team. The day‑to‑day work revolves around the Canadian Armed Forces grievance system: policies, conditions of service, pay and benefits, corrective measures, and release processes. If you’ve worked as a policy analyst on CAF employment‑related issues, this is your lane.

Stream 2: Director, Finance, Security and Administrative Services

This position reports to the Director General, Corporate Services and CFO. You act as second‑in‑command, handling comptrollership activities—financial planning, budgeting, accounting, procurement, material management, facilities—and also oversee security and admin services. A CPA designation is mandatory here, along with experience using SAP.

Both streams are based in Ottawa, require on‑site work five days a week, and come with a salary range of $137,524 to $161,773—solid for an EX‑01 in a micro‑organization where you’ll get exposure to the full breadth of corporate and operational functions.

Three reasons this role is worth a look

1. Professional value – real career leverage at a senior level

An EX‑01 salary is competitive, but the real upside is the scope. In a micro‑agency, you’re not siloed – you’ll touch everything from strategy to execution. The Director of Operations gets deep into CAF grievance policy, a niche area that could open doors to other defence‑related senior roles. The Finance Director works directly with central agencies and the CFO, building comptrollership expertise across procurement, security, and real property. Either path adds a credible senior leadership credential to your public service career. The indeterminate appointment also gives you the permanence that many federal employees seek.

2. Work reality – small team, big responsibility, on‑site

This is not a typical large department. With fewer than 50 employees, you’ll know everyone. The work environment emphasizes open communication, attention to detail, and work‑life balance. The catch: you must be on‑site five days a week. No remote or hybrid option. For someone who wants a tight‑knit culture and the chance to influence an entire organization’s operations, that’s a trade‑off worth making. The day‑to‑day involves strategic analysis, advising senior management (DG and above), and managing complex, sensitive files. It’s hands‑on, not just oversight.

3. Screening reality – narrow but clear criteria

The essential qualifications are specific and non‑negotiable. For Stream 1, you need a degree (or acceptable combination) and significant* experience (two years minimum) in policy analysis on CAF conditions of service. For Stream 2, you need a degree in accounting, finance, business, commerce, or economics *and* a CPA designation, plus three years of financial management including SAP use. Both streams require bilingual CCC/CCC and secret clearance. The screening questionnaire asks for concrete examples – no vague references. If you have these exact credentials, you’re in a small applicant pool. The committee may use random selection or top‑down if too many apply, but the narrow criteria already limit competition. Missing even one essential likely stops your application.

The real gate: who can apply and what you must prove

The most important detail is right at the top: “Employees of the Public Service occupying a position across Canada.” These roles are not open to the general public. Only current federal public servants can apply. If you’re not already in government, skip this posting entirely – it’s not a foot‑in‑door opportunity.

For those who are eligible, the gate is the essentials. Many applicants fail because they don’t provide enough substantiation. The job posting warns: “stating that the requirement has been met, and/or listing past or current responsibilities, does not represent adequate substantiation.” You must write concrete examples that clearly demonstrate how you meet each criterion. Resumes are secondary. If you say “refer to my attached resume,” your application can be rejected.

Stream 1 needs “significant experience … as a policy analyst, policy officer or in a similar role on issues related to the conditions of employment or service of Canadian Armed Forces members.” That’s a tight circle. Stream 2 needs CPA and SAP experience – equally tight. Assets like CAF service or experience in a small organization could help if the committee uses them to manage volume.

Also note the language requirement: Bilingual Imperative CCC/CCC. That means second‑language evaluation at the highest level. If you don’t already have valid CCC results, you’ll need to test before appointment. That can be a months‑long process.

Red flags and reasons to reconsider

• Internal only. If you’re not a public servant, this is irrelevant.
• Bilingual CCC imperative. High bar. Many senior public servants don’t have it. Start testing early.
• Secret clearance. You must already hold or be eligible. Not a quick process.
• On‑site five days a week. Not flexible. Ottawa location only.
• Very narrow experience. If you don’t have the exact policy or CPA/SAP background, your application won’t get far. The posting is not for generalists.
• Volume management. The committee may use random selection or top‑down – even qualified applicants could be screened out randomly if the pool is too large.
• Screening questionnaire scrutiny. Lack of concrete examples is a real risk. One missing element could kill your application.

Despite the high salary and career value, this is a long‑shot for anyone who doesn’t match the specifics precisely. If you’re close but not exact, the time investment to tailor examples may not pay off.

Next steps: should you apply?

If you’re a federal public servant with the exact CAF policy experience (for Stream 1) or CPA + SAP experience (for Stream 2), this is a strong opportunity. The salary is excellent, the work is meaningful, and the micro‑agency environment offers rare breadth. Prepare your screening questionnaire with detailed, structured examples that match each essential criterion. Get your bilingual testing on the calendar now if you don’t have CCC.

If you’re a public servant in a different domain – say, general policy or general finance without CPA – this posting is likely a waste of effort. The essentials are too specific. Similarly, if you’re external, move on.

FedJobReady help can be useful if you need to sharpen your concrete examples or structure the questionnaire. But given the narrow field and internal restriction, paying for full coaching probably isn’t justified unless you’re already a strong fit. Apply cleanly, supply the evidence, and let your background do the work. If you don’t fit, don’t chase it – better opportunities are available for generalists in broader Government of Canada competitions.