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Building Community Capacity - Competency Profile for Federal Public Service Evaluation Professionals


The Competency Profile

Intellectual Compentencies

Cognitive Capacity

Evaluation professionals plan, design and implement sound evaluation methodologies to assess and inform organizational programs, polices, and initiatives. They quickly comprehend the objectives of new programs, policies, and initiatives to which they are exposed and the context in which they operate. They are adept at systematically collecting and assimilating substantial quantities and types of information. Evaluation professionals use their strong cognitive skills in critically evaluating and interpreting research findings and in identifying gaps in, and limitations of, the evidence. They formulate plausible hypotheses, consider alternatives, and draw appropriate conclusions from research findings.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • identifies, assembles, and effectively uses information from multiple sources
   
  • applies appropriate data gathering and analysis techniques in evaluating aspects of programs and polices
  • identifies and applies sound methodologies to effectively evaluate program and policy effectiveness
  • recognizes strategic uses of evaluation methods in supporting policy, organizational objectives and decision-making
  • rigorously analyzes information, extracts critical elements and identifies relevant links
  • analyzes evaluation results, extracts key elements, and formulates appropriate hypotheses
  • extracts key results and draws linkages with organizational priorities and government-wide objectives
  • draws sound conclusions from available data and recognizes limitations of the data
  • proposes recommendations and results-based options that are feasible and useful to management, appropriately weighing the implications on programs and policies
  • detects obstacles to project successes and develops solutions, balancing the risks and implications across multiple projects
 
  • anticipates day-to-day problems related to evaluation activities, and proposes viable solutions
  • analyzes and reconciles the multiple concerns of project and/or people management

Creativity

Evaluation professionals work in applied settings that at times present unique challenges to the sound implementation of investigative methodologies. They view programs and policies from diverse perspectives and when necessary propose innovative ways of assessing outcomes. Evaluation professionals explore and develop new ways of helping to enhance program and policy effectiveness and meeting client needs, despite working under tight deadlines or shortages in resources. They remain current in their areas of expertise and seek out novel opportunities for learning and professional development.

Junior Intermediate Senior
Please refer to "Importance of competencies by level".
  • views issues and problems from diverse perspectives
  • promotes creativity, innovation, and an openness to new ideas
  • cultivates a work setting that fosters creativity, innovation, and an openness to diverse perspectives
  • proposes innovative ideas and new solutions to problems
  • challenges conventional methodologies and develops sound alternatives
  • questions current work approaches and develops others to optimize outcomes
  • pursues learning opportunities and ongoing professional development in evaluation
  • models commitment to ongoing professional development and keeps abreast of new developments in professional field
  • analyses staff and/or organizational needs, and recommends appropriate mechanisms that facilitate ongoing professional development
 
  • generates alternative ways of improving or meeting expected program or policy results
  • capitalizes on creative, innovative ideas and approaches to better meet overall organizational objective

Future Building Competencies

 Visioning

Visioning

Evaluation professionals understand the vision of their organization and the broader evaluation community, using them to orient and guide their own work. They are committed role models in communicating the need for continuous efforts aimed at improving program and policy effectiveness. They effectively engage and help clients, managers, and stakeholders design, evaluate and align programs and policies with organizational and government-wide priorities. They align their work with organizational priorities and are guided by the vision, creating opportunities to further integrate results-based management into their organizational culture.

Junior Intermediate Senior
Please refer to "Importance of competencies by level".
  • demonstrates understanding of the role of evaluation in own organization
  • demonstrates sound understanding of the role of evaluation in own organization and the broader Public Service
  • demonstrates sound understanding of the role and capacity of evaluation across the Public Service
  • aligns own work with project, team and/or unit objectives
  • aligns work activities with the mandate of the organization and with relevant evaluation policies
  • strategically aligns evaluation projects with organizational mandate, objectives and priorities related to improving program and policy effectiveness
  • adjusts own work to reflect new project or team directions
  • adjusts project activities to reflect new organizational directions
  • models commitment to change, embracing new directions and facilitating achievement of new organizational and government-wide objectives
 
  • keeps abreast of, and shares with team members and clients, changes in policies related to evaluation and results-based management
  • facilitates management efforts in implementing evaluation and results-based management techniques

Management Compentencies

Action Management

Evaluation professionals provide timely findings to management and stakeholders for use in planning and management decision-making. They work efficiently in both independent and group settings, often juggling multiple tasks or projects simultaneously. They manage their own time and individual work activities, securing all the resources at their disposal to accomplish multiple objectives in an effective, efficient manner. They set challenging goals and track the progress of their undertakings to ensure that they have the necessary resources to achieve desired results in a timely manner. When their responsibilities include managing teams, they delegate appropriately, guiding and mentoring less experienced colleagues.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • effectively manages multiple tasks or assignments
  • effectively manages evaluation projects, including coordinating team activities
  • moves multiple projects forward, ensuring that objectives are met and results are useful to clients and management
  • organizes own work and consistently completes assigned work on time
  • sets goals and tracks progress to ensure that project objectives are achieved within established time frames
  • establishes and ensures that goals related to quality, productivity and timeliness are achieved
  • recognizes when additional help or information is needed to complete own work assignments
  • delegates work appropriately, maximizing team productivity by taking into account individual strengths
  • identifies and manages operational requirements for financial and human resources
 
  • foresees potential obstacles and develops and acts on contingency plans when appropriate
  • guides, mentors and/or coaches less experienced colleagues

Organizational Awareness

Evaluation professionals have a solid understanding of their organization and the role played by evaluation. They understand the challenges faced by managers in designing and monitoring the outcomes of programs, policies and initiatives and know who the key players are for any given project. They comprehend the complexities of internal and external organizational relationships, procedures, and relationships with key stakeholders. Evaluation professionals actively keep abreast of new organizational developments and upcoming initiatives related to evaluation work.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • develops understanding of own directorate, including its structure, mandate, vision and key priorities
  • knows own department, including its structure, mandate, vision and key priorities
  • formulates persuasive arguments for evaluation initiatives based on knowledge of department's mandate, vision and key priorities
  • develops formal and informal contacts within and outside immediate work team(s)
  • builds and effectively uses informal and formal networks within own department and client organizations
  • develops and capitalizes on informal and formal networks with key stakeholders and groups within and outside own department
  • develops an understanding of client organization(s)
  • knows key clients, managers and recipients of evaluation services
  • understands and keeps abreast of organizational and client needs in the area of evaluation
  • places one's own work activities within a larger context
  • places project activities within a broader context
  • monitors pending and future initiatives and their implications for evaluation projects, policies and initiatives

Teamwork

Evaluation professionals are team oriented, working alongside clients, managers and stakeholders in facilitating increased effectiveness. They contribute fully to team and client initiatives. They develop and maintain respectful, collaborative, and positive relations with team members, clients and managers. Evaluation professionals seek input, share their own expertise, and consult openly, capitalizing on the diversity of experience, knowledge, expertise and backgrounds of others. They are at ease collaborating with individuals holding different professional viewpoints and work towards achieving consensus when differences arise.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • works collaboratively and productively with individuals from varied backgrounds (e.g., occupational groups, expertise, cultural backgrounds)
  • facilitates collaboration, and maximizes team output, functioning, and morale
  • builds strong teams that capitalize on individual differences in expertise, competencies, and backgrounds
  • actively contributes to team activities
  • actively contributes to team activities and develops the foundation for positive relations with clients
  • contributes fully to cross-functional and inter-organizational teams representing and promoting the evaluation perspective
  • seeks input from others to help ensure that team or project objectives are successfully achieved
  • consults openly with others to ensure that evaluation objectives are successfully achieved
  • collaborates, and consults openly and transparently with colleagues, senior managers, and stakeholders
  • openly shares knowledge and expertise with team members
  • actively and openly shares knowledge and expertise with colleagues, clients and management
  • promotes cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and expertise

Partnering

Evaluation professionals work within a complex environment which may include partnerships with other federal departments and agencies, levels of government, and non-governmental organizations. In this context, evaluators build and maintain formal and informal networks outside their own organizations to better achieve organizational objectives. They work collaboratively with partners to reconcile objectives and to achieve win-win solutions for the good of the Canadian public. They are adept at sharing resources and responsibilities, reducing inefficiency, and redundancies.

Junior Intermediate Senior
Please refer to "Importance of competencies by level".
  • works collaboratively with employees from other departments or organizations (e.g., shares expertise)
  • forms and maintains smooth working relationships with partners
 
  • understands the role played by partners
  • recognizes opportunities to meet organizational objectives through partnerships
  • identifies and capitalizes on opportunities to meet organizational objectives through partnerships
 
  • monitors working relationships with partners and proposes to superiors adjustments when necessary
  • perceives when adjustments, fine tuning or termination of partnerships is necessary and takes appropriate action
   
  • establishes parameters for partnerships and determines how expertise will be shared with partners

Relationship Competencies

Interpersonal Relations

Evaluation professionals interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds, occupational groups, specialty areas, and programs. They understand the unique contributions offered by others and the importance of developing and maintaining positive working relationships. They approach each interpersonal situation with sensitivity and diplomacy, possessing a genuine respect and concern for others and their situations. Evaluation professionals are skilled at recognizing and defusing potential conflict, using open and honest interactions. They use their facilitative skills in guiding clients, managers, and organizations, working collaboratively and openly.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • solicits and is responsive to input from others
   
  • demonstrates sensitivity, tact, and empathy for others and their situations, including individuals from diverse backgrounds, occupational groups, programs, etc.
  • demonstrates sensitivity and empathy for others and models respect for diversity
  • manages group dynamics and interpersonal relationships within and across projects
  • attempts to resolve personal and professional disagreements constructively with individual(s) involved
  • delivers difficult or unpopular findings, recommendations, and messages with sensitivity and tact
  • recognizes and diffuses potentially confrontational situations using a variety of techniques (e.g., consensus building)
  • participates in evaluations in a manner that fosters strong working relationships and client trust
  • manages evaluation projects in a manner that fosters strong relationships and client trust
  • promotes commitment to maintaining and building client trust
   
  • models understanding of and respect for diversity and its relation to enhanced organizational effectiveness

Communication

An essential part of an evaluation professional's role is communication. Evaluation professionals are dedicated to communicating clearly, transparently, and concisely, translating technical information into comprehensible forms that suit the needs of the audience. They communicate unpopular findings with tact, diplomacy and transparency, and use sound judgement when communicating sensitive material. They possess the communication skills required to identify and transmit the level of information required to permit timely, accurate decision-making. Evaluation professionals are active listeners and persistently seek a comprehensive understanding of the issue under discussion.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • presents information logically, clearly and concisely, orally and in writing
   
  • actively seeks an understanding of information communicated, listening and seeking clarification when needed
   
  • tailors communication style to suit the audience
  • adapts the style and content of communications to promote understanding of key concepts and usefulness of information to management
  • keeps organization informed of broad project and evaluation issues and of emerging developments in the evaluation community
  • participates in maintaining effective two-way communication with team members and superiors
  • fosters and maintains effective two-way communication with team members, superiors and clients
  • cultivates and maintains effective two-way communication between teams members, clients and management
 
  • communicates key messages persuasively to clients and management
  • promotes and delivers open, clear and transparent messages across the organization

Personal Competencies

Stamina and Stress Resistance

Evaluation professionals may from time to time find themselves faced with work that has a high potential for stress. In such circumstances, evaluators have the ability to manage stress, remain energized and maintain a positive outlook. They regard difficult situations as challenging, remaining committed to professional principles, organizational objectives and priorities. Evaluation professionals are realistic about their own limits, using and expanding support mechanism as needed. They are proactive in maintaining an appropriate work/life balance and in taking steps to ensure that their energy reserves remain high over the long term.

Junior Intermediate Senior
Please refer to "Importance of competencies by level".
  • maintains professionalism, standards, and a positive outlook during periods of stress and/or heavy workload
  • fosters a positive outlook during stressful situations or periods of heavy workload
 
  • uses personally effective strategies to cope with stressful situations
  • maintains composure with colleagues, clients and management in difficult or stressful situations (e.g., when delivering high impact results)
  • maintains composure with colleagues, senior management and stakeholders in difficult or stressful situations
 
  • recognizes personal limits and reactions to stress and develops strategies to maintain energy and productivity over the long term
  • develops and implements mechanisms that minimize stressors present in the work environment
 
  • balances work load and personal commitments to maintain energy over the long term
  • takes responsibility for fostering an environment that supports work-life balance

Ethics and Values

Evaluation professionals hold themselves to high ethical and professional standards. They are objective, fair, and balanced when evaluating programs, policies and initiatives and strive to ensure that the information they gather is factual and complete. They thoroughly evaluate the potential for conflict of interest, and continually monitor the objectivity of the evaluation process. They consistently meet their commitments and obligations, and maintain an appropriate professional distance and credibility even in difficult, high pressure situations. Evaluation professionals treat others fairly, contributing to a climate of trust, acceptance and respect for others' principles, values and beliefs.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • consistently strives to gather factual information and to ensure the accuracy of facts and findings
  • models and reinforces the need for ethical and professional standards
  • ensures that project objectives/goals are consistent with organizational and public service values and priorities
  • maintains objectivity when conducting and reporting on analyses
  • maintains objectivity when conducting and reporting on evaluation outcomes, including those that may be perceived as unfavourable
  • maintains objective, fair and impartial human resource practices aligned with Public Service values (e.g., representativeness, and transparency)
  • recognizes and is open about limitations of own expertise and knowledge
  • recognizes ethical dilemmas and seeks advice or support to resolve them
  • minimizes potential for ethical dilemmas and/or conflict of interest
   
  • maintains consistent performance standards across projects and people

Personality

Evaluation professionals are energized by challenging goals and enthusiastically accept responsibility for their work activities. They pursue a high standard of excellence in their work and persevere when faced with setbacks or obstacles. They embrace diversity and capitalize on the value of individual differences in meeting project objectives.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • accepts challenging work activities
  • accepts and encourages others to take on challenging assignments as appropriate
 
  • perseveres despite obstacles
  • maintains optimism and perseveres in the face of setbacks
  • pursues persistently evaluation activities that further organizational objectives
  • accepts ownership of and responsibility for work assignments
  • pursues a high standard of excellence in one's work and the work of team(s)
  • motivates others to achieve a high standard of excellence in their work
  • responds to difficult situations in a professional manner
  • demonstrates positive and consistent workplace behaviour
 
 
  • capitalizes on the diversity of personalities when managing projects
  • capitalizes on the diversity of personalities when establishing project teams

Behavioural Flexibility

Evaluation professionals adjust their behaviour to the demands of a changing work environment in order to remain productive. They adapt to the characteristics of particular situations and function effectively within a broad range of situations, people and groups. They look for and acquire new and more effective behaviours, discarding others when no longer effective. Their flexibility enables them to remain focussed and productive during periods of transition and uncertainty. Evaluation professionals are receptive to new ideas and alternative approaches, and are open to switching focus to meet new challenges.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • handles ambiguous or incomplete information effectively
   
  • demonstrates an openness and receptivity to new ideas and approaches
  • encourages and supports flexibility and its development
  • creates an atmosphere which encourages flexibility, new ideas and approaches
  • adapts behaviour to accommodate the needs of individuals or groups with different backgrounds
  • adapts behaviour to accommodate the needs of team members and clients with different backgrounds
  • maintains operational effectiveness in changing circumstances and environments
  • switches focus between tasks when changes in priorities or other factors require it
  • switches focus between projects when changes in priorities or other factors require it
  • shifts operational focus to reflect changes in organizational priorities

Self-confidence

Evaluation professionals are independent and self-reliant. They are confident in their own skills and abilities, but are comfortable seeking the assistance of others when necessary. They convey a realistic confidence in their own abilities, appropriately gauging the likely success of their own actions. Evaluation professionals are able to stand their ground when facing criticism or opposition. They are adept at evaluating and learning from their successes and failures. They are able to interact confidently and with credibility when dealing with a wide range of people, including colleagues, clients, management, and key stakeholders.

Junior Intermediate Senior
  • accepts constructive feedback
   
  • learns from mistakes and successes
  • learns from mistakes and successes of self and of evaluation teams
  • integrates lessons learned into the future work of project teams
  • demonstrates professional credibility
  • demonstrates trust in others to respond appropriately and with professional credibility
  • stands behind and defends the outputs of project teams
 
  • maintains composure and professional credibility when responding to "on the spot" questioning
  • demonstrates confidence and credibility when presenting results and recommendations to senior management


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