Appendix C1 - Benchmark Index by Function - Representing Canada's Interests Abroad

Executive Group Benchmark - Number:  10-C-1

POSITION TITLE: Head of Mission

GENERAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Is accountable for promoting and protecting Canadian political, economic and cultural interests in the United States and for managing important, complex and sophisticated bilateral and multilateral relations with the senior levels of the U.S. government as the focal point for all Government of Canada programs by providing information and advice on the U.S. to Canadian departments and agencies and by providing advice and assistance to provincial government representatives, visiting Canadian business people, and other visiting and expatriate Canadians.

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

The Head of Mission to the United States is appointed by Cabinet and is accountable to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for representing the Canadian government in general in the U.S. He or she is responsible to the Prime Minister for the most serious and sensitive matters that occasionally arise and to the Ministers of the Crown whose departments have programs in the Head of Mission's area of accreditation.

Specific functions of the six positions reporting to the Head of Mission are as follows:

Deputy Head of Mission (staff of 10) is responsible for providing advice and support for ongoing operational matters to the Head of Mission and for directing significant programs to allow the Head of Mission to focus on strategic promotion, negotiation, and representational and critical policy issues and initiatives of the Mission.

Minister, Commercial and Economic, (staff of 102) is responsible for advising the Head of Mission on all matters concerning Canada's economic and commercial interests in and relations with the United States; directing the work of the Economic Division of the Embassy in five main areas of interest: commercial and trade relations, energy, general economics, tourism, and supply and services.

Minister, Political and Public Affairs, (staff of 90) is responsible for directing the Embassy's Political Division; informing the Canadian government of political developments and trends in the United States that affect Canadian interests; informing the Canadian government of U.S. foreign policy developments and positions; coordinating Embassy activity with respect to defence policy, the environment, intelligence liaison, legal matters, the interests of the Canadian provinces, Congressional liaison, and liaison with consulates; and directing the Public Affairs Division, which is responsible for the Mission's media, academic, information, cultural and publications programs.

Defence Attaché (staff of 25) is responsible for directing the Defence Liaison Staff in Washington; providing military advice to the Head of Mission and to Embassy divisions in areas of mutual interest; supervising the liaison and information exchange program with the U.S. defence and military authorities; and managing Canadian Forces personnel located in the U.S.

RCMP Attaché (staff of 20) is responsible for advising the Head of Mission and Embassy divisions on areas of mutual interest; supervising the liaison and information exchange with U.S. police authorities; and directing the work of the RCMP Unit.

Minister, Immigration, (staff of 20) is responsible for advising the Head of Mission on all matters concerning Canada's immigration interests in and relations with the United States; and directing the work of the Division.

Minister-Counsellor, Administration, (staff of 49) is responsible for advising the Head of Mission on the management of the Mission; and directing the Administration, Consular and Mission Security Division to ensure smooth internal program delivery of administrative and consular services.

NATURE AND SCOPE

The Department is mandated to ensure the promotion and protection of Canada's interests abroad. The mandate includes responsibility for strengthening Canada's foreign relations; advancing Canadian economic, trade, political, security, environmental and other interests; providing policy guidance to other federal departments and agencies with respect to Canada's international relations; and ensuring that the international dimensions of all government programs are integrated and consistent with government policies and priorities at home and abroad.

In this context, the Head of Mission represents the Department's and Canada's interests in a host country that is designated as having the most significance to Canada and deals with the full spectrum of Canadian issues and programs administered abroad. The incumbent is responsible for identifying and reviewing the main Canadian foreign policy objectives and priorities, actively representing Canadian interests and explaining Canada's position on various foreign policy matters. A major challenge for the incumbent is translating the broad policy objective of foreign relations with the host country into concerted policies, strategies and plans of action that reflect the specific political, economic, social and cultural realities of the host country, while retaining cohesion in advancing Canadian interests.

The U.S. is the single most significant continuing source of influence on Canada from the outside, whether in the obvious political, economic, trade and security fields or in the equally important, but less tangible, areas of cultural and social developments. The Canadian Head of Mission to the U.S. is the government's chief representative in the U.S. and is a principal adviser on Canada-U.S. relations. As such, the incumbent must be aware of major developments in the U.S.-at all levels of government-in the fields of politics, security, economics, trade and commerce, energy and the environment, which might be of importance to the bilateral relationship. The Head of Mission must further be able to gauge how these matters could develop, how they might become national or state policies that could affect Canadian interests, and what action, if any, the Canadian government can take to ensure Canada is not adversely affected by them.

The Head of Mission must be fully knowledgeable of Canadian developments and interests that could affect or be affected by U.S. actions. The incumbent must explain Canadian policy positions and interests to U.S. authorities and endeavour to have these interests taken into account. A continuing and crucial task of the incumbent is to project Canada and the Canadian image across the U.S. through extensive travel and participation in Canadian-organized events such as public affairs programs and trade exhibits.

As head of the Mission, with a staff of 320, the incumbent manages the post through the Committee on Post Management and through weekly Executive Committee meetings. The incumbent is responsible for supervising post programs and for ensuring that administration and personnel policies fully support the effective operation of the Embassy.

The Head of Mission personally represents the Canadian government in negotiations with the U.S. The incumbent's direct and personal involvement usually entails providing advice on Canada-U.S. relations. The Head of Mission is the first line of defence against the formulation, in the executive or legislative branches, of U.S. policies and actions that might have an adverse impact on Canada. The incumbent must use contacts with key officials to keep abreast of developments that might be of interest to Canada and to head off, or perhaps lessen, any adverse impact these matters might have.

The Head of Mission is also used as a sounding board for U.S. policies and their acceptability to Canada or other countries. The incumbent liaises between important Canadian and U.S. officials when the informal discussion of matters is more appropriate. The incumbent must devote considerable effort to increasing the level of awareness of Canadian concerns among U.S. opinion makers, by exploiting to the fullest the media tools available (e.g. interviews, speeches, attendance at exhibits, seminars).

The Head of Mission must maintain a wide set of U.S. and Canadian contacts in order to foster relations between the two countries. In Canada, these contacts include federal and provincial ministers, senior public servants and senior business people. In the U.S., they include Cabinet members, the President and Vice-President, as necessary, influential members of Congress, and other influential persons who belong to the myriad associations and think-tanks located in Washington.

DIMENSIONS (Constant Dollars)

GNP (U.S.):	$1,072.2 billion
Exports to U.S.:	$54.2 billion
Imports from U.S.:	$98.01 billion
U.S. private direct investment in Canada:	$13.5 billion
Canadian private direct investment in the U.S.:	$3.8 billion
EMBASSY:
Number of subordinate staff years:	320
Salary, operating and maintenance budget:	$3.2 million

SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Improves the bilateral relationship by planning and implementing policies that will result in the development of more mutually profitable political, security, economic, commercial, cultural and environmental relations.
2. Contributes to formulating Canadian policy toward the U.S. by providing the Canadian government with relevant and timely information and advice on various relevant matters.
3. Seeks to influence U.S. policies and developments that might adversely affect Canadian interests by identifying them early, bringing the various courses of action to the attention of appropriate U.S. officials, and following up with U.S. officials on the courses of action formulated to deal with these matters.
4. Increases the awareness of Canada and Canadian interests among influential U.S. officials and opinion makers through the implementation of a vigorous public affairs and information program designed to increase the range of contacts available to Canadian officials.
5. Manages the Embassy by ensuring the close coordination of post programs and the efficient use of resources in order to achieve program objectives by consulting with program managers and using the Committee on Post Management and the Executive Committee.

EVALUATION RATIONALE

Head of Mission

KNOW-HOW

G	Mastery of the full range of Canadian political, economic, social and cultural interests in and with the United States; extensive experience in diplomacy and Canadian government activities abroad; and in-depth knowledge and skill in managing and leading Canada's single most important bilateral relationship.
IV	Conceptual management of the full range of distinct and complex programs involving frequently competing interests at a major mission; and operational management of 302 employees in various programs.
3	Successful achievement of objectives requires representing Canada in a foreign environment and negotiating matters of a sensitive nature and of crucial consequence with senior officials of the host government.
1056	High number reflects the mastery of bilateral issues required to manage the complex relationship between two countries.

PROBLEM SOLVING / THINKING

G	Thinking within generally defined parameters in interacting with host government officials and in advancing specific Canadian interests in and with the United States; participating in the development of federal government positions on all issues affecting Canada-U.S. relations; and dealing with both the administration and Congress.
4	Heavy emphasis on analysis, interpretation and evaluation of events and trends in dynamic relationships between two countries; and constructive, imaginative and innovative thinking required in successful adaptation of programs carried out in the incumbent's area of certification.
(66) 700	High percentage reflects the tendency toward the uncharted in the resolution of issues involving the national policies of the two countries.

ACCOUNTABILITY / DECISION MAKING

G	Reporting to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and various deputies with departmental interests at post, is subject to general guidance in the overall conduct of Canadian affairs in the United States; and plays a key role in Canada's single most important bilateral relationship.
7I	The position has an indirect impact on Canada's relationship with the United States. The proxy selected to represent this relationship is Canadian export trade of more than $54 billion (constant) annually and U.S. investment in Canada exceeding $13 billion (constant), exclusive of immigration, general relations and other program activities at post.
800	Mid-range number reflects the nature and dimension of impact on overall Canada-U.S. relations.

SUMMARY

GIV3

1056

G4(66)

700

G7I

800

=

2556

A1

HEAD OF MISSION
NUMBER: 10 - C - 1