Surge Team

Surge at the School (CSPS)	Delivering results for the GC since 2018	An extension of your team	Why work with us	How we can help	Our partnership model	Testimonials	For more information, contact us

For best results please view this page on a desktop browser Pour la version française, cliquez ici Surge at the School (CSPS) The Surge team helps federal departments and agencies work towards the achievement of their priorities. Our position within the Canada School of Public Service allows us to take a neutral position, and our work with multiple organizations allows us to see things from a bird’s-eye view across government. This enables us to work with any organization, on any file, to get results. Surge is the hands-on application of the School’s mandate to strengthen capacity and promote excellence in the public service. We embed directly into your work to tackle your priority initiatives. Our approach has two key benefits: For your team: We deliver successful project outcomes while enhancing your team's capabilities For us: We gain firsthand insights into public servants' experiences to support relevant, practical, and effective training Delivering results for the GC since 2018 Since December 2018, we have worked with 15+ GC organizations and teams to deliver +60 projects with +150 deliverables and have received overwhelmingly positive feedback by: Modernizing legacy systems, legislation, and service delivery models Adding policy and strategic capacity Improving internal governance and simplifying processes Targeting learning to respond to GC priorities These projects have helped to advance learning, innovation, and policy priorities across the federal government. An extension of your team We are a diverse team of policy analysts ready to help advance your priorities; we jump into your work alongside your team and leverage our deep experience within the GC. Experience Skillsets Collaboration We bring an impartial, cross-governmental perspective; our mandate allows us to build connections and work across government. We use our experience in strategic policy, central agencies, program policy, and data teams to rapidly get up to speed on your operating environment. We have almost a decade of experience creating presentations for ministerial and deputy-level audiences. We are a self-managed, self-organizing team ready to deploy at any time. We are agile: we develop, test, and continually iterate on our deliverables with our partners. We are well-versed in how to use AI responsibly in the policy field. We interpret and visualize data in a manner understandable to any audience. We support with open collaboration, a focus on relationship-building, and adaptability to fulfill your needs. We are fully committed to your team; each project team on Surge is dedicated to one project at a time. We will ensure a smooth handover process at the end of the project and will be available to answer any questions. Using a cost-sharing model, the Surge Team offers departments additional support to tackle their complex problems. Why work with us Short-term, inexpensive policy capacity Different skillsets, toolsets, and mindsets Applicable when… - You need policy capacity to achieve your priorities - Long-term staffing commitments are difficult or not required - Salary budget is limited but O&M dollars remain When your team is rarely asked to engage in policy work, including: - Briefing materials for senior officials - Decision documents - Engagement planning and facilitation - Research, environmental scans, and data - Internal restructuring or prioritization exercises - Challenge function and outside perspective How we can help Our most commonly-used products and services are listed below, or tell us more about your specific needs; we specialize in developing custom-solutions for unique problems. Research, Analysis and Synthesis Data Collection & Gaps Analysis; Stakeholder & Process Mapping; Jurisdictional Reviews & Best Practice Research; Environmental Scans & Literature Reviews; Policy Reports Horizontal Collaboration Internal Consultation Across Government; Facilitation (only within the GC), Interviews, Focus Groups & Surveys; Stakeholder Engagement Planning; Governance Model Design & Mapping; RACI Charts Briefing and Communication Briefing Materials for Senior Audiences; Reporting & Performance Dashboards; Memoranda to Cabinet, Treasury Board Submissions Strategic Advice Policy Development & Options Analysis; Strategic Planning & Roadmapping; Performance Measurement Strategies (e.g., Logic Models, PIPs); Change Management Capacity Building Process Improvement & Implementation; Lessons Learned Facilitation; Reuseable Resources and Templates Development; Targeted Training (e.g., presentation design, navigating government processes) Our partnership model Our mission is to help departments across the GC to achieve their priorities. Our model allows us to offer our services faster, at a lower cost, while providing high quality deliverables. Lower costs Fast to deploy You are in control Expanded network We charge 85% of FTEs; providing access to a dedicated team of analysts Compared to hiring term/indeterminate staff or consultants, we can start working with you in as little as 1- 2 weeks We’ll contribute new ideas and perspectives, while you retain the final say You have access to our horizontal knowledge and connections Testimonials We are happy to share references. "...the most concise, comprehensive, and visually appealing summary of Crown-Indigenous relations I've come across." ~ Environment and Climate Change Canada "Love the expertise you provided, with customized support to make this work easier." ~ Employment and Social Development Canada "This is way better work than KPMG." ~ Natural Resources Canada "This is very good work, especially given how little you've been given to work with." ~ Department of National Defence "There are a few [exercises] that have stood out over the course of my career, and this is one of the high flyers." ~ Employment and Social Development Canada "The team [has] provided us excellent support and have shown creativity and a high capacity to integrate concepts and show discernment. And the outcomes have benefited from our collaboration tremendously with our storytelling becoming clear, engaging, and compelling." ~ Public Services and Procurement Canada "Your support over the last few weeks has provided DND a meaningful uplift in our capacity. Huge thanks!" ~ Department of National Defence "We’ve truly benefited from your incredible talents, insights, and dedication throughout this engagement. Looking forward to when our paths cross again." ~ Public Services and Procurement Canada For more information, contact us If you want to learn more about what we do, visit our GCXchange site. If you want to explore a partnership, please fill out this intake form or reach out to us at surgeteam-equipederenfort@csps-efpc.gc.ca. Our Director General (DG) is also available for exploratory and informal discussions: paul.pilieci@csps-efpc.gc.ca