Canada's Free Agents/Seeking Assignments

Looking for skilled support quickly? 👋

Canada’s Free Agent Program offers a pool of pre‑vetted, indeterminate federal employees ready to take on short‑term, high‑impact assignments across the GC. Free Agents bring expertise in policy, digital, engagement, and project delivery—and can often be onboarded faster than traditional staffing.

Check out some of the Free Agents seeking their next assignment.

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Le Programme des Agents libres du Canada offre un bassin d’employé·e·s fédéraux permanents et présélectionnés, prêts à relever des mandats temporaires à fort impact partout au sein du GC.

Les Agents libres apportent leur expertise en politiques, numérique, mobilisation et gestion de projets, et peuvent souvent être intégrés plus rapidement qu’avec les processus de dotation traditionnels.

Découvrez certains des agents libres à la recherche de leur prochaine affectation.

Canada's Free Agents Seeking Assignments

• Emily Picknell: Mechanical Engineer
• Tanya King: Indigenous Support Analyst
• Erin Laye: Indigenous Senior Strat Comms Advisor
• Rick Massie: Communications, web and accessibility

Emily Picknell: Mechanical Engineer

Past Assignments

Space Systems Engineer
Canadian Space Agency

Prime Systems Engineer for the Bio-Monitor payload on the International Space Station. Support engineer for projects on the Space Station and in early phases for the Lunar Gateway. Presented to multiple NASA Safety Review Boards.

Strategic Business Consultant
Natural Resources Canada

Led NRCan in joining CSA's CUBICS CubeSat program. Wrote intelligence reports and memos on space agencies, satellite, and domestic industry. Provided support for senior management at trade shows.

Mechanical Engineer
RCMP

Designed $1M+ projects. Responsible for project management, fabrication, testing, assembly, training. Led international collaboration with Five Eyes allies.

Contact

• Phone: 613-415-7477
• Email: emily.picknell@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
• Clearance: EN03 - Top Secret Clearance

Key Skills

• Prototyping
• Design
• Machining
• French: CBA
• LinkedIn & Hire a Free Agent QR codes available
• Creativity
• Problem Solving
• Presentations
• Team Spirit

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Tanya King: Indigenous Support Analyst

Past Assignments

Indigenous Career Navigator

Subject matter resource for IT planning. Indigenous Career Navigator; support of internal/external Indigenous employees seeking career guidance; assist Elders monthly Talking Circle; co-developing knowledge sharing materials (lunch & learns); develop web content/QR codes.

Service Modernization

Applied technical skills/testing to enable digital improvements (i.e., built Protected version of their TBS Screening Form); liaised with internal/external sectors for various aspects of the Onboarding Improvement Initiative for NRCan.

Policy Analyst Recruitment & Development Program

Restructured GCDocs repository for business team with collaboration on all aspects to understand/integrate needs; interviewed applicants for 2024 cohort.

Engagement Facilitator

Liaised between colleagues and technical teams for clarity across key audiences; varied analysis and functions for the Department Strategic Plan (i.e., built MS SharePoint page with MS Forms integration to elicit/collect feedback; engagement session facilitation; etc.)

Contact

• Phone: 416-399-0739
• Email: tanya.king@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
• Clearance: EN02 - English - Secret Clearance

Key Skills

• Certified Interdepartmental Facilitator
• Reconciliation and EDI Advocacy
• Certified Indigenous Career Navigator
• ITIL Certified / IT-Telecom (incl. VoIP)
• Collaborator - Creativity - Team Spirit
• LinkedIn & Hire a Free Agent QR codes available

About: A status First Nation Ojibwe-Anishinaabe born and living in Gichi Kiiwenging (Toronto). 30+ years of work experience in private and public sectors. A strong advocate for reconcili-Action and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts across GC. Thrives on both continuous learning and facilitation. She believes in the phrase "Let's teach each other" encompassed by a word in her heritage Ojibwe language 'Kinoomaadidaa'.

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Erin Laye

Indigenous Senior Strat Comms Advisor

Past Assignments

Strat Comms — NRCan

Led strategic communications for high-profile Indigenous and natural resource files, including Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program and Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships (INRP). Provided advice to senior leadership, coordinated with central agencies, and supported interdepartmental communications planning and approvals.

Strat Comms — ISC

Led development and implementation of a new strategic communications planning and scheduling tool to streamline social media content across the department. Collaborated with internal teams to design efficient workflows, improve coordination, and support timely delivery of digital communications products for Indigenous-focused files.

Digital Comms — Justice

Led a special project focused on improving engagement with Indigenous audiences across the department's digital platforms. Developed strategies to decolonize communications approaches, assess audience needs, and better align social media content with community priorities.

Contact

• Phone: 204-890-5209
• Email: erinlaye1@gmail.com
• Email: erin.laye@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Key Skills

• Indigenous Engagement
• Strat + Digital Comms
• Project Management
• French SLE: C/B/ Pending
• Email & Hire a Free Agent QR codes available

About: Indigenous woman and creative strategic communications professional with 10+ years' experience in storytelling, branding, and digital media. Skilled in culturally sensitive strategies, Indigenous files, and delivering impactful, inclusive content that builds trust.

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Rick Massie

Strategic Communications and Accessibility

Past Assignments

Communications Officer
SSC / PSPC

Helped launch the GC Employee Pay and Benefits Facebook page and customer service portal. Started the first official GC Reddit account. Built a SharePoint intranet site for HCM/NextGen HR and Pay. Organized/hosted remote engagement sessions across the country.

Communications Specialist
PHAC

Created, managed and published Travel Guides to help Canadians and non-Canadians understand exit/entry requirements for crossing the border during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reviewed Orders in Council to update travel guidance in print/online at airports and border crossings across the country.

Communications Advisor
Transport Canada

Built the Transport Canada Transformation Plan website, planned and hosted engagement sessions with inspectors across the country.

Contact

• Phone: 867-334-3001
• Email: rick.massie@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
• Clearance: IS04 - Secret Clearance

Key Skills

• Strat Comms
• Web/SharePoint
• Accessibility
• Engagement
• Email & Hire a Free Agent QR codes available
• Change Management
• Audio/Video Editing
• Design Thinking
• Plain Language

About: Self-professed "geek" who needs to understand how things work; passionate about problem solving. Thrives working with technology, plain language, accessibility, strategic thinking, and positive user experiences.