Competition # : 49335

Department: Natural Resources

Location: SHUBENACADIE

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG

About Our Opportunity

As the Wildfire Operations Officer, you assist in the development, coordination, implementation and delivery of wildfire operations and coordination initiatives for the province of Nova Scotia.

Primary Accountabilities

Reporting to the Manager, Forest Protection, the Wildfire Operations Officer is responsible for

• Coordinating out of province mobilization of wildfire management staff and annual fitness testing for department firefighting staff and external departments.
• Coordinating day-to-day operations of the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Center (PWCC) as well as acts as one of the provincial fire duty officers by working regularly scheduled shifts at the PWCC
  during the wildfire season
• Assist in developing, implementing, and updating work plans for wildfire pre-suppression planning, suppression, response, and reclamation.
• Lead the department Incident Management Team development, maintenance, and deployment.
• Represent Nova Scotia and Wildfire Management with regards to wildfire operations and coordination provincially, nationally, and internationally.

Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate must have graduated from a recognized forestry or related technician diploma program, along with 6 years related experience. Candidates must demonstrate clearly in their application that they have extensive experience in wildfire management and as part of Incident Management Teams. The incumbent will maintain a network of working relationships with numerous government and non-government stakeholders and clients provincially, nationally, and internationally. Supervisory or leadership experience is required to lead various teams, sometimes in stressful situations, to make decisions that can impact safety, efficiency and effectiveness of people and resources. You must be resourceful, self-reliant, and capable of recognizing potential program problems and applying practical, effective, and logical solutions using your own initiative. During busy periods in the provincial wildfire coordination centre, a high degree of judgement is required for the effective allocation of provincial resources for wildfire suppression on a priority basis.

Assets include:

• Completion of the S-490 Advanced Wildland Fire Behaviour course
• Qualified as one or more Incident Command System command and general staff positions

Benefits

Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

Working Conditions

• Normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.
• May be required to work overtime on occasion, and travel may be required.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• A Dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.

Pay Grade: TE 27

Salary Range: $2,944.94 - $3,420.52 Bi-Weekly

This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:

Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.

External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to