Common Platform Lead - CAD (Program Admin Officer 4)

About Us

The Department of Emergency Management is responsible for leading disaster and emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities on behalf of the Province of Nova Scotia.  The objective of the Department is to ensure that Nova Scotians are safe, prepared and resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies. The Department leads the coordination and co-operation of partners and resources during provincial-level critical incidents, supports municipal and other partners in regional-level and local events, administers the Province's 911 service, maintains critical communications infrastructure and supports operations of our regional emergency management centres.  The Department also works to ensure critical government services continue to function during and after critical events. 

The Incident Management and 911 Branch is dedicated to ensuring the safety and resilience of our Province by:

• Rapidly coordinating provincial response and critical infrastructure partner resources 

• Effectively managing incidents to minimize impact and restore normalcy as quickly as possible  

• Ensuring integrated emergency responses through the Provincial Coordination Centre
• Strengthening critical communications infrastructure through the establishment and oversight of the Public Safety Field Communications Agency. The Agency's mission is to create a Centre of Excellence in the delivery of public safety communications, dispatch, and related technologies across Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada
• Managing and modernizing the emergency 911 system, including the move to Next Generation 911  
  
  

About Our Opportunity

The Public Safety Field Communications (PSFC) Agency is responsible for managing public safety, two-way radio communications, infrastructure, and dispatch services on behalf of the province. The Command Platform Lead - CAD plays a critical role in keeping PSFC running by administering, configuring, and supporting Premier One CAD and the other agency applications that PSFC staff and partner agencies rely on every day. They will demonstrate their problem-solving and decision-making by managing everything from agency and resource setups and business rules to software upgrades, interface monitoring, and day-to-day troubleshooting.

Reporting to the Director of Client Services, the Common Platform Lead - CAD serves as a key technical point of contact for both end users and vendors. The role suits someone who combines strong technical problem-solving with clear and plain-language communication. A person who thrives in an operational setting, has a curious mind, and is comfortable with managing time-sensitive support needs will fit well in this role.

Qualifications and Experience

Requirements:

• Post-secondary degree in information technology, computer science, GIS, or a related field along with at least six (6) years of related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Experience administering or supporting CAD or other mission-critical, high-availability applications. Direct end-user support and troubleshooting in an operational environment.
• Experience in application configuration, lifecycle management, and release/patch testing.
• Experience in program and/or project management, including planning, prioritizing, and overseeing activities to meet business objectives within cost, time, and quality parameters.
• Experience working with technical vendors and managing service/change requests.
• Strong problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills, including translating technical issues into plain language.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound independent judgement and initiative, work with minimal supervision, and provide guidance and training to others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop communications plans, reports, and supporting tools.
• Ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance / enhanced police background check.
• Valid driver’s licence.

Assets include:

• Knowledge of, or direct experience with, Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) platforms (for example, Motorola PremierOne CAD) and/or related public safety records and communications systems.
• Knowledge of public safety field communications, including P25 trunked radio networks (such as TMR2), Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1), and/or 24/7 dispatch operations.
• Background in public safety communications, 911/dispatch, EMS, or police/fire operations.
• SQL and relational database familiarity
• ITIL or service management framework knowledge.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interviews, and reference checks.

Primary Accountabilities

The Common Platform Lead - CAD is responsible for:

• Administer, configure, and maintain Premier One CAD and associated agency applications such as records management, mapping, AVL, and related interfaces.
• Provide application support and troubleshooting for dispatch staff and client agency users, including diagnosing and resolving incidents in a 24/7 environment.
• Manage CAD configuration: agency/unit setups, resource and response plans, business rules, geofile maintenance, and user roles and permissions.
• Plan, test, and deploy software upgrades, patches, and new releases across test and production environments, with rollback and validation procedures.
• Act as primary technical liaison with internal government partners and vendors (e.g., Motorola Solutions) for incidents, service requests, change requests, and release planning.
• Support and monitor system interfaces between CAD and adjacent platforms (911/telephony, P25/LMR radio, mapping, records, paging/alerting).
• Maintain data integrity and produce/maintain technical documentation, configuration records, SOGs, and change logs.
• Develop and deliver end-user training and reference materials; support onboarding of new partner agencies.
• Participate in emergency support for critical application outages.
• Contribute to incident, problem, and change management processes and continuous improvement.
  
  

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Equivalencies include but are not limited to:

• A completed related masters degree and four (4) years of experience
• A completed related diploma and eight (8) years of experience
• 10 total years of related experience

Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application. 

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

• The normal workweek is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day.
• The centre operates 24/7/365; the Common Platform Lead - CAD may be required to work outside regular hours — including evenings, weekends, or overnights — to support application emergencies that impact operations.
• During provincial-level incidents or emergency activations, extended hours and availability may be required.
• Occasional travel within the province may be required to support training or to meet partners and vendors.
• Because this role directly supports emergency response and frontline services, incumbents may be exposed to high-pressure situations. The ability to maintain concentration, manage competing demands, and work within fixed timelines is essential.
  
  

What We Offer

• Career development that gives you access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training at 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.