Provincial Coordination Centre Watch Supervisor (Program Administration Officer 4)(6 positions)

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 

• Setting standards in the provincial emergency management program for training and exercising

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

• Ensuring integrated emergency responses through the Provincial Coordination Centre

• Managing and modernizing the emergency 911 system including the move to Next Generation 911  

About Our Opportunity

NSDEM is seeking to hire six (6) PCC Supervisors for the NSDEM Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC) within the Incident Management and 911 Division. 

Reporting to an NSDEM PCC Manager within the Incident Management and 911 Division, the PCC Watch Desk is a specialized operations support unit that provides the province’s emergency managers, government leadership and public safety coordination & command staff with real-time situational awareness. This position will monitor information coming in from various sources, including first responders, news outlets, and social media channels.

PCC Supervisors have a key role in enhancing the safety and security of Nova Scotians. As the first point of contact for emergencies, including natural disasters and critical infrastructure issues, the PCC Supervisors provide the initial analysis on rapidly evolving incidents and are responsible for taking appropriate initial actions. Using a variety of information tools, the Supervisor also provides senior leadership with an early warning to enable a proactive response to civil emergencies.

The PCC Supervisor will oversee the performance of PCC Watch Desk staff during assigned shifts, ensuring compliance with operational protocols and standards. They provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering a culture of professionalism and excellence. They conduct regular performance assessments and provide constructive feedback to improve team effectiveness. They are also responsible to ensure adequate staffing levels and coordinating shift schedules to maintain 24/7 operational readiness.

Primary Accountabilities

This supervisory role involves maintaining a real-time operational picture for government decision-makers and partners, ensuring continuous 24/7 situational awareness. This includes assessing and analyzing gathered information to identify patterns, potential risks, and cross-referencing data from multiple sources to verify accuracy. Your role involves evaluating the impact of incidents at municipal, county, or provincial levels to support emergency management coordination and resource deployment. In addition to this, you will: 

• Serve as a subject matter expert on the National Alert Ready system, assisting stakeholders, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring effective alerting processes
• Provide timely updates to relevant stakeholders, upload maps to critical incident websites, and present information clearly using dashboards and mapping tools.
• Review, compile, and analyze data to assist in emergency response efforts, record-keeping, and data analysis.
• Lead or assist in the creation of standard operating procedures, policies, and projects, including updates to the Disaster Financial Assistance Program and mapping.
• Maintain up-to-date and accessible databases, assist during Provincial Coordination Center activations, and contribute to the development and implementation of innovative programs.

Additionally, the role requires effective coordination and communication with emergency management partners, including police, fire departments, and volunteer organizations, before, during, and after an emergency response. You will attend and actively participate in meetings, conferences, training sessions, and regional emergency exercises.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, public safety, or another related field, along with at least 6 years of related experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

• Experience in 24/7 Emergency Operations Centers: Working in emergency management or public safety operations centers that function continuously indicates familiarity with high-pressure environments and critical decision-making processes.
• Public Safety Experience Under Stressful Conditions: Roles in public safety that require making critical decisions under pressure highlight the ability to maintain composure and sound judgment during emergencies
• Experience in Emergency Response Teams: Serving as a member of an emergency response team during crisis situations demonstrates practical skills in managing emergencies, which may be considered in lieu of formal education.

Although not essential, the following are considered assets:

• 3 years of full-time experience in an emergency management-related field.
• Experience working in a full-time 24/7 emergency operations center (EOC).
• Proven ability to develop and maintain contingency plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), response plans, and/or partnership agreements.
• Advanced certifications (e.g., CEM designation) are considered an asset.
• Bilingual (English and French)

Equivalency

We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise.

• Completion of a related master’s degree and four (4) years of experience.
• Completion of a related diploma and eight (8) years of experience.
• At least ten (10) years of related experience with no education

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 PCC Supervisor collects information regarding potential and actual risks, threats and ongoing incidents that may have significant consequences for Nova Scotia. Often functioning in a high-stress and time-critical environment, the PCC Supervisor must determine the validity, urgency, and significance of this information and disseminate it to relevant parties.
The PCC Watch Unit operates 24/7. 

PCC Supervisors will work shift work, a combination of 12hr day shifts and 12hr night shifts. This includes working on weekends and statutory holidays. As there is normally only one PCC Supervisor and one PCC Watch Officer on shift at any point in time, employees work collaboratively while supporting the coordination and response to an emergency.

You may be required to travel to remote worksite locations, load vehicles, carry and setup equipment in a variety of locations, and travel during inclement weather conditions. 

This role does entail a high volume of work which may require longer than normal working hours and overtime. Due to the multiple spheres of action and scope of responsibilities that this position requires, there is significant mental pressure, requiring resilience. Must be available to participate in the on-call Duty Officer stand-by rotation and available to support the response and recovery of emergency events as required in the Provincial Coordination Centre.

This position will be based in at the NSDEM headquarters in Dartmouth. 

Additional Information

These positions require the following:

• a valid Canadian Driver's License
• Immediate access to a licensed, safety-inspected, and operational motor vehicle.
• Ability to acquire a Level 2 (Secret) Government Security clearance.

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.
• Department Specific Flexible working schedules.