Senior Field Communications Officer (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 Agency is responsible for managing public safety and public works two-way radio communications, infrastructure, and dispatch services on behalf of the Province.

Senior Field Communications Officers (FCOs) are the senior client- and partner-facing resources within the Public Safety Field Communications Agency (PSFC) and are responsible for meeting the operational needs of users of radio and other telecommunications systems in the public safety, emergency management, and field operations realms. At any given time, each is responsible for overseeing and delivering multiple strategic projects, which may be related to a single client agency or involve horizontal delivery across multiple departments or agencies. This may include, for example, onboarding of new client agencies on provincial radio systems/infrastructure, technology upgrades/replacements, managing governance projects, or bringing multiple agencies together to find new ways to communicate during emergencies. The Senior FCOs foster interoperability between and among agencies (a primary strategic goal of PSFC) in everything they do and consistently manage strategic alignment between PSFC and client agencies. They will serve as the expert technical and operational resources for all stakeholders.

In addition to their front-line service delivery, the Senior FCO lead a small team and will be responsible for ensuring that clients' inquiries are appropriately triaged to ensure timely service.

Primary Accountabilities

• Manages and delivers on multiple internal or client projects. Activities include developing project scope, analyzing business requirements, managing project resources and timelines, and coaching the project team to ensure effective project delivery.
• Develops significant aspects of stakeholder communications to promote Agency initiatives, activities, and communicate Agency goals.
• Monitors the operational environment and identifies needs and shortcomings resulting in client needs not being met. Works to generate strategic alignment between the activities and goals of the Agency and the activities of client agencies. Seeks opportunities for cooperation or shared service delivery.
• Researches, develops, and implements Standard Operating Procedures, policies, best practices, and governance mechanisms related to public safety operations and telecommunications systems
• Prepares and communicates cost estimates for projects and helps client agencies develop business cases where needed
• Acts as an expert resource, consultant, and technical expert to support clients and partner agencies through questions and challenges related to radio communications and associated technologies
• Serves as a Communications Unit Leader – delivering on-scene mobile communications support services to emergencies and events, and leading the communications unit as required to deploy staff and equipment to support such events. Serves as the agency lead on communication planning for large events and exercises.
• May be required to support the Provincial Coordination Centre (PCC) during incidents as the agency representative.
• The FCO will be responsible for leading one of the client services programs: training & exercise, mobile communication support, and client workflow & onboarding.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to high-quality service delivery, with a focus on meeting client needs and aligning operations with agency objectives. The candidate must be adept at making critical decisions under pressure and building strong relationships to achieve organizational goals. 

Proven expertise in public safety communications technologies and operations is essential.

The successful candidate will have a university degree in a related field (Business/Commerce, Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Public Administration, or Emergency Management) plus six years of relevant experience in a public safety technology environment.

Qualifications and Experience continued

Candidates must:

• Be client-focused, taking pride in client service, and demonstrating skill in working with diverse stakeholders
• Extensive knowledge of public safety communications technologies, including mobile radio, paging, satellite, and dispatch systems, with an understanding of their operation, maintenance, and integration within emergency service environments.
• Have demonstrated an ability to manage complex projects 
• Have extensive experience working in an Incident Command System environment
• Have experience working in or closely with a public safety/emergency management agency
• Have experience supervising others or leading teams
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and provide clear, concise briefings and advice.
• Have experience delivering technical training to diverse audiences 

Assets include:

• Project management experience
• Incident Command System to at least ICS level 300
• Marine, Aeronautical, or Amateur Radio Licenses
• Communication Unit Leader (COM-L) training 
• Communications Unit Technician (COM-T) training 
• Completion of a CEVO course for emergency vehicle operation
• Knowledge of the APCO P25 radio standard
  
  

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:

• Ten years of directly related experience.

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

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

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
• Will serve as part of a 24/7/365 on-call rotation.
• Frequent requirements to work overtime on a 24/7 basis, in locations across the province, to support training, travel, and emergencies/events
• May work evenings/weekends on occasion to meet stakeholder needs
• Will travel frequently throughout their designated region, and occasionally throughout the province

Additional Information

• Must have a valid unrestricted class 5 license
• Must be able to obtain an enhanced reliability level 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