Fisheries Compliance and Enforcement Supervisor - Inspector Specialist 4

About Us

The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (the Department) has a legislated mandate to manage, promote, support, and develop the fishing, aquaculture, and seafood buying and processing industries that contribute to the economic, environmental and social prosperity of Nova Scotia’s coastal and rural communities. We work to promote Nova Scotia as Canada’s premier fish and seafood province.

About Our Opportunity

The Fisheries Compliance and Enforcement Supervisor (Supervisor), reports to the Marine Division’s Manager of Licensing and Compliance. The Supervisor oversees the Department’s (3 or more) regional Fisheries Inspectors and acts as a Fisheries Inspector in their assigned geographic region. The Supervisor is responsible for the delivery of an inspection and enforcement program by ensuring compliance with the Fisheries and Coastal Resources Act (FCRA) and regulations, and the Fish Harvester Organizations Support Act (FHOSA) and regulations. The focus of the position is on the buying, selling, possession and processing of fish and fish products; aquaculture operations; the commercial harvest of marine plants; and other responsibilities under the FCRA.

The Supervisor is the primary source of compliance and enforcement expertise, training, coaching and procedural support for Fisheries Inspectors, and provides coordination and support for intelligence gathering and analysis, complex investigations and prosecutions. The Supervisor contributes to departmental risk-based planning processes and provides an operational perspective on issues with enforcing legislation and regulation under the Department's core mandate. The incumbent provides input into the development of operational policies, procedures, and legislation.

The Supervisor, as a Fisheries Inspector, is responsible for a broad range of duties including responding to complaints, conducting inspections, investigating incidents of potential non-compliance with the FCRA, regulations, and licence conditions, auditing business and financial records, gathering intelligence and evidence, preparing legal documents, and taking appropriate action as required. The incumbent undertakes enforcement action where necessary to deter illegal activity and repeat offenders, and to achieve the responsibilities of the Department. 

The Supervisor holds the necessary appointments (e.g., Inspector, Special Constable).

Primary Accountabilities

• Supports the professional development and performance of individual Fisheries Inspectors by maintaining knowledge of policies and best practices related to the Department’s mandate and provides training.
• Ensures consistent execution of inspection and enforcement services through review of inspections and investigations and develops policies and procedures for Fisheries Inspectors.
• Provides two-way communication between Fisheries Inspectors and management and prepares reports for management outlining issues and activities in the province.
• Sets Fisheries Inspectors’ schedules based on operational needs and capacity and supports Fisheries Inspectors in the field with inspections and investigative work.
• Identifies compliance and enforcement priorities, participates in the development of work plans, and reports to management on performance and progress.
• Collects, analyzes and disseminates intelligence on emerging risks related to the Department’s mandate and on suspected violators and provides advice on what types of information should be collected to support enforcement efforts.
• Provides a field operations perspective on the practicality and enforceability of existing and proposed legislation and regulations.
• Advises on complex investigations, prosecutions or other compliance activities, coordinates special investigations, and consults with the Crown Prosecutor and other court officials as a Department expert in the prosecution of offences.
• Liaises closely with other agencies with jurisdiction along the fisheries supply chain on topics such as information sharing, joint ops planning, and advice.
• Conducts standard inspection and enforcement duties such as responding to complaints and referrals of potential non-compliance, conducting background checks, conducting inspections and investigations (interviews, statements, seizure, search warrants, evidence security, records analysis, summary offence tickets, long-form informations, crown briefs, etc.), writing reports, and entering information into electronic databases.

Qualifications and Experience

To be considered for this role, you will have completed high school, completed a related trade or technical training in the specialty, and have 8 plus years of related experience (after completion of the related trade or technical training in specialty). An equivalent of training and experience may be acceptable.

A strong inspection and enforcement background and the ability to coach and mentor staff are essential to this role. The successful candidate must have excellent communication, interpersonal, de-escalation, analytical and judgement skills, and must exhibit a high degree of professionalism and ethics. The incumbent must have good organizational and administrative skills to balance supervisory duties with field operations and resource needs and ensure accurate and defensible files.

The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful. They must be administratively self-sufficient with strong computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, data management and presentation packages. Offer of employment is contingent on an appropriate background and criminal records check.

Assets: experience in fisheries-related work and leadership; experience operating a boat and a valid (recreational) boating licence.

Equivalency

An equivalent combination of training, education and experience will be considered. 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

Normal work is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day, Monday to Friday. However, you must be able to work irregular hours. May be required to work overtime. This position requires the wearing of identifiable clothing. Halifax is the preferred location however, applications from those interested in working in other office locations will be considered.

This position will be required to travel regularly throughout the province and therefore, the incumbent must have access to a reliable vehicle and hold a valid driver’s license. Field work may include loading gear in boats, carrying boxes of files, moving totes/containers, and other activities that require moderate physical effort. May occasionally operate boats.

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