Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Officer - Ab initio Trainee

Duties

MCTS Officer Training involves the following two phases:

Phase I: The MCTS Ab Initio 23 week training course takes place at the Canadian Coast Guard College located in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The course consists of theory, practical applications and simulations. Here you will learn the basics.

Phase II: On- the-Job training (OJT) will take place at the MCTS centre in Port aux Basques. Working with an On-the-Job-Instructor, you will learn local geography, local and regional procedures while applying the national elements of Phase I training. The OJT varies according to MCTS centre and can last from 3–12 months.
After successful completion of Phase II candidates are promoted to Marine Communications and Traffic Services Officer.

You will be required to successfully complete each phase of training before continuing to the next Phase and becoming a MCTS Officer.

Travel is necessary to complete the two Phases of training. To complete Phase I, travel is required to attend the Canadian Coast Guard College located in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Travel to the regional MCTS centre for Phase II may be required depending on residency at time of hiring. Travel expenses incurred during the two phases of training shall be covered.

During Phase I, you are paid an Ab Initio allowance of $350 per week less appropriate deductions. Also, $90 per week is deducted for meals and accommodations, while at the Canadian Coast Guard College.

For the On-the-Job Phase II training, you are appointed to the RO-01 group and level at a salary of $42111 per annum.

After successful completion of the Centre Designated Checkout of Phase II, you are appointed to the RO-03 MCTS Officer group and level with a salary beginning at $53938 and up to $70284 per annum.

For further information on the organization, please visit Canadian Coast Guard (an Agency of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Information on Marine Communications and Traffic Services can be found at: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/Marine-Communications/Home

Information on Marine Communications and Traffic Services Officer Training Phase I can be found at: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/College-and-Careers/MCTS-Officer

Work environment

Would you like to help vessels in distress? Prevent them from colliding? Do you enjoy a fast-paced environment? Then, we may have the job for you!

Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Officers with the Canadian Coast Guard provide one of the first responses to ships and vessels in distress. They oversee the safety of waterways within Canada’s 200 mile limit by communicating with vessels, issuing weather bulletins and monitoring marine traffic to ensure that vessels entering Canadian waters are in compliance with Canadian Acts and Regulations.

The job is challenging, fast-paced and always interesting, but can be stressful and demanding. You speak with vessel captains and crews in all kinds of situations, and are often the first contact in marine emergency or crisis. During a marine emergency, you act as a go-between for Search and Rescue and the vessel in danger, and are often the voice those in danger look to for advice and comfort. You need to be able to multi-task and manage many issues at once.

It’s a 24/7 world and we provide service to the marine environment 365 days of the year. With the exception of the Arctic, shipping never stops and neither do we. Consequently, you must be willing to accept shift work and work weekends and holidays.

Intent of the process

To establish a pool of qualified candidates to work in the MCTS center located in Port aux Basques.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

A covering letter in 5,000 words (maximum) "Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application how they meet the education and experience criteria outlined in the essential qualifications. Applicants must use each essential education and experience criteria as a header and then write one or two paragraphs for each criteria demonstrating how they meet the required education and experience. Resumes may be used as a secondary source to validate the information described in the cover letter. Failure to provide this information in the requested format may result in your application being rejected. Applicants are asked to take the same approach to describe their education and experiences of the asset qualifications (other qualifications)."

Contact information for 2 references.

You must meet all essential qualifications in order to be appointed to the position. Other qualifications may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. Some essential and other qualifications will be assessed through your application. It is your responsibility to provide appropriate examples that illustrate how you meet each qualification. Failing to do so could result in your application being rejected.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Bilingual - Non Imperative (BBB/BBB)

Information on language requirements

Competency in skills associated with MCTS Officer duties (Arithmetic, Checking, Coding, Memory, and Spatial Ability). Note: this will be assessed using the MCTS Aptitude Test.

Ability to keyboard (30 wpm with 95% accuracy).
Ability to communicate orally
Ability to communicate in writing.

Working with others
Client Service Orientation
Managing difficult situations
Adaptability
Judgement and decision making
Initiative

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Experience in a marine environment (e.g. member of a Ship’s crew, Navigation officer, Commercial fisheries, Sea cadets etc.).

Selection may be limited to members of the following Employment Equity groups: Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Willingness to relocate based on operational requirements.
Willingness to work overtime upon successful completion of all Phases of MCTS Officer training.

Conditions of employment

Secret security clearance

Health Canada pre-placement evaluation;
Willing and able to travel;
Willing and able to accept shift work;
Willing and able to work weekends.

Other information

Candidates will be assessed against essential qualifications and may be required to meet asset qualifications and/or organizational needs, depending on the specific needs of the position. Candidates must meet the pass mark for each of the essential qualifications. Candidates must meet each asset qualification to be used for appointment.

All assessments related to this selection process will be administered in the Atlantic Region (Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island).

Successful completion of the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Aptitude Test is required. Those candidates who have previously successfully completed the MCTS Aptitude Test are not required to rewrite, but will be required to submit the successful results.

Candidates invited to an interview will be required to bring proof of their education credentials, in the form of a diploma or official transcript (original documents only).

Applicants are encouraged to work on their keyboarding skills before the assessment date as a higher proficiency in keyboarding may be used to determine right fit.

Candidates will be communicated with via e-mail. In your application, please include the e-mail address that you wish to use for communication purposes throughout this recruitment initiative. It is your responsibility to verify your e-mail account on a regular basis.

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled, diverse workforce reflective of Canadian society. As a result, it promotes employment equity and encourages candidates to indicate voluntarily on their application if they are a woman, an Aboriginal person, a person with a disability or a member of a visible minority group.

The Public Service of Canada is also committed to developing inclusive, barrier-free selection processes and work environments. If contacted in relation to a job opportunity or testing, you should advise the Public Service Commission or the departmental official in a timely fashion of the accommodation measures which must be taken to enable you to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans and to Canadian citizens, in that order.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.