Search and Rescue Program Officer and Senior Search and Rescue Program Officer

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

All communication and information obtained throughout the selection process, from the time of application to the close of process, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

When completing the screening questions, remember that the assessment board cannot make assumptions about your experience. It is insufficient to say that you have the required qualifications or to list your current or past duties. Rather, candidates must demonstrate how they meet the education and experience criteria listed in the job opportunity advertisement by providing CLEAR AND CONCRETE EXAMPLES.

Use of the STAR method may support you in illustrating your examples fully.
S- situation
T- task
A- action/activity
R- Results

Your resume may be used as a secondary source of information and used strictly to validate the concrete examples you will have described.

Additionally, pay close attention to ACTION WORDS to ensure the examples you chose speak to ALL OF THEM.

Similar attention should be given to PUNCTUATION AND CONNECTOR WORDS SUCH AS "COMMAS", "AND" AND "OR" as these have a different functions when used to describe an experience criteria.

Finally, if the examples you provide speak of experience that was acquired in a team setting, please be specific as to YOUR exact role within this team as it is your experience the board will be looking to assess and not that of your team.

Duties

GT-04 – Search and Rescue Program Officer
Under the direction of a Deputy Superintendent Maritime Search and Rescue and/or a Canadian Coast Guard Senior Search and Rescue Program Officer, this position carries out emergency Search and Rescue response duties in the marine environment as part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s federal mandate. This includes search and rescue training, liaison, exercising and response activities in the field, maintaining equipment, vessels and vehicles and carrying out administrative duties at the headquarters area.

GT-05 – Senior Search and Rescue Program Officer
Under the direction of the Canadian Coast Guard Deputy Superintendent of Search and Rescue this position carries out emergency Search and Rescue training, liaison, exercising and support to response duties in the marine environment as part of the Canadian Coast Guard’s federal mandate. This primarily includes maintaining equipment, vessels and vehicles and carrying out administrative duties at the headquarters area including human resource and financial management. The GT-05 Senior Search and Rescue Program Officer may also be called upon to respond to SAR and emergency response activities when operating in the field. In addition the Senior Search and Rescue Program Officer, provides supervision for Search and Rescue Program Officers (GT-04) in the field and completes reports and assessments for Canadian Coast Guard senior management.

Work environment

The Canadian Coast Guard, a Special Operating Agency within Fisheries and Oceans Canada, is entrusted to deliver valuable programs and services to Canadians that save lives, protect the environment and support our Canadian economy. Embracing a proactive culture for 24/7 service to and for Canadians, Canadian Coast Guard offers exciting sea-going and shore-based career opportunities in the delivery of critical maritime safety, security and response services; response to on-water and maritime incidents using a variety of vessels, hovercraft, helicopters, and small craft; and providing vital information and assistance to vessels, including navigation support, distress and safety communications and coordination of maritime trade. In January 2017, the Department received special recognition as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

The Government of Canada recently announced the Oceans Protection Plan, a whole-of-government approach to improve marine safety, to work with Indigenous groups, provinces, territories, and other stakeholders to better co-manage Canada’s oceans, while advancing the Government’s broader objectives of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, protection of the environment, protection of our coasts and waterways, and economic growth for the middle class. Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans Canada are dedicated to deliver on this significant initiative and other departmental commitments. We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated individuals to join our team in making an impact on the lives of Canadians.

Intent of the process

This is an anticipatory selection process.

A list of qualified candidates will be established through this process to staff identical or similar positions at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada across Canada with various language requirements and various security requirements. These positions may be of different tenures.

Positions to be filled: Number to be determined

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

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

Education
GT-04/05
- A secondary school diploma or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Degree equivalency

Experience
GT-04
- Experience providing operational training, briefings or presentations;
- Experience preparing reports and technical documents using computer software such as but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook;
- Experience liaising with external public and private partner organizations;
- Recent* experience in marine emergency search and rescue response operations management at a tactical level.

GT-05
- Recent* experience in marine emergency search and rescue response operations management at a tactical and operational level;
- Experience writing reports that require analysis, such as but not limited to operational documents and external correspondence;
- Experience supervising staff.

*Recent is defined as Experience acquired on the job within the past 5 years under the current legal framework.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

Asset Qualifications

Education
GT-04/GT-05
- Post-secondary diploma related to the duties of the position

Degree equivalency

Occupational Certification
GT-04/GT-05
- Post-secondary diploma related to the duties of the position;
- A deck or engine room Marine Certificate of Competency issued under the CANADA SHIPPING ACT, 2001 Marine Personnel Regulations SOR/2007-115 for a Master Limited (60 Ton) or higher and /or a Fourth-Class Engineer, Motor Ship or higher. Certificates will be rated in order of precedence according to the regulations;
- Radio Operator’s Certificate (Maritime) or higher;
- Accredited qualifications as an instructor for first aid and/or exercise development and delivery and/or vessel operations;
- Small Vessel Operator’s Certificate (SVOP);
- ICS Certification;
- Rescue Specialist Qualifications

GT-04
- Possession of a valid instructional techniques certificate

Experience
GT-04/GT-05
- Experience in emergency response contingency planning;
- Experience in equipment life cycle management;
- Experience providing operational training;
- Experience in small craft operations;

GT-04
- Experience with the Incident Command System;
- Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams;
- Experience in developing Search and Rescue (SAR) procedures.

GT-05
- Experience coordinating projects involving multiple contributors, both internal and external;
- Experience developing and directing exercises;
- Experience applying federal occupational health and safety risk assessment and mitigation measures;
- Experience managing a budget;
- Experience conducting operational reviews, research and investigations;
- Experience as an ICS Incident Commander or Deputy Commander;
- Experience working with other government departments (municipal, provincial/territorial and federal), or private organisations and the general public;
- Experience managing marine search and rescue operations either as a coordinator or operationally

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

Various language requirements

Information on language requirements

Knowledge
GT-04/GT-05
- Knowledge of the Incident Command System.
- Knowledge of roles and the responsibility of the Search and Rescue’s main partners in Canada, particularly maritime and air Search and Rescue

GT-04
- Knowledge of seafaring practices, vessel management and operation
- Knowledge of marine search and rescue procedures.

GT-05
- Knowledge of administrative and financial procedures.
- Knowledge of national and international principles, techniques and practices involved in search and rescue activities (aeronautical/maritime)

Abilities
GT-04/GT-05
- Ability to analyze and solve problems;
- Ability to apply a regulatory framework such as operational standards and procedures.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally;
- Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

Personal Suitability
GT-04/GT-05
- Work under pressure
- Effective Interpersonal Relationships
- Initiative

GT-05
- Leadership

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

Knowledge
GT-04/GT-05
- Knowledge of the Canadian Coast Guard structure and overall mandate;
- Knowledge of the Canadian Coast Guard mandate as it relates to maritime search and rescue

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Secret security clearance

GT-04/GT-05
- Willing and able to obtain medical certificate;
- Willing and able to travel on various means of transport including ships, small vessels and aircraft to remote locations and abroad, knowing that such travel may be frequent and seasonal;
- Willing and able to work overtime, be on call according to a schedule (day and night, seven days a week) and occasionally work weekends, in accordance with the pertinent collective agreement;
- Willing and able to work in potentially hazardous and /or adverse conditions such as those found in the marine environment and in remote locations;
- Willing and able to work in emergency situations;
- Willing and able to travel for extended periods on short notice;
- Willing and able to wear the Canadian Coast Guard uniform;
- Willing and able to wear CSA approved personal safety equipment related to the job;
- Willing and able to obtain underwater crash survival training for aircraft (SAR stream).

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

An exam may be administered.

An interview may be administered.

Reference checks may be sought.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

Candidates may be required to meet the asset qualifications depending on the requirements of the specific position being staffed.

Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

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, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

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